Lancaster Catholic looking to break through against Manheim Twp.: Week 4 football

LANCASTER CATHOLIC AT MANHEIM TWP.
FRIDAY, 7 P.M., MT MEMORIAL FIELD

RECORDS: Lancaster Catholic 0-3; Manheim Twp. 2-1.

THE CRUSADERS: When researching Lancaster Catholic, we’re usually digging for victories and winning streaks. Not this season. Erie McDowell pinned a 38-14 nonleague loss on the Crusaders last Saturday, as Lancaster Catholic plummeted to 0-3 for the first time since 2001. That year, the Crusaders lost to Trinity, Elco and Annville-Cleona out of the chute, but did rally for a 4-6 season. This season, Lancaster Catholic just can’t get anything going. The Crusaders are 22^nd in the league in total team offense (146.7 yards per game), 21^st in the league in first downs (27) and they’re a minus-2 in turnover ratio with eight giveaways. This has not been your little brother’s Lancaster Catholic team — yet.

THE BLUE STREAKS: Manheim Twp., on the other hand, is feeling mighty fine about things. The Streaks have won two games in a row, including a 7-0 nail-biter against Carlisle in Week 3. Township held the Herd to 9 rushing yards, and rode QB Davis Carr’s 1-yard first-quarter TD sneak all the way to the finish line. FYI: Carr has been quite efficient: 25-for-34 (74 percent) for 299 yards and no picks. Streaks, who fell to Lancaster Catholic 28-14 last year, feature a top-10 defense — 235.7 yards against; seventh-best in the L-L — and have five takeaways and are a plus-3 in turnover ratio, tops among Section 1 teams.

THE CRUX: Manheim Township’s defense has allowed just 94.7 yards per game on the ground. Against Erie McDowell, Lancaster Catholic finally found some semblance of a running game, with Nassir Weaver scooting for 133 yards on 17 takes. How will he fare with Streaks’ ‘backers Alex Zug (18 tackles), Jacob Zug (15 tackles, 1 sack) and Matt Sallade (15 tackles) hounding him? Do keep an eye on one area: Township has been flagged 31 times — most in the L-L.

REINHART SAYS: Lancaster Catholic (+7) has been a complete head-scratcher. Will this been the week the Crusaders finally put it all together and bust out? If not, it might take some serious digging to find the last time Lancaster Catholic was 0-4.

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