It’s Labor Day weekend which usually means one of two things. First, it’s time –begrudgingly for some folks – to put the boogie boards, umbrellas and coolers away for good as it marks the unofficial death of summer. Secondly, while this long weekend may signify an untimely passing unless of course, you’ve been itching to get the fall decorations out of the closet I suppose, it also marks a rebirth. The rebirth of the football season.
Sure, while only a small handful of college football games have been played thus far, the NFL hasn’t even started yet, the high school football season in the state of Pennsylvania, on the other hand, has picked up the slack and is already starting to come into bloom. And granted, while Labor Day marks for what a vast majority of teams from around the state would be their second contest of the early season, whether you consider it to either be fair or foul to say this part out loud, some of these very same matchups contained within the Week 2 slate could easily be labeled as “season-defining” collisions. Just take York High at Hempfield for instance.
Do you hear that sound, Landisville? That’s the sound of the alarm blaring out in your neighborhood. Don’t worry though. It’s not meant to be a nerve-wracking type of alert mind you. After all, if there was ever a year for the Hempfield Black Knights to rise up and shake free its usual position of residing in the middle to lower ranks of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section One rank and file and finally ascend to the upper crust of the divisional standings, 2022 certainly figures to be the year. Yes, while they lost the beloved services of one bowling ball turned quarterback from last year’s squad, Cam Harbaugh, the Black Knights certainly brought back a plethora of weapons from last year’s District 3 6A playoff crew, including the likes of tailback Grant Hoover, alongside wideouts Andy Garcia and Julian Morales to name just a select few as far as the skill positions are concerned. And while it may be just one week of returns submitted thus far, you’d have to like what Hempfield did their last time out in marauding over to York County and keeping a lid on the Dallastown offense throughout the span of 48 minutes, a Dallastown offense that possesses the likes of future Pitt Panther wideout Kenny Johnson no less, to the tune of a 30-13 triumph in rolling out of the chute with a 1-0 mark. Yep, while the ground outside their school may be parched and brown at the moment thanks to a drought courtesy of Mother Nature, the hopes for the football squad this year could probably flood the entire campus out.
Now, you want to hang with the elites in Section One you say, right? Okay, well here comes another monster in your nonconference schedule screaming straight ahead in your direction.
If ever the mantra of never judging a book by its cover were true, rest assured it would be placed upon this group of York High Bearcats that rolled into Georgelis Law Firm Stadium on a picturesque Friday night to engage in battle with their hosts.
You see, while their record might have displayed a pedestrian 0-1 mark coming into this week, this certainly wasn’t your ordinary lid-lifter that the ‘Cats partook of last week. So out of ordinary in the fact that it had been done before. That of course was the inaugural Peach Bowl Classic held last Friday and Saturday at Chambersburg High School. York’s assignment in Chambersburg? Oh, just one of your usual power brokers from the 6A WPIAL crop in Woodland Hills is all. Yeah, York didn’t really have an appetite for cupcakes to begin the campaign it would seem. And while they’d battle tooth and nail throughout, Woodland Hills would be just four points better on this day at least, prevailing in a white-knuckle 28-24 final decision. And if you’re into returning skill position players, how about a future Big 12 running back who will be toting the rock at this time next year in Morgantown, West Virginia in York High’s Jahiem White and a wily veteran operating behind center with the kind of high IQ that only a coach’s son could offer slinging the ball around the yard in quarterback Sam Stoner? Are we good with all that?
Needless to say, this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill second outing of the young season for either side on Friday night. Rest assured, with two sides the caliber of York High and Hempfield squaring off nose-to-nose with one another coupled with incredibly high hopes for the remaining eight weeks and beyond from this point forward, this upcoming 48-minute battle royale would most assuredly be a litmus test for both. And while it might have taken 47:48 to determine the eventual victor, it would prove to be the Black Knights who would shine the brightest on this wild and crazy night once the final gun fired.
In terms of starting things off, Hempfield couldn’t have drawn it up any better had they employed the services of a Hollywood scriptwriter.
After holding the high-powered Bearcats’ offense to a prompt three-and-out to begin the evening’s proceedings, the Black Knights’ offensive unit trotted out for the first time on their home turf this season, albeit not exactly the best of residences to call home considering they were tasked with trying to navigate 92 yards down the field following Sam Stoner’s wonderful pooch punt.
No matter.
With Grant Hoover appearing to pick up right where he left in the 2021 campaign, the Black Knights’ slippery, yet equally powerful feature back rattled off both what would have to be considered eye-popping runs –including a 23-yard gainer – with that of the more mundane variety which was perhaps just as effective as Hoover was constantly seen falling forward amongst a crowd whenever the Bearcats eventually slung him down to the ground. So, with Hoover and his offensive line cohorts largely helping to carry the mail on the Black Knights’ initial journey, the sensational opening salvo authored by Hempfield was later punctuated with a 3-yard touchdown keeper by way of quarterback, Jackson Landis, as the junior signal caller made it a 6-0 affair in favor of the hosts following the missed PAT with just 4:21 left to play in the opening frame.
If the methodology of Hempfield’s pregame plan was to limit York High’s offensive reps on Friday night, that notion worked like a charm. Of course, it always helps if you can get some unsolicited favors as well. In that regard, an IOU needed to write to the Bearcats’ offense in earnest following a fumble on York High’s second offensive play of their second series which was promptly pounced upon by Hempfield’s rapidly ascending junior defensive lineman, Deyvid Palepale, allowing the Knights’ offense to regain control at the York 40-yard line.
This time though, success would shine in the visitor’s favor.
While Hempfield had steadily and methodologically trudged its way forward on this drive too following their defensive theft, the Black Knights would pay dearly for feeling extra adventurous while residing on the precipice of what could have been an early knockout blow.
While staring at a 3rd & goal at the York High 5-yard line, Hempfield opted to put the ball in the air rather than keep it on the ground for what one would have assumed would have been two more offensive plays. Instead, waiting there for the Black Knights’ tricks was York sophomore defensive back, David Warde, as Warde proceeded to skitter all the way home with his newfound prize as the 97-yard interception return for a touchdown knotted things up at 6-6 with 10:04 left to go before the intermission as the Bearcats’ two-point try came up empty.
Unflappable. That had to have been the word to describe exuded by the Black Knights following the gargantuan momentum shift that had just gone against them.
If there are any coaches that are looking for teachable tape in terms of how to execute the screen game, turning on the film from Hempfield’s first half, especially the second quarter on Friday evening, would be most instrumental. In fact, on two separate occasions on Hempfield’s offensive series following the Warde INT, magnificent screens executed on 3rd & 7 and 3rd & 3 to Andy Garcia and Grant Hoover respectively proved vital in terms of helping Hempfield enter in the red zone after beginning the drive at their own 38-yard line. Speaking of passes on third down, their latest would prove to be their most fruitful of all as a 3rd & 7 from Landis to Hoover was good for the 12-yard scoring strike which capped off the gutty Black Knights’ response to adversity, making it a 13-6 ballgame in their favor following Cannon Biscoe’s PAT with 3:59 left before recess.
However, York High would be equally as undeterred as Hempfield had just been.
Upon taking over at their own 31-yard line to begin this drive, the Bearcats’ O got in gear courtesy of Sam Stoner’s legs as the senior leader scampered out of the pocket while also crossing the midfield stripe as the long gainer put York on Hempfield’s 43-yard line within the blink of an eye. From there, using his signature left arm this time, Stoner was able to hook up with fellow senior, Jaheim White, as the 12th-grade duo ushered the York High attack down to the Knights’ 25-yard line. As it turned out, that would be all the further York would need to travel as a 25-yard dime through a crowded window from Stoner to David Warde, Warde’s second TD of the evening, allowed York High to trot into their dressing room likely feeling good about themselves despite what would be their one-point deficit, 13-12, once the final 31 seconds of the first half clock evaporated away following their second unsuccessful two-point attempt of the contest.
While it may have felt like déjà vu at the time, it wasn’t. No, rather this was just Hempfield going back to what had worked the best for them in the opening 24 minutes once they went out on offense to start the third quarter proceedings.
Using those same tactics of old-school football warfare that will forever hold true to form, the Black Knights’ blast to the past showed why you don’t always have to teach an old dog new tricks. Yes, while Hempfield would mix in the forward pass, such as the case when senior wideout, Andy Garcia, made a stupendous snag on a ball thrown behind him on a 3rd & 6 to move the sticks, the ground, and pound package implemented by Hempfield was just as brutal. Case in point, Jackson Landis calling his own number for an 11-yard pickup down to the York High 23-yard line shortly thereafter. Finally, keeping it on the ground would seal the deal for good yet again as a Grant Hoover 10-yard run, the second TD of his night, with a Cannon Biscoe PAT added on top put the Knights up 20-12 with 8:19 left to play in the third.
Suffice to say, while Hempfield would’ve just as easily preferred to drive something with the horsepower akin to that of a cement mixer on this night, the team on the other sideline had a Ferrari they were itching to take off the showroom floor. And once they regained control following the Hempfield score just a moment prior, the Bearcats’ found the left lane of the highway wide open and there for the taking.
In fact, it wouldn’t even take them four minutes to offer their rebuttal.
After slicing up the Black Knights’ D with a series of wonderful throws by way of Sam Stoner, a 12-yard galivant by Jaheim White down to the Hempfield 4-yard line got York High right on the verge of scoring yet again. There, eager to break through the clutches of what he had largely been held in check up until that point in the game, White would dash his way across the chalk for the 4-yard touchdown run. And with their first successful two-point try of the evening having been completed both literally and figuratively from Stoner to 6’6 senior wideout, Omarion Newson, following suit, we suddenly had a knotted-up affair at 20-20 with 4:45 left in the third stanza.
But this sports car was only starting to purr.
After holding Hempfield to what would be their first and only punt of the evening, York High went back out on offense with the ball resting at their own 26-yard line with 3:33 left to go in the quarter. And while York would reach the 50-yard line, a 3rd & 14 was sitting there waiting for them. But just as he had done a variety of times throughout the first half of play, Sam Stoner’s legs proved to be chain movers as the senior’s scramble on said third and long ushered the Bearcats’ attack down to the Hempfield 31-yard line. Then, following a fearless slant by both quarterback and receiver across the middle to senior wideout, Quentin Price, York High found themselves in the Hempfield RedZone with the ball at the 15-yard line. Speaking of trying to dissect their way through the teeth of the Hempfield defense, the Bearcats’ brain trust opted for more of the same from there as a 15-yard dart across the middle yet again from Stoner to David Warde, Warde’s third touchdown of the night, gave York High their first lead of the ballgame, 26-20, following another failed two-point try with just 53 seconds left to go before the game entered its final frame.
But it wouldn’t be a quiet murmur of which Hempfield went into the fourth quarter. Not when you factor in a mammoth Grant Hoover all the way down to the Bearcats’ 1-yard line of course, which is exactly where Hempfield would begin the fourth quarter following the ceremonial flipping of the field for the onset of the new quarter which was about to commence.
Sure enough, one play is all it would take.
There, following Hoover’s chunk play just moments prior, a 1-yard quarterback keeper by way of Jackson Landis put Hempfield back in front following the PAT, 27-26, with just five seconds having bled off the fourth quarter clock.
And after holding York High to what would be a turnover on downs just a hair past the midfield emblem on the Bearcats’ ensuing offensive series, it appeared as if Hempfield could finally tally that precious knockout blow. However, even despite the fact that the Knights would chew up a whole bunch of clocks on its ensuing drive, a 4th & 2 attempt was snuffed out by the Bearcats defensively, giving new life to the York High crew.
They wouldn’t disappoint.
Factually speaking, it took the ‘Cats all of one play to surge back in command as Jaheim White had somehow gotten lost from the Hempfield defense which proved costly as the 77-yard hookup from Stoner to White propelled York out to the 32-27 cushion with 3:31 left to go as the Bearcats’ two-point try fell just a knat’s eyelash away from being successful and crossing the goal line.
Then, with Hempfield proceeding to turn it over on downs in their own right to close out their next offensive possession, all hope appeared to be lost for the patrons of the home team. Well, maybe that should’ve been the case, but there was a dose of untapped magic still left for someone to find.
Yes, even though York High took over with a five-point lead needing just one first down to close this marvelous high school football game out, self-inflicted wounds were, by and large, the only thing that could’ve prevented a happy bus ride home across the Susquehanna for the guests.
Uh oh.
After getting hit with what was absolutely the last thing that the Bearcats needed to see, a dead ball personal foul call whistled against them, the task of simply picking up 10 yards and bringing out the victory formation the rest of the way quickly went up in smoke. Instead, the series would feature a 3rd & 17, eventually leading to a 4th & 12, as York High opted to punt the ball away to Hempfield at their own 46-yard line needing one final stop.
They wouldn’t get it.
Despite the fact that Hempfield was empty-handed in the timeout department, needing to travel 81 yards in 51 seconds, added in with the fact that what their offense had demonstrated up until that point rather rightly or wrongly was considered anything but “quick strike,” the task at hand seemed nothing if not arduous. But then again, if you want to take over in L-L Section One, here’s a great opportunity to show what you got.
While it was a big play out of the chute on this series, a Jackson Landis toss to Micah Gates along the Hempfield sideline which propelled the Knights to the York High 45-yard line, also would prove to be an excellent use of foreshadowing. Then, three plays later, after having picked up just three yards, a successful 3rd & 7 from Landis to Julian Morales moved the sticks for a 13-yard gainer down to the Bearcats’ 29-yard line.
Remember the Landis to Gates hookup? Well, rest assured that York High certainly does, and probably will for years to come, as a wonderful post pattern executed by the Hempfield 6’0 junior wideout who wound up in the corner of the endzone received the reward of a lifetime with the game on the line, a lofted pass heaved in his direction by his fellow junior classmate as the eventual 29-yard touchdown strike between the pair with all of 12 seconds remaining put Hempfield up by a 35-32 count.
In the end though, while the contest seemed to take on the overall tenor and vibe that whoever would possess the ball last would likely triumph, that technically would not be the case after all as York High’s last-ditch effort with essentially no time left to work with went to no avail, effectively serving Hempfield with a landmark early season triumph as the Black Knights were able to escape with a thrilling three-point victory over a game York High Bearcats club, 35-32, which vaulted them out the Knights out a 2-0 record thus far in the early campaign.
Afterward, likely feeling gassed in the same way as if he too had just gone 48 minutes in that 6A heavyweight bout himself that had just taken place, Hempfield head man, George Eager, was nonetheless cognizant to decipher what his club had just accomplished.
“Pride,” Eager said without hesitation. “Just the idea of overcoming all that adversity. There were some things in the second half that put us in that position that we could have done better, timeout-wise by the coaching staff and things like that, but just that response. You talk about adversity. Every coach says it, but when it’s there, what do you do? Our guys responded. It feels just like a proud father moment,” Eager added with a smile while also having to talk over the cavern of noise that was still enveloping the home team’s sideline in the postgame fracas.
And sure, while this was a big win in and of itself, Eager and his crew know that while they’ll eat well this weekend, there are far bigger fish left for them to fry throughout these next eight weeks and beyond.
“I’ll be honest, and I know it’ll be a cliché, but we talk all the time about how tough our schedule is,” he stated. “We can’t look ahead simply because we can’t. We have to take this one game at a time. But we did say to ourselves, ‘Between Dallastown, York, or Central York, and I don’t mean this in any sort of disrespecting manner to the rest, but you figure one of those three is going to win York-Adams. Out of these first weeks, we’re going to play a playoff team. If we want to be one ourselves, we have to compete.’ Now, we’re just focused on Central York next week because again, they’re probably a playoff team too.”
Yet as mentioned, the earmarks are there, and evidence that the rebirth of the Hempfield football program is rapidly approaching if it’s not already lying not so peacefully in the weeds as of this moment. And if anyone would know that best, it would probably be someone with the resume of George Eager who has been just about everywhere the Hempfield administration needed him to be prior to taking over control of the program in Landisville when you consider that Eager cut his teeth on staffs at Manheim Township, Wilson, and Franklin & Marshall University, his alma mater. Suffice it to say, when he speaks, his players would be wise to bend an ear or two. Fortunately for him, they are.
“We have a great senior class,” Eager said beaming with pride. “Everyone talks about the coaching staff, but these (seniors) were the first ones to be with us. This is my third year, so they’ve been with us for three years. Those who’ve stayed have bought in. There were many, many, many of their teammates that left. Many left because we demanded so much,” he added. “Many got out, but these guys stayed. Those that have stayed believed and it’s paid off because they are making the biggest of plays for us.”
NEXT UP: As Eager mentioned in the postgame media session, while Hempfield is out taking the L-L Section One title this season, the Black Knights will look to officially staking their claim as unofficial YAIAA Section One champs for the 2022 campaign when they take on Central York next week back at home in hopes of making it a 3-0 start before the true divisional slate begins in earnest with a date from McCaskey looming the week afterward.
For York High, the Bearcats left Lancaster County late on Friday night with a somewhat puzzling 0-2 record next to their name after the first 14 days of the season. Sure enough, as is the case when playing with the big boys in the 6A ranks, there’s nobody you can really dodge away from. Case in point, the Bearcats’ Week 3 opponent, the Carlisle Thundering Herd, a 2-0 outfit fresh out a dismantling of what has been arguably District 3’s best of franchises over the last couple of years, Governor Mifflin, in a 48-14 romp on Friday night.
