Annville-Cleona has two really good things going for it: The Little Dutchmen return 18 total starters, which is a plus. And multi-purpose back Mitch Rodkey, one of the top athletes in the L-L League, is back to dazzle under center, in the backfield and in the slot. The weapons are here for the Dutchmen to improve on last year’s 3-7 mark. Below is their Countdown to Camp preview.
School Name: Annville-Cleona Little Dutchmen
Coach: Terry Lehman
Last Year: 3-7 overall, 2-4 in L-L Section 3
Last 5 Years: 16-34
Returning Starters: 9 on offense; 9 on defense
Key Players: QB-RB-DB Mitch Rodkey; TE-DE John Groh; OG-LB Geordan Barr; OG-LB Mike Marakowski; RB-DT Richmond Owusua; WR-LB Paxson Hayes; OT-DT Josh Hartman; WR-LB Taylor Prentice; OT-DT Brandon Boger; RB-LB Brandon Light.
Offensive Overview: Plenty of good news here, including the return of multi-purpose back Mitch Rodkey. All he did last fall was pass for 464 yards and five touchdowns, rush for 1,024 yards and eight scores and catch 13 passes for 207 yards and two TDs. He’s a major weapon, and once again he’ll line up all over the place. Coach Terry Lehman estimates Rodkey will play QB 30 percent of the time and RB 70 percent of the time. He’s counting on newbie soph QB Adam Fox to also get some snaps. And don’t overlook the trenches, where tackles Brandon Boger and Josh Hartman and guard Geordan Barr return — plus Mike Marakowski, who missed nine games with an injury last year. Those guys will all help open holes in the Dutchmen’s “Power Pistol” set.
Defensive Overview: Annville-Cleona must clean it up in this department; last fall the Dutchmen allowed 365 yards and 29 points per game, and sacked opposing QBs just five times in 10 games. Keep an eye on three players up front in A-C’s "4-4" scheme — LB Geordan Barr (80 tackles last season), DE John Groh (75 tackles) and DT Richmond Owusua (56 tackles, 3 sacks). That trio must get to the QB and help force some three-and-outs. LB Paxson Hayes (72 tackles, 1 pick), LB Taylor Prentice (74 tackles, 2 picks) and Rodkey (10 tackles, 1 pick) from his safety spot will also be busy bodies. This group as a whole must improve. Period.
Biggest Game: October 25 at Elco. Great backyard rivalry and this Week 9 showdown could have a lot riding on it.
More Annville-Cleona Little Dutchmen: 2013 Schedule
Reinhart’s Crystal Ball: The first thing that jumps out to me are the numbers — 18 total starters are back; nine on each side of the ball. That’s pretty good for any program. And this is a program in dire need of a kick-start. The Dutchmen are 4-16 in the last two seasons, and haven’t sniffed the lead pack in Section 3 since a 5-5 campaign back in 2008. So these guys are due. Anxious to see what kind of numbers Rodkey can put up lining up all over the place in the “Power Pistol”. He’ll be a marked man this time around — whether he’s under center, in the backfield or in the slot — but he has the skills to do damage. I like the Dutchmen’s experienced o-line (always a positive in prep football) and defensive playmakers. A break here or a break there — Lehman’s mantra is “finish games” — and A-C will have everyone’s attention, especially if Rodkey is blowing stuff up.