The Game: District 3 “AAA” Championship game
Where: Hersheypark Stadium
When: Friday, Nov. 28th, 2008, kickoff @ 7 p.m.
Don’t look now, but that team that no one wants to play on Thanksgiving weekend is back. Maybe it took a three-year hiatus, but once again, that football team so synonymous with Hershey Stadium and Chocolatetown is back.
That team is Manheim Central. Their quest is the school’s first District 3 “AAA” championship since 2005. Their challenger: the 12-1 West York Bulldogs.
Manheim Central has faced West York twice before in the District 3 playoffs, and both were blowout victories. Central pummeled the Bulldogs 42-7 in the opening round of the 2000 playoffs at McCaskey High School, and crushed WY 57-13 in the opening round of the 2006 playoffs in Manheim.
Two meetings, and two resounding Baron victories by a combined score of 99-20.
But those were different times for the Barons. Well, maybe not in 2006, but most certainly in 2000, when the Barons were on their way to their ninth District 3 championship in a row and a berth in the Eastern Final against Strath Haven, where Central bowed, 21-0.
MC wound up winning another District crown in 2001, the school’s tenth in a row. After a stunning defeat to Lower Dauphin, Central went on a three-year run from 2003-’05 in which it won 40 games, two Eastern Finals, and one PIAA title. Two of those Baron teams scored 600 points or more, and one of those Barons, standout wide receiver Graham Zug, is now at Penn State.
Yes, these days are much different for a town which saw its teams claim an impressive 15 titles in a 17-year stretch, with Conestoga Valley in 1991 and Lower Dauphin in 2002 being the only exceptions.
But the drought of years without a District title is over. And, while 2005 seems so long ago, this 2008 edition has the chance to bring a 16th title back to Adele Avenue, and only further cram the already-stuffed trophy cases.
Central has made this latest title game run with a variety of athletes. Some can run. Some can catch passes. Some wreak havoc defensively or on special teams. But all have an important role.
MC, which averages 31.7 points per game, relies on five quality running threats. Joe Gruber’s 769 yards and nine touchdowns lead the way. Alex Shenk (372, 3), Justin Gorman (283, 7), Dakota Royer (275, 4), and Dan Trafford (198, 3) all contribute to the Barons’ ground game which averages over 160 yards per game.
Gorman is the field general, but he wasn’t the season starter. That title belonged to Jeremy Knosp, until he injured his shoulder in Week 9. Since then, Gorman has run the offense efficiently, completing 50-of-86 passes for 781 yards and five touchdowns. He also posted a 99-yard touchdown run against Cocalico
Gorman’s favorite targets are Royer (52 rec., 1,065 yards, 5 TD), Trafford (32, 608, 5), and Casey Ebersole (25, 266, 4). Royer is just 135 yards from tying Zug’s 2005 single-season record for receiving yards, which is an even 1,200. And Trafford is a threat on special teams, racking up 481 kick return yards, and a 75-yard punt return touchdown against Mechanicsburg last weekend.
Defensively, Central allows an average of 17.5 points per game, but has been playing rather impressively the past few weeks. Central shut down, at the time, the third-leading rushing offense in the state, which belonged to Cocalico. A week ago, Central bent, but didn’t break, and break means “lose”, to Mechanicsburg, which put forth one of its most talented teams ever.
Lowen Johnson and Travis Ebersole each have over 100 tackles. Royer has 81 tackles and 10 sacks, which gives the D-1 prospect 21.5 career sacks. Casey Ebersole has 53 tackles and a team-best six interceptions.
Top all of that off with District 3’s all-time winningest coach in Mike Williams, and you’ve got a team that, while they aren’t as flashy as before, is still just as tough.
But this team is ready for something else – a District championship.
This three-year wait must feel like forever.
Manheim Central stats from Maxpreps.com and Baronsfootball.com.
2 responses to “District 3 “AAA” Championship – Manheim Central Preview”
WY will be without their stud RB as he is out with a broken collarbone
Boy that would be so cool to see manheim and berwick in the state final GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!