HS Football preview: Elco closing in on first section title in 20 years

Pat Huggins
Lebanon Daily News
The anchor of Elco's offensive line, senior Logan Tice, stretches prior to a 40-10 win over Annville-Cleona earlier this season.

It's been 20 years since the Elco football team won a section title.

But that wait may soon be over. Friday night, to be exact.

That's when the unbeaten Raiders (5-0, 4-0) will look to clinch the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 title in a matchup with second-place and once-beaten Columbia in Myerstown. Elco's last section championship came in 2000, when it captured the Section 3 crown under current Manheim Township coach Mark Evans.

Bob Miller's Raiders have reached the brink of the section title, clinching at least a tie with last week's win vs. Northern Lebanon, on the strength of a powerful rushing attack fronted by senior QB Braden Bohannon, who has piled up 706 yards on the ground and 13TDs.

Freshman Jake Williams is also a formidable part of Elco's run game, averaging over 10 yards a carry on his 421 yards, as are Luke Williams (29-204) and Cameron Martin (27-205).

Elco has won games both convincingly and narrowly this season. It routed Annville-Cleona 40-10, Pequea Valley 53-14 and Northern Lebanon 36-7, while overcoming fourth quarter deficits in a 28-27 win over Ephrata and a 22-19 triumph on the road at Octorara. In short, the Raiders find a way to get the job done, no matter the circumstances, which is why it is currently No. 2 in the 4A district power rankings.

They'll be challenged Friday night by a resurgent Columbia program, whose only setback came in a 27-20 loss to Octorara in Week 3.

The Crimson Tide are an explosive bunch, led by quarterback Robert Footman, who has fired 12 TD passes, and are averaging 34.8 points per game.

Running back Steven Rivas (56-393, 7 TDs) and receiver Keegan Zink (19-440, 4 TDs) are also big-play threats for Columbia, which routed Annville-Cleona 44-7 last week.

Also this week...

Penn Manor at Cedar Crest, 7 p.m.

Finally, a little schedule relief for the Falcons, who just went through the meat-grinder portion of their schedule with back-to-back-to-back losses to Manheim Township, Hempfield and Wilson.

Now 1-4, Cedar Crest looks to get well against a winless Penn Manor squad that was idle last week due to coronavirus concerns. When last on the field Oct.9, Penn Manor fell to Township 14-6.

Octorara at Annville-Cleona, 7 p.m.

Fresh off that 44-7 thumping by Columbia, the Dutchmen return home to scrap with 4-1 Octorara, coming off a 49-27 beating of Pequea Valley.

Now 2-3, A-C has shown improvement in recent weeks due in part to the running back duo of Rogan Harter and Alex Long, but will be severely tested by an Octorara club whose only defeat was that narrow setback vs. Elco a few weeks back.

Pequea Valley at Northern Lebanon, 7 p.m.

Somebody's gonna come out of this game with a smile on their face for the first time this season, as 0-4 Pequea visits the 0-5 Vikings.

Though neither has had a lot go right this season, Pequea has been the more potent offensive team, averaging close to 22 points per game. The Vikings, meanwhile, have posted just 9.4 points per contest.

Palmyra at Mifflin County, 7 p.m.

The bad news is the Cougars face a long road trip Friday. The good news is it might be worth the trek.

Both squads are struggling mightily, off to 0-3 starts, and Palmyra, in particular, needs a pick-me-up after last week's brutal 42-0 loss to Cedar Cliff.

Saturday's game

Donegal at Lebanon, 7 p.m.

After a COVID-related siesta last week, the Cedars get back to work with a rare Saturday matinee matchup at Alumni Stadium.

Lebanon is still off to a 3-1 start powered by the duo of QB Isaiah Rodriguez and Alex Rufe, while Donegal, also idle last week, is 2-2 but has been outscored 70-7 in its last two games vs. Lampeter-Strasburg and Garden Spot.

Week 5 Top Individual performances

Braden Bohannon, Elco

Who else? Bohannon turned in another stellar performance in Elco's win at Northern Lebanon, rushing for 107 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 36-7 win.

Alex Long, Annville-Cleona

The sophomore running back continued to blossom, rushing for 81 yards on 15 carries in A-C's loss to Columbia.

Ethan Heisey, Cedar Crest

Heisey continued his productive season, catching 3 passes for 45 yards and a TD in the Falcons' loss to Wilson.