All-State quarterback Kyle Smith could only watch the game from the sidelines as his team fell to the Manheim Central Barons 42-12 in a non-league game Friday night at Rossmere Stadium.
Manheim coach Mike Williams said, ”Let’s face it. They’re a different team without him.”
With Smith on the sidelines, Lancaster Catholic had to go to sophomore backup quarterback Sean Gibbons. The Barons defense attacked him all night. Gibbons hung tough in the pocket and took several big hits.
Lancaster Catholic stayed tough in the first quarter as both teams could not get a score. The Barons dominated the second quarter, scoring three touchdowns.
Barons’ quarterback Justin Gorman hit Derek Hart for a 26-yard touchdown pass and the Barons led 7-0.
The Crusaders looked like they were going to counter the Barons score when Gibbons hit a wide-open Quinn Houser inside the Barons 5 yard line. But a penalty called back the big play and the Crusaders would have to punt.
The Barons next two scores would come by the run. Joe Gruber had a 3-yard touchdown run and Dan Trafford had a 5-yard run.
Derek Hart’s interception set up a Trafford touchdown with 1:21 to go in the half.
Gruber said the interception was a, “huge game changing play.”
The Barons went into halftime leading 21-0.
The Crusaders would get on the scoreboard when Tyler Purvis scored on a 30-yard interception in the third quarter. They trailed 21-6.
The Barons would add two more scores in the third quarter. Gruber scored on a 20-yard run. Gorman hit Hart for a 7-yard touchdown pass.
Barons led 35-6 going into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter both teams were able to score. Gruber scored his third touchdown of the night on a 63-yard run. The Crusaders Jordan Stewart scored on a 7-yard run.
In the end, the Barons went on to win 42-12 over Lancaster Catholic.
These 2009 Barons are clicking on all cylinders with big wins over Wilson West Lawn and Lancaster Catholic in back-to-back games.
Justin Gorman threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns. His running back Joe Gruber finished the game with 137 yards.
Manheim Central (3-0) hosts Cocalico next week. Lancaster Catholic (2-1) travels to Donegal.
7 Responses
when all else fails… blame awful reffing. I am not sure how officiating can account for a 30 point loss? Maybe losing the All-State QB would account for the 30 point loss.
LCHS could have won this game with a few plays going the other way:
1- Houser long TD reception not called back
2- Stewart doesn’t fumble
3- Incomplete pass to Royer correctly called a fumble (LC defender would have scored a TD)
4- No garbage time TD
LC played Manheim mostly to a stalemate at half time.
Contrary to media reports, LCHS defense DID stop Manheim’s “Spread Gun” (whatever that is) several times. But without the usually dominant Kyle Smith offense, the LCHS Defense was just worn down by playing most of the game.
Except for Royer streaking down the field, the rest of Manheim’s offense looks simply above-average, nothing special. The QB Gorman is nothing magical.
LCHS will have the longer playoff run.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Manheim sitting home after the District title game.
I don’t agree on the lateral pass. Too bad Blue Ridge via PCN didn’t replay it exactly as it was shown on TV. It was close but it was a forward pass!! Agree refs were bad especially when MC #4 pulled down LC QB for a big 4th down loss by his jersey (clearly seen on replay) but was called for a face mask setting up LC’s second TD. So, boys we can beat this around all over the place LC was hurt by not having Kyle but LC’s defense was nowhere to be found Friday night…gave up over 450 yards….ouch!!
Lancaster Catholic only had 30 yds of total offense in the first half. I don’t know how you believe they were going to put up all these points. At the half MC (Not MCA that’s Mount Carmel Area especially in your area)MC had 225 total yds and LC had 30 rushing 0 passing. Yes the lateral was a bad call but the deep ball was called back b/c the kid that was wide open and caught the pass committed the illegal motion.Do you think if LC had that lead you think they should have had they would have been able to protect it with no offense and a defense that gave up 450+ yds Phil? Thanks!
Kyle has a high ankle sprain. Flippenplil is 100%
correct about the refs. This also true about Manheims game last weeks against Wilson.
i watched all the way up until 5 mins to go in the first half of the game on pcn, and let me tell you LC should have been up 14-0 but the refs did an aweful aweful job. a latteral pass behind the line of scrimmage 2 plays prior to MCA td was scooped up and ran in the open back field and the play was blown dead. then that run to the 3tard line called back was BS.
With better refs, and a qb LC will win this come playoffs.
The Better team Loss. But i will say, LC soph qb needs to improve to keep them in PO contentions if he is going to be playing any more games this season.
What happened to Kyle Smith?