DENVER – Section Four of the Lancaster Lebanon League is as competitive as it gets in PA high school football. Friday night two league arch rivals Cocalico and Lampeter-Strasburg went toe to toe. When the dust settled, the Cocalico Eagles (4-1) vaunted running attack prevailed over L-S (4-1) 24-10.
The Cocalico offensive line performed admirably all night long. Drive after drive, the road graders up front just kept clearing the way for the Eagles ground attack. The Eagles defense forced two important drive-stopping interceptions as well.
Cocalico set the tone early. The Eagles held L-S in check on its opening drive and then marched the length of the field on its opening possession.
@CocalicoSports Touchdown! QB Josh Meyer dives across from the 1 to cap the Eagles clock eating opening drive. It’s 6-0 over @LSFootball1 2:47 quarter 1 @BadgleyBruce @HSFBamerica @PremiunSports pic.twitter.com/ZHGcolcI6T
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) September 22, 2023
Cocalico extended the lead in quarter two, where else but on the ground.
How did Sam Steffey get through there? 27 yards for the @CocalicoSports TD! 2 pointer is good. 14-0 over @LSFootball1 10:03 until halftime. Oh my! @HSFBamerica @BadgleyBruce @PremiunSports @AndyBrackets pic.twitter.com/7GA2LN6anB
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) September 22, 2023
The Eagles’ special teams stepped up with a nice field goal in quarter two.
Todd Becker boots a 34 yard field goal for @CocalicoSports and it’s 17-0 over @LSFootball1 1:15 until halftime @LancLebLeague @HSFBamerica @AndyBrackets @BadgleyBruce pic.twitter.com/XNToc5L5H1
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) September 22, 2023
L-S best drive of the first half yields a field goal to close it to 17-3 at the break.
At the first half horn it’s Peter Fiorello with a 35 yard field goal to get @LSFootball1 on the board. @CocalicoSports still on top 17-3 at halftime. Great las two minutes of the first half. @HSFBamerica @AndyBrackets @LancLebLeague @BadgleyBruce @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/tDpI9UEGm6
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) September 22, 2023
L-S started out in the 2nd half with a good drive. The Pioneers get near the goal line but come up empty.
@CocalicoSports with a big block of an @LSFootball1 field goal attempt Eagles still up 17-3 6:15 quarter 3 @HSFBamerica @AndyBrackets @BadgleyBruce pic.twitter.com/RaX1a9Neke
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) September 23, 2023
On its next drive, L-S gets the ball in the end zone to draw within 17-10.
Oh man watch @LSFootball1 QB Trent Wagner hit Drexton Frank in stride. Two plays later Wagner hits Dean Herr for the TD. @CocalicoSports still hanging on to a 17-10 lead 2:20 quarter 3. Here we go! @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica @BadgleyBruce @AndyBrackets pic.twitter.com/XGuyNsOwXT
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) September 23, 2023
Cocalico struck right back with a 75-yard Longenecker TD run to make it 24-10. Most of quarter four was a defensive struggle and ball-control drives by Cocalico. L-S could not mount a drive and we finished 24-10 for the Eagles. Cocalico travels to meet a tough ELCO squad next week. L-S hosts Octorara.
Aaryn Longenecker the INT this time for @CocalicoSports Still up 24-10 over @LSFootball1 9:34 quarter 4 @LancLebLeague @HSFBamerica @AndyBrackets @BadgleyBruce pic.twitter.com/p9CeWAb22D
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) September 23, 2023