FOOTBALL: Lebanon loses via mercy rule to Cocalico

Lebanon did not come out in the defensive sets Cocalico coach Dave Gingrich had seen on film. It really didn't matter. When the Cedars packed the box inside to take away the Eagles leading runner, Hunter High, Cocalico just ran outside. The result: three backs with over 100 yards rushing and a 50-6 mercy rule win that moves Cocalico to 2-2 overall, 1-0 in the Lancaster Lebanon League Section 2.

Trevor Fichthorn led the way with 157 yards on just five carries. Fichthorn had a touchdown on his only carry for less than 10 yards. He would have had two if he had taken better care of the ball. He was stripped for a fumble at the 1-yard line after a 55-yard carry.

Dominic Fabiani added 115 yards on 11 carries, three of which went for touchdowns. Once the middle opened up, High banged his way up the middle to 116 yards and two scores for Cocalico, which only had to punt once all night.

Lebanon (1-3, 0-1) moved the ball through the air, with junior quarterback Cody Kissinger connecting on 26-of-37 passes for 226 yards, including a touchdown pass to Shaquell Ortiz for the Cedars only score. But Lebanon could not move the ball at all on the ground, gaining just 30 yards on 27 carries, and the Cedars fumbled the ball away twice.

Turning point: After Cocalico scored to go up 15-0 with 11:12 to go in the first half, Lebanon quarterback Cody Kissinger coughed up a fumble while being sacked at his own 7-yard-line. One play later Fabiani went into the end zone to give Cocalico a 22-0 lead.

Star of the game: When you have three guys over 100 yards rushing, and pick up 426 yards on the ground, you have to say the Cocalico offensive line was the star.

Key statistic: Cocalico picked up 426 yards rushing and held Lebanon to 30 yards on the ground. That is domination up front.

Quotable: "Our offensive line is starting to come together," said Gingrich. "That was not the defense we expected, but we figured things out on the run."

Up next: Lebanon at Manheim Central

Cocalico at Lampeter-Strasburg

Cocalico 50, Lebanon 6

Cocalico814217—50

Lebanon0060—6

C—H. High 14 run (B. Brubaker run)

C—T. Fichthorn 1 run (M. McKinney kick)

C—D. Fabiani 7 run (M. McKinney kick)

C—D. Fabiani 41 run (M. McKinney kick)

L—S. Ortiz 6 pass from C. Kissinger (kick failed)

C—H. High 9 run (M. McKinney kick)

C—D. Fabiani 25 run (M. McKinney kick)

C—N. Musser 12 run (D. Engle kick)

CLFirst downs1816Rushes-yards44-42627-30Passing1-3-027-38-0Passing yards45237Punts1-473-38.33Fumbles-lost2-13-2Penalties-yards2-151-5