Conestoga Valley earns 'special' win over Lebanon
LANCASTER - Many a football coach has earned a decent living on special teams and defense.
Conestoga Valley excelled at both Friday night in Witmer, taking the Homecoming measure of Lebanon, 42-13.
Jose Borbon totaled 195 return yards - including an 89-yard TD - on three kickoffs, an interception and a punt and caught six passes for 61 yards and a touchdown for Conestoga Valley (4-2, 2-1 L-L).
The Buckskin defense sacked Lebanon quarterback Zakee Sailsman nine times for 53 yards in losses.
Eric Graff had four of the nine sacks - three solo, plus two half sacks - taking some of the bloom off a 265-yard passing performance by the Cedars' sophomore quarterback.
CV’s Connor Brinton scored three times on a night when he rushed 14 tmes for 85 yards and Grant Stoltzfus completed 9 of 14 for 121 yards and two TDs, including a 37-yard, fourth-&-9 TD to Tyre Stead.
Sailsman threw two interceptions and fumbled once. CV turned all three turnovers into points: Brinton’s 3-yard TD, Borbon’s 18-yard catch and Stead’s TD.
Uusing his arm and legs, Sailsman saved the Cedars’ bacon on multiple occasions, including a fourth-and-26 touchdown to Jeremiah Beckley covering 31 yards.
Turning point: The Cedars (1-5, 0-3 L-L) had drawn first blood with 4:03 left in the first quarter on Sailsman’s 24-yard scamper.
Borbon took the ensuing kickoff at the 11, charged up the middle of the field, shook off a would-be tackler at the CV 49 and was home free.
Key statistic: Lebanon had 88 yards on 11 penalties, including four for holding.
Conestoga Valley 42, Lebanon 13
Lebanon _ 7 _ 0 _ 6 _ 0 _ — _ 13
Conestoga Valley _ 14 _ 6 _ 15 _ 7 _ — _ 42
First Quarter
L — Z.Sailsman 24 run (kick failed)
CV — J.Borbon 89 kickoff return (T.Orner kick)
CV — C.Brinton 3 run (Orner kick)
Second Quarter
CV — Borbon 18 pass from G.Stoltzfus (kick failed)
Third Quarter
CV — T.Stead 7 pass from Stoltzfus (Brinton pass from Stoltzfus)
L — J.Beckley 31 pass from Sailsman (kick failed)
CV — Brinton 5 run (Orner kick)
Fourth Quarter
CV — Brinton 25 run (Orner kick)
Team Statistics
_ Lebanon _ CV
First downs _ 17 _ 14
Rushes-yards _ 34-97 _ 31-146
Passing _ 23-32-2 _ 9-14-0
Passing yards _ 265 _ 121
Total yards _ 362 _ 267
Punts _ 2-32.0 _ 3-38.7
Fumbles-lost _ 1-1 _ 2-2
Penalties-yards _ 11-88 _ 5-30