DISTRICT 3-AAA SEMIFINAL
COCALICO AT MANHEIM CENTRAL
FRIDAY, 7 P.M., ELDEN RETTEW FIELD
RECORDS: No. 3 Cocalico 11-1; No. 2 Manheim Central 12-0.
DISTRICT 3-AAA PLAYOFF BRACKET
WHY THE EAGLES WILL WIN: Cocalico gets off to a faster start than the Week 6 meeting in Denver, when Manheim Central vaulted to a 14-0 lead before anyone broke a sweat. Barons won that game 24-12. QB Jhet Janis (934 rushing yards, 16 TD) and RB Spencer Moser (1,160 rushing yards, 18 TD) both rush for 100 or more yards and each scores at least one rushing TD. That would tell me that the Eagles’ o-line is doing work and Cocalico is getting first downs and hogging up some clock. Playing keep-away is a good thing vs. Manheim Central. Janis does damage in the return game, giving the Eagles workable field position on changes of possession. And Cocalico, tops in the L-L with a plus-24 turnover margin with 32 takeaways, forces a couple of turnovers and, more importantly, cashes in on them. Eagles, who toppled the Barons 48-35 in Manheim last year, will need more than the 12 points they scored in Week 6 in Denver to win the rematch.
WHY THE BARONS WILL WIN: Like the first meeting, Manheim Central’s o-line comes out swinging and gains early control of the line of scrimmage. Barons’ 1-2 backfield punch of Marc Royer (1,824 rushing yards, 21 TD) and Ian Hanselman (1,040 rushing yards, 20 TD) each top or at least approach 100 yards and a TD apiece. Royer raced for 145 yards and a TD and Hanselman had a TD run in the first game. Manheim Central LBs Hanselman (74 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks), Taylor Geib (60 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks) and Justin Moreno (101 tackles, 3 sacks) dominate, not letting Moser get second level while forcing Janis to pitch the ball and not escape. And the Barons own special teams, pinning Cocalico deep, making them go 80 or more yards all night.
POSTSEASON SNAPSHOT: Cocalico, which beat Gettysburg (43-8) and Lancaster Catholic (35-21) to get here, is 15-13 in the District 3 playoffs, with AAA runner-up finishes in 2010 and 1997. … Manheim Central, which beat Garden Spot (34-17) and held off Susquehanna Township (17-14) to get here, is 46-9 in District 3 playoff games; Barons are here for the 26th time, and are angling for their 17th championship.
REINHART SAYS: Fantastic all-L-L Section 2 rematch in this one. Cocalico (+6) and Manheim Central are a combined 23-1, are both ranked in the top-5 in practically every major L-L stat category, and have become fierce rivals the last couple of years. Now tack on the win-or-go-home element, and this one has instant classic written all over it.
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