L-L Football Bold Picks: Week 2
With Week 1 in the books, we have our first batch of gameplay to base future picks on. However, we shouldn’t let the flukiness of the first week of football make us prisoners of the moment. Let’s dig into Week 2.
Record last week: 12-4
Overall record: 15-4
THE GAME: Manheim Central (1-0) at Donegal (0-1)
THE WINNER: Manheim Central
THE REASON: The Barons are coming off an impressive 38-17 win over Warwick in Week 1 in which receiver Jake Novak caught seven passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Kody Kegarise also neared 300 passing yards in that game with three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the Indians offense sputtered in their season opener at E-Town, falling 17-0 while turning the ball over three times in the air.
It may sound simple but if Donegal wants any shot at opening up their new facility with a win, they absolutely have to take care of the ball…and catch a break or two.
THE GAME: Cocalico (0-1) at Governor Mifflin (0-1)
THE WINNER: Cocalico
THE REASON: The Eagles were just edged out by Red Land in Week 1 but their running game looked to be firing on all cylinders with Colton Goodman scampering for 170 of Cocalico’s 335 yards on the ground.
Mifflin gave up 200 yards on the ground in their 38-7 blowout loss to Wilson in Week 1, which is a good sign for Cocalico.
THE GAME: Lampeter-Strasburg (1-0) at Penn Manor (0-1)
THE WINNER: Lampeter-Strasburg
THE REASON: The Comets fell flat in their season opener against Cedar Cliff, losing 40-0 but won’t get much sympathy from L-S headed into Week 2.
The Pioneers rolled Eastern York, 42-7 last week with quarterback Todd Shelley passing for 243 yards and four touchdowns while tailback Shane Lawler rushed for 135 yards and score.
Although it has only been one week, the Pioneers could be very scary if they are indeed this explosive on offense.
THE GAME: Garden Spot (1-0) at Warwick
THE WINNER: Garden Spot
THE REASON: The Spartans were able to go on the road and defeat Wyomissing, 28-21 last week and tailback Jahad Jeffers once again lived up to the hype, rushing for 172 yards and three touchdowns.
The Warwick defense showed some holes last week against Manheim Central and if Jeffers continues his hot streak, it’s difficult to go against Garden Spot.
THE GAME: Elizabethtown (1-0) at Hershey (0-1)
THE WINNER: E-Town
THE REASON: The Bears were able to open up their season with a huge, emotional win over rival Donegal last week and that momentum could carry into this Friday.
E-town has a real leader in quarterback Micah Garber and with a surrounding cast like Jonathan Jones, Logan Yohn and Scott Fox, E-Town’s offense has some real potential.
…especially If their defense continues to create turnovers.
THE GAME: Exeter (1-0) at Hempfield (0-1)
THE WINNER: Exeter
THE REASON: I went back and forth on this one for a while and wouldn’t be surprised with any result.
The only reason I give the edge to Exeter is if they are able to get ahead by more than one score, Hempfield might become more reliant on the passing game, something that is still a work in progress.
THE GAME: Conestoga Valley (1-0) at Solanco (1-0)
THE WINNER: Solanco
THE REASON: They say styles make fights and this could be a matchup of two very different styles. The Buckskins are coming off a 54-7 win over Ephrata in which quarterback Grant Stoltzfus threw for 212 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Mules stampeded for over 380 yards on the ground in their 36-6 win over Pottsville.
If Solanco can continuously rack up first downs and control the clock, they’ll put a lot of pressure on the CV air attack to strike with consistency.
THE GAME: Lebanon (0-1) at Ephrata (0-1)
THE WINNER: Lebanon
THE REASON: Both teams struggled defensively in their Week 1 matchups but Lebanon showed a bit more on offense than Ephrata did.
THE GAME: Spring-Ford (2-0) at Wilson (1-0)
THE WINNER: Wilson
THE REASON: Both of these teams clicked offensively last week and this should be a fun game to watch. However, I think the Bulldogs rushing game with Iggy Renoso is going to continue to get better and better every week.
THE GAME: Octorara (1-1) at Pequea Valley (2-0)
THE WINNER: Pequea Valley
THE REASON: The Braves have pulled out two impressive wins on the road so far this season and finally get to be the host this Friday against Octorara.
Pequea Valley found their “work-horst” in tailback Connor Horst last week when he rushed for 109 yards against Kennard-Dale. Braves quarterback Jordan Lapp may have also found his go-to guy in senior receiver Anthony Davido.
I’ll take this PV offense at home.
THE GAME: Waynesboro (0-1) at Lancaster Catholic (0-1)
THE WINNER: Lancaster Catholic
THE REASON: The Crusaders hung with Camp Hill until the second quarter last week and should have a better opportunity to notch their first win this Friday when they host Waynesboro.
The Indians gave up over 280 yards on the ground to Red Lion last week, which could help Catholic light a spark in their running game.
THE GAME: South Western (1-0) at Manheim Township (0-1)
THE WINNER: Manheim Township
THE REASON: Despite a rough 31-9 loss to powerhouse Central Dauphin in Week 1, the Township air attack looked to be in good hands with transfer quarterback Luke Emge. The senior QB went 22-of-34 for 258 yards and a touchdown while receiver Kade Kubicki hauled in 11 passes for 199 yards and a score.
Look for the Streaks to get into a better rhythm at home this weekend.
THE GAME: JP McCaskey (0-1) at York High (0-1)
THE WINNER: McCaskey
THE REASON: The Red Tornado were only down a touchdown headed into the fourth quarter before falling 24-13 to State College in Week 1. However, they showed some flashes of potential, starting with Jathan Gonzalez, who accounted for both McCaskey touchdowns.
While I think this will be an exciting and somewhere unpredictable game, I’ll roll with the Tornado.
THE GAME: Columbia (0-0) at Delone Catholic (1-0)
THE WINNER: Delone Catholic
THE REASON: Columbia’s Week 1 game in New Jersey was postponed due to weather so there isn’t much to go off of when evaluating the Crimson Tide.
However, Delone Catholic looked solid in their Week 1 win over Trinity; rushing for over 170 yards and being efficient with the few throws they attempted.
Lebanon County picks
Annville-Cleona at Camp Hill
Northern Lebanon at Cedar Crest
Palmyra at Elco