Youth Football Weekly Round-Up: September 21

This feature recaps last weekend’s action from the youth football organizations that chose to partner with LebCoSports.  Much of the reporting below is written by the dedicated volunteers within these organizations.  

     Falcon Youth Football

Red Rose Midget Football League Age group information 

B (2-1)          Falcons 6 v Penn Manor 13

C (1-2)          Falcons 0 v Penn Manor 12

D (0-2-1)      Falcons 8 v Penn Manor 13

• • • The Falcons traveled to Penn Manor on Saturday, a day after the two communities clashed in high school action.
    • The Falcons “B” Team suffered their first loss of the season.  They got off to a slow start, with Penn Manor rushing out to a 13-point lead.  The Falcons fought hard, but could not find the offense needed even as they held the Junior Comets in check the rest of the game.  The coaching staff expressed how proud they were of the boys, as this game could have been ugly had they not increased their intensity as the game progressed.
    • The Falcons “C” Team was dealing with injuries that kept many players out action, leaving the remaining players outmatched and overwhelmed.  They kept the game close, but in the end could not make up for the personnel issues.
    • Like the “B” team, the Falcon “D” Team found themselves in a 13-point hole early in the game.  Like their older counterparts, they didn’t back down and held the Junior Comets in check.  The Falcon coaching staff challenged the players to score, to which they responded with a five play drive that was capped off with a touchdown run by Mason Kleinfelter, his first of the season.  With a 2-poiny conversion, Cameron Wamsher cut the Penn Manor lead to five.  Unfortunately, just as the Falcons caught fire, the Comets were able to use a victory formation to take the clock to :00.
    • Up Next: The Falcons host Manheim Central on Sunday afternoon.

     Lebanon Friendship Cedars

Red Rose Midget Football League Age group information 

B (0-3)     Cedars 0 @ Solanco 44

C (0-3)     Cedars 0 @ Solanco 33

D (0-3)     Cedars 13 @ Solanco 26

     Lebanon Raiders

CFA – Federal Conference Age group information 

Midgets (4-0)     Raiders 33 @ Red Land Patriots 0

Ponies (0-4)        Raiders 0 @ Red Land Patriots 12

Peewees (2-2)     Raiders 13 @ Red Land Patriots 0

Smurfs                 Exhibition/Developmental

• • • The Midget Raiders continued their win streak with a decisive win.  Nelson Richardson scored twice, once on a punt return and the other one coming off a 60-yard run.  Xzavier Baker added a touchdown on a 74-yard rushing play.  Quarterback Sincere Burrus threw two touchdowns in the win, with the first being a 45-yard strike to Alex Jones and the other being a 53-yard passing play to Arnez Allen.  The defense fed off of the offensive energy and shut down Red Land through all four quarters.
    • The Raider Pony squad lost this week, but there were some highlight runs that gained ground, but a tough Red Land defense ultimately stopped them from hitting paydirt.  The coaches feel that they are much better than their record and expect this team to put up a dub sooner rather than later.
    • The Raider Peewees dominated in their win this week. Offensively, quarterback Patrick Fields scored two running touchdowns using his legs.  These scores put the Raiders up, as a pack of Raiders was a strong defensive force kept Red Land out of the end zone.
    • The Raider Smurf players took a tough loss this week in their developmental game, but they continued to stay on the field, trying their hardest.  The coaching staff made it a point to commend their players for sticking it out and finishing the game strong, even in the absence of available substitute players.
    • Up Next: The Raiders travel on Sunday to take on the East Pennsboro Panthers.

The Raider Midgets enjoying their 4-0 start

The young Raiders getting coached up

     Myerstown Panthers

Berks Area Youth Football League Age group information 

Midget (1-1)      Panthers 19 @ Muhlenberg Mules 25

Mites (1-1)         Panthers 0 @ Muhlenberg Mule 41

Mighty Mites (1-1)     Panthers 21 @ Muhlenberg Mule 7

• • • Week Two action in Berks Area Youth Football League (BAYFL) found Myerstown traveling to visit league newcomer Muhlenberg.
    • The Midget Panthers scored on the opening drive marching 66 yds and eating the clock up for almost the entire 1^st quarter.  Muhlenberg returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, which set off a see-saw battle for the rest of the contest. Myerstown’s Chandler Gass proved huge as he rushed for two scores, which included a 38-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 18 a piece. With 1:32 left in regulation, Muhlenberg answered with a rushing touchdown and a successful PAT putting the Mules ahead 25-18.  With time expiring, quarterback Gavin Yeaser drove the Panthers down the field in a valiant comeback effort that fell just short.
    • A very big, very talented Muhlenberg team handled the Panther Mites from start to finish to hand Myerstown a 41-point loss.
    • The Panther Mighty Mites came out on fire and posted a 26-point victory.  In what could only be described as a strong defensive effort, Myerstown did not allow the Mules offense to register a single first down.  On offense, Tucker Roberts had 3 touchdowns and Bennett Staudt added another. The Panthers’ Owen Hall helped his team convert successfully on three PATs.
    • Up Next: Myerstown is home on Sunday as they host the Reading Nightmare at Rager Field.

     Northern Lebanon Vikings

CFA – Federal Conference Age group information 

Midgets (2-2)     Vikings 26 v Cumberland Valley Eagles 6

Ponies (3-1)        Vikings 21 @ Steelton Li’l Rollers 6

Peewees (1-3)     Vikings 0 @ Steelton Li’l Rollers 6 (OT)

Smurfs                Exhibition/Developmental

• • • This past Saturday at Northern Lebanon High School, the NLMFA Vikings hosted a long day of games that included varsity and junior varsity games.
    • The junior varsity pony team lost to the York Bears, while the junior varsity midgets defeated the Harrisburg Cougars.
    • The Viking Midgets entered action on a two-game losing streak.  They put together a total team effort and ended the streak with a 20-point victory.  The MVP of the game was quarterback Owen Fahringer, as he threw for 225 yards and four touchdowns.  He added 50 yards rushing.  The Northern Lebanon receivers who scored touchdowns were Jaxin Bush (18 yards), Bryce Yocum (46 yards), and Brady Ryan who scored two (37 yards and 48 yards).  The offensive line gave their quarterback great protection and time to sling the ball. The young men who dominated the trenches were Caden Wolfe, Christian Spencer, Mason Adams, Landon Graby, and Kaiden Killian.
    • The Viking Pony squad extended their winning streak to 3, defeating the Steelton Li’l Rollers 21-6.  In the only score of the first half came off of a Markus Miller touchdown run.  Coming out of halftime, the Rollers were able to put six on the board with a successful opening drive.  The Vikings responded by putting the pedal to the metal, tacking on two more touchdowns.  Both scores were the result of runs, one by Jackson Bomberger and the other by Jonathon Zimmerman.  The MVP of this game was the DEFENSE, as they made key stops all game long and held Steelton to visit to the end zone.
    • The Viking Peewee team engaged in the most competitive game of the day, as they fell to the Steelton Li’l Rollers 6-0 in overtime. In this game, a major positive was that they welcomed back Luke Copenhaver, who had missed the first three games of the season due to injury. It didn’t take long for Copenhaver to make an impact. He had multiple tackles on the day and an interception that was a pick-six . . . before it was called back for a penalty. While this team is 1-3, they are poised to turn their season around and make a playoff push the second half of the season.
    • The Viking Smurf squad battled the Steelton Li’l Rollers. The youngest Vikes played hard and showed great effort, but had a tough time containing the Rollers. Kyson Clark was a bright spot for the Smurfs with several nice runs, taking one in for a touchdown.
    • Up Next: The Vikings travel to Chambersburg in what will mark the mid-point of the season.

Northern Lebanon High School hosted Youth Football Night

   Palmyra Cougars

 CFA – Liberty Conference    Age group information 

Midgets (4-0)     Cougars 43 @ Gettysburg Warriors 0

Ponies (2-2)        Cougars 25 @ Gettysburg Warriors 14

Peewees (4-0)    Cougars 21 @ Gettysburg Warriors 0

Smurfs                  Exhibition/Developmental

• • • In week four action, the Palmyra Youth Cougars traveled to Gettysburg, entrenching themselves deep at Warrior Stadium near Culp’s Hill for a battle on the gridiron. After the smoke cleared, it was the Cougars still standing after the Warriors onslaught.
    • The Midget Cougars were out for revenge against the Warriors, who knocked them (the then Pony team) out of the Semi-Finals in 2019. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire and the Midget team, rotating deep into the bench early on, left the earth scorched. With an effective offense and a punishing defense, the Cougars made up for their pre-covid loss.
    • The Pony Cougars stepped into Warrior Stadium the underdog against a Gettysburg team that was 3 and 0. Coming out of halftime up by 7, their mindset was set to a 0 – 0 game. The Pony team began to pour it on over the ground and air. Defensively, they adapted on the field to offensive changes with little to no hiccups.
    • The Peewee Cougars offense stalled early against a stingy Warrior defense. But it was the Cougars’ defense that added the first points to the board with a safety. This proved to be the spark the team needed to roar back and command the field for the remainder of the game.
    • The Smurf Cougars met an equal opponent and were tested mentally and physically. A few early splash plays by the Cougars were met with clock chewing drives by the Warriors. It was a big on big, speed on speed slobber knocker of a young developmental exhibition.
    • With the road to the CFA Superbowl going through Palmyra for the first round of playoffs on October 29th and 30th, all three competition teams are fervently pursuing the same goal. They want to change Palmyra into a “football town” and feel it starts with them.
    • Up Next:  Palmyra crosses the river into Perry County to pay a visit to the Susquenita Blackhawks.

• Palmyra carries their flag into battle

If you are looking to provide feedback or are a business or individual interested in providing sponsorship to aid our mission at LebCoSports, you are asked to contact Dan by emailing dan@lebcosports.com.