The Roger Allen Story (TCY)

[Big Six]

I decided to do something different with the season preview this year. Here's the projected offensive starting lineup for the 2006 Lancaster Lancers, defending champion of the Keystone Eight Conference:

POS   NO  NAME                CL   HT    WT   CUR/FUT  HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
QB    18  Norman Griffis      Sr  6'3"   201   38/47   Pittsburgh, PA/Oliver     
RB    29  Cris Middleton      Sr  5'11"  211   29/29   Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg
FB    21  Bobby DeMoen        Sr  5'10"  219   31/32   Crown Point, NY/Central  
WR     2  A.J. Goldberg       Sr  5'11"  191   43/56   Wyncote, PA/Cheltenham
TE    81  Archie Grosz        Jr  6'4"   243   37/62   Wyandotte, MI/Roosevelt 
LT    78  Jim Hamilton        Fr  6'3"   280   33/79   Circleville, WV/Circleville
LG    73  Zack Starks         Fr  6'6"   328   51/95   Philadelphia, PA/Horace Furness
C     59  Dixon Sampson       Fr  6'3"   276   19/84   Rockville, MD/Thomas S. Woolton     
RG    72  Lionel Arceo        Sr  6'3"   288   50/64   Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park
RT    60  Carl Neumeyer       Sr  6'5"   290   11/41   Pottstown, PA/Pottstown

The Lancers offensive is not at all subtle. Coach Roger Allen and offensive coordinator Ian Gallardo both like to pound the ball on the ground, and few teams in college football do it as well as the Lancers did last year. And, since the Lancers return an All-American guard and five other All-Keystone Conference players on the offensive side of the ball, don't expect anything less from this year's team.

QB Norman Griffis was the K8's Offensive Player of the Year and MVP in 2004. His ability to run the option leads some to overlook his passing ability; Griffis takes pride in his ability to move a team through the air.

A full stable of productive running backs gives the Lancer offense plenty of weapons. Cris Middleton gained almost 800 yards and scored 10 touchdowns this year; he and fullback Bobby DeMoen made first team All-Keystone Eight. They'll both be pushed hard by talented freshmen who will allow Coach Allen to keep his ballcarriers good and fresh.

When the Lancers take to the air, Griffis can count on his favorite target, A.J. Goldberg. The senior is a two-time All-K8 selection, and he's caught 14 TD passes in two seasons. Tight end Archie Grosz emerged as a dangerous receiver during 2005 as well.

The Lancer offensive line is led by guard Lionel Arceo, who is one of the best O-linemen in the nation. Arceo, whose punishing blocks often pave the way for big gains, made second team All-America in 2005. Three highly-touted redshirt freshmen will start for Lancaster this year: guard Zack Starks, tackle Jim Hamilton, and center Dixon Sampson. Coach Allen shifted Hamilton from guard to tackle, at least for this year, in order to get him onto the field. Senior Carl Neumeyer will start at right tackle.

Here are some of the other players who could play key roles for the Lancers' offensive unit this year:

POS   NO  PLAYER              CL   HT    WT   CUR/FUT  HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
QB    15  Kevin Kanyuh        Jr  6'0"   197   22/62   Fairmount, IN/Madison-Grant
RB    25  Moe Del Barco       Jr  5'10"  217   16/37   Abington, PA/Abington
RB    45  Luke Cash           Fr  5'11"  210   41/54   Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley
FB    35  Otis Meier          Fr  6'1"   252   31/55   Pittsburgh, PA/Penn Hills
WR    82  Julio Edgeworth     Fr  5'9"   180   40/79   Homer City/Homer-Center
WR    80  Orlando Brovins     Sr  6'4"   216   29/31   Rayville, LA/Rayville
WR     8  Mickey Carpenter    Fr  6'3"   218   39/66   Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove
TE    83  Broderick Creveling Fr  6'4"   244   29/95   Blanchester, OH/Blanchester

Kanyuh, the hero of last year's Lancer win over Scranton and the team's Oyster Bowl victory, is a steady quarterback who proved his ability to lead the team last year. Freshmen Cash and Meier will both play a lot; their upside is tremendous. When the Lancers use two wideouts, Edgeworth will get a chance to showcase his skills. Brovins and Carpenter are both big, tough receivers who are dangerous after the catch. True freshman Creveling has unbelievable potential and will make an impact right away.

Coach Allen has recruited some tremendously talented offensive players since he's arrived in Lancaster. They should begin to make their presence felt on the field this season, and if they do, they'll combine with the team's experienced stars to create some real fireworks. Much depends on the ability of the young linemen to hold their own at the college level.

[Big Six]

Lancaster has a new defensive coordinator this year, and while he has some very talented players to work with, there are also a few question marks present, too.

Wendell Carr replaces Randal Schwartz, who retired after helping shape the 2005 Lancers into the second-best defensive unit in the conference. Carr, 66, brings even more experience to the job. He's a Terrific play caller, and his congenial personality makes him easy for players to approach.

Here are the projected starters for the 2006 Lancers defense:

POS   NO  PLAYER              CL   HT    WT   CUR/POT  HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
LDE   98  Vernon Bailey       Jr  6'2"   251   28/28   Hegins, PA/Tri-Valley
LT    99  Rich Elliott        Sr  6'0"   260   36/36   Punxsutawney, PA/Punxsutawney Area   
RT    91  Tony May            Sr  6'6"   284   35/35   Wilkes-Barre, PA/Hanover Area
RDE   74  Norbert Givens      Fr  6'0"   247   40/81   Burgettstown, PA/Burgettstown
WOLB  96  Walter Roberson     Jr  6'2"   221   13/26   Lake Elsinore, CA/Temescal Canyon 
WILB  47  Sean Whitfield      Sr  6'1"   235   38/55   Carlisle, PA/Carlisle Area    
SILB  46  Derek Bullock       Jr  6'3"   221   39/39   Windber, PA/Windber Area
SOLB  40  Russell Durham      So  6'0"   226   33/81   Pittsburgh, PA/Plum
LCB   43  Edgar White         Sr  5'10"  177   35/39   Newcomerstown, OH/Newcomerstown
RCB   37  Ricky Dawson        Fr  5'10"  172   12/59   Pittsburgh, PA/Plum
FS    22  Jackie Webb         Jr  5'11"  185   36/36   Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen
SS    31  Norbert Stanberry   Sr  6'0"   191   39/39   Bloomfield, IN/Bloomfield
 
 

Tony May, who excels against the run, will be the leader on the D-line. Expect the Lancers to use a four-man front more often, with Rich Elliott moving into the starting lineup. May should be able to handle the shift to a three-technique with ease. Vernon Bailey, a three-year starter, and promising redshirt freshman Norbert Givens will start at end.

Three players with starting experience return to the linebacker corps: Sean Whitfield, Derek Bullock, and Russell Durham. Whitfield should end his career among the all-time leaders in tackles at Lancaster. Bullock and Durham played wll as first-time starters last year.

Coach Allen plans on redshirting star recruit Kennedy Campos this year. Campos is a natural inside linebacker, and rather than shift him to the outside, Allen plans on letting him replace Whitfield next year and have four full years of eligibility.

Edgar White is a skilled, experienced corner, but his partner, true freshman Ricky Dawson, will have to grow up in a hurry. Again, Coach Allen has a star recruit waiting in the wings at this position: Jamal Herndon. If Dawson struggles, expect the coaches to pull the redshirt off Herndon and give him a shot.

Safeties Jackie Webb and Norbert Stanberry are returning starters. Webb is a ballhawk with great speed, and Stanberry is a hard hitter.

Here are some of the key defensive reserves on this year's Lancer squad:

POS   NO  PLAYER              CL  HT     WT   CUR/POT  HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
DE    94  Deron Monroe        So  6'1"   236   23/27   Myerstown, PA/E. Lebanon Co.
DT    79  Bo Peterson         Jr  6'1"   257   28/28   Lewistown, PA/Indian Valley
ILB   53  Blake Foulke        Sr  6'2"   234   24/25   Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy
ILB   44  Kyle Au             Jr  6'4"   231    7/29   Windber, PA/Windber Area
CB    26  Mercury McMahon     Jr  5'10"  175   15/15   Ambler, PA/Wissahickon
CB    32  Trevor Zawilinski   Jr  6'1"   176    8/8    Kewaunee, WI/Kewaunee
S     30  Toby MacPherson     Jr  5'11"  186   18/38   Sunbury, OH/Big Walnut
 

Monroe made some impact as a pass rusher last year. Peterson will be in the rotation at tackle; he's got a non-stop motor. Foulke and Au have experience, and both have made some big plays for the Lancers over the past two years. McMahon will be the nickel corner. Zawilinski and MacPherson are both demons on special teams.

And here are the team's kicking specialists:

POS   NO  PLAYER              CL  HT     WT   CUR/POT  HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
K      5  Leslie Giang        Sr  5'10"  174   40/40   Quitman, GA/Brooks County
P     12  Kelvin Myers        Sr  6'1"   203   36/43   Medina, OH/Buckeye
P     10  Pete Radecki        Fr  6'4"   210   28/63   Philadelphia, PA/Stephen Girard  

Placekicker Leslie Giang is very accurate inside the 40, and the Lancers offense can usually move the ball well enough to leave him with short field goal tries. Kelvin Myers and Pete Radecki will battle for the punting job.

The Lancers' offense ought to be productive enough for the team to win most games by outscoring their opponents. 2006 is a transition year for the Lancers, whose coaching staff chose to redshirt all the stud defensive players from last year's recruiting class except for one.

Coach Allen believes his decision was the right one. "I have faith in our experienced guys to get the job done again," he explained. "Our young guys are looking forward to getting on the field, and the extra year will get them ready to step right in when they're needed next year."

Will Coach Allen be able to implement this plan, or will the needs of the present force him to call on some of his young bucks this year?

[Big Six]

Lancaster will play seven home games in 2006, including three contests against non-conference opponents at Memorial Stadium.

Coach Roger Allen was hoping to schedule at least one more prestigious team, but as he explained off the record, "nobody we asked for a game accepted our offer. We were willing to travel, but we still couldn't work something out. Our guys want to test themselves against some top-tier competition."

Here's the 2006 Lancaster schedule:

Week 3   ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM
Week 4   WAKE FOREST
Week 5   at Williamsport
Week 6   NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Week 7   at York
Week 8   ERIE
Week 10  ALLENTOWN
Week 11  at Reading
Week 12  HARRISBURG
Week 13  at Scranton
Week 14  TEMPLE
 

Home games are listed in ALL CAPS.
Keystone Eight conference games are highlighted in blue.

[Big Six]

Week 4, 2006

With two weeks off at the beginning of the season, the Lancaster Lancers got starterd on the real business of the 2006 campaign later than most teams. Once they hit the field, however, they hit it in style, winning two games against non-conference opponents.

Against Alabama-Birmingham in Week 3, several of Coach Roger Allen's first recruits made their college football debuts in fine style. Running back Luke Cash carried 19 times for 119 yards and a touchdown, and tackle Jim Hamilton earned Player of the Game recognition for his eight key run blocks. True freshman tight end Broderick Creveling caught a touchdown pass. Defensive end Norbert Givens was in on eight tackles and a sack, and guard Zack Starks handled UAB's star DT, Junior Barlow, fairly well.

Quarterback Norman Griffis didn't run the ball as often as he usually did in either of the two previous years, but that was fine with him. "I like to run, but when you have running backs as good as ours are, you might be better off handing off." Cash and Cris Middleton, who gained 96 yards and scored, led a rushing attack that accounted for 269 yards.

When Edgar White picked off a Clothesline Henson pass and took it 81 yards to the house, the Lancers iced a 35-24 victory. The near-capacity crowd that came out to Memorial Stadium on a perfect fall day got a real treat.

An even bigger crowd showed up the next week to watch the Lancers take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The ACC school got on the board first, with Bill McKenzie capping off an eight-play drive with an eight-yard TD run.

The Lancers answered with a drive of their own, mixing runs and passes. Luke Cash smashed in from six yards out, and Leslie Giang's PAT tied the score. Late in the half, Cash scored again on a three-yard run to put the Lancers up by a touchdown. Except for an injury to Cris Middleton, who limped off the field with a painfullly pulled quad, the first half went about as well as it could have for the Lancers.

Lancaster ran its lead to 14 points when Deon Simmons, a junior non-scholarship running back, scored his first collegiate touchdown on a one-yard plunge. When Giang added a 27-yard field goal, many in the crowd thought the Lancers were on their way to an easy win.

The Demon Deacons weren't about to give in, however. Running back Brad Wiggins exploded off tackle and ran 65 yards for a touchdown, and McKenzie scored on a six-yard run to pull the Deacs back within three.

The Wake Forest defense forced Lancaster to punt, and on their next possession, the Deacs drove to the Lancaster 21. There, on third and two, Sean Whitfield stopped McKenzie for no gain, and Mike Walsh tied the game with a 38-yard field goal.

Regulation time ended with the score still tied at 24, and the game went into overtime. Wake Forest won the toss and elected to play defense first.

The Lancers took the ball at the 25 yard line. Cash carried the ball twice, and caught a short pass from Griffis, but the Wake defense hemmed him in and tackled him just short of the first down marker. Giang came in and drilled a 33-yard field goal.

The Deacs took the ball next; if they scored a touchdown, they would win the game. On first down, they gained seven yards on a pass from Raymond White to tight end Mark Meyer. A holding penalty set the Deacs back ten yards, and on second down, Derek Bullock smacked McKenzie down for a two-yard loss. White underthrew his receiver on third down, so Wake Forest faced fourth-and-15 from their 30.

Wake Forest coach Tyrone Lannen decided to go for the win. White hit Meyer on an out route, but Jackie Webb stopped him several yards shy of a first down. The Lancers had pulled out an overtime victory.

Coach Lannen defended his decision after the game. "Mike Walsh is a very good kicker, but 47 yards is right at the end of his range. If he makes the kick, we tie the score and we start all over again. If he misses, we lose. I wanted to go for the win, and so did our players. I give Lancaster a lot of credit for stepping up and stopping us."

Two tough wins gave the Lancers a 13-game winning streak that went back over a year. How long would the streak continue?

Lancaster's record: 2-0.

[hoopsguy]

Very enjoyable dynasty so far. I feel sorry for the rest of your conference ... I can't imagine their recruits will be able to hang with the Lancaster studs over the next few seasons.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Very enjoyable dynasty so far. I feel sorry for the rest of your conference ... I can't imagine their recruits will be able to hang with the Lancaster studs over the next few seasons.

Thanks for the comment, hoopsguy. I'm glad you're enjoying the Lancers' story.

I checked the rosters of the other teams in the Keystone Eight, and according to the Lancers' staff, at least two of the other teams in the league have players who seem to be just about as talented as the guys Lancaster has.

Reading has brought in some talented players in the past two recruiting classes, but two of their most promising guys are academically ineligible. Only one player on Lancaster's roster is an academic casualty right now, and he's a guy who arrived before Coach Allen did.

York has a few very good young players, too. They have two sophomore O-linemen with potential ratings above 90, and a linebacker and a DB who project to be just about as good.

Lancaster has six guys with potential ratings that high. G Zack Starks and TE Broderick Creveling are already key contributors as freshmen; Creveling's a true freshman. S Levon Givens and DT Broderick Andersen are redshirting; both of them have fantastic upside, but they're both really, really raw. And there are two RBs, Jesse Camacho and Brenden Gunn, who project that high; with Luke Cash and Cris Middleton on board, there was no need to rush Camacho and Gunn.

[Big Six]

Week 6, 2006

Two wins in close games--one on the road, one at home--extended the Lancaster Lancers' winning streak and kept them on a list of undefeated teams that was growing shorter by the week.

A disappointingly small crowd of 8000 fans turned up in Williamsport to watch the Lancers and Wildcats do battle. The fans who attended were treated to a tight game in which both defenses played very well. Williamsport actually gained more yards rushing than Lancaster--103 to 102--the first time in over a year that an opponent had outrushed the Lancers.

The Lancers proved that they were more than a one-dimensional team, however. Quarterback Norman Griffis fired touchdown passes to freshman TE Broderick Creveling and senior WR A.J. Goldberg, and fullback Moe Del Barco smashed into the end zone from six yards out to sew up a 24-20 Lancaster victory.

"We missed Cris Middleton today," said Coach Roger Allen. "His speed gives us a dimension that none of our other running backs provides. The thought of burning Brenden Gunn's redshirt was becoming slightly more tempting, but Allen held off.

Next came the Lancers' traditional meeting with #39 Northern Illinois. Last year's game was a thriller, and this year's was no different. The Lancers led 14-3 at halftime, Luke Cash scoring on a six-yard run and Creveling hauling in an 18-yard TD pass from Griffis.

In the second half, Goldberg made a beautiful grab in the end zone to extend the Lancers' lead, and Leslie Giang booted a field goal to put the Lancers ahead 24-7. The relentless Huskies bounced back, and pulled within three points late ih the fourth quarter on two TD passes from Lorenzo Harding to Omar Summers. "We were lucky to get away with a victory," said safety Jackie Webb, who led the Lancers with 11 tackles.

The largest crowd in years filled Municipal Stadium to watch the Northern Illinois game, and the buzz on the Lancaster campus was reminiscent of the program's glory days of the late 1950s. Students painted their chests and festooned the stands with signs; Lancaster blue and gold were seen all over town. Talented high school players who visited the campus were impressed by the atmosphere, and many of them, who would otherwise been disinclined to attend a small school, came away impressed with what Lancaster could offer.

Lancaster's record: 4-0, 1-0 in the Keystone Eight.
National ranking: #15.

[Big Six]

Week 8, 2006

Next on Lancaster's schedule was their annual rivalry game against York. The White Knights hosted this year's game, and some fans expected the Lancers to win with ease. York had struggled to a 1-4 record, losing two of three non-conference games at home and suffering a 29-17 loss at Scranton. Still, the energy surrounding the rivalry might light a fire under the Knights, especially at home.

The day of the game was sunny and cool, perfect weather for football. However, any hopes York fans had for an upset were quickly dispelled, as the Lancers scored on their first two possessions and never looked back.

Lancaster's defense played "championship-caliber football," in the words of defensive coordinator Wendell Carr. Linebacker Derek Bullock was all over the field, racking up 15 tackles, including 12 initial hits. The Lancers' pass defense was solid as well; York's freshman QB, Nicky Eagle, completed only 12 of 32 attempts, as Lancaster players were in his face almost every time he dropped back to pass.

Luke Cash found his groove again, gaining 132 yards, and Moe Del Barco added 54 more as the Lancers' ground game returned to form. "Our O-line has some new guys this year, but we're really starting to come together," said All-American guard Lionel Arceo. "I'm glad I got to play with these guys this year."

A sellout crowd braved a steady rain and 47-degree temperatures to watch the Lancers take on Erie in Week 8. The Captains were a tough, veteran-laden team, and they led, 17-14, going into the fourth quarter. Junior RB Rondell Garcia, who had led the K-8 with almost 1000 yards rushing in 2005, hammered between teh tackles with authority, scoring both Erie touchdowns. For the first time all season, it seemed like the Lancers' defense might be wearing down.

"We need to give the defense a break," said Norman Griffis to his offensive teammates as he watched the exhausted Lancers defense come off the field after recording a crucial stop. "Let's hold on to the ball, drive, and score."

The Lancers responded with an eight-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a one-yard TD pass from Griffis to A.J. Goldberg. The huge crowd roared its approval, but then they noticed that Goldberg wasn't getting up. The senior wideout had to be taken from the field on a cart, and the prognosis wasn't good. Goldberg tore cartilage in his knee, and would almost certainly miss the rest of the regular season. "I might be back for a bowl game, if we get there," he said.

Erie took the ball, and the Lancaster defense produced a big play. Captains quarterback Will Cole dropped back to pass from his own 6, and was hit hard by Lancaster linebacker Walter Roberson. The ball squirted loose, and Lancers DE Vernon Bailey recovered it at the one-yard line. Griffis tried to sneak the ball into the end zone and was dropped for a loss, but Luke Cash scored on the next play.

The Lancers turned another Erie turnover into a touchdown to complete a 35-21 victory that was much closer than the score would indicate. Cash, who scored three touchdowns (two runs, one reception) was named the Player of the Game. Still undefeated, with a winning streak that now extended 17 games, Lancaster seemed to be riding an unstoppable wave of momentum.

But would the good times continue to roll, with Cris Middleton and, now, A.J. Goldberg on the sidelines?

Lancaster's record: 6-0, 3-0 in the Keystone Eight.
National ranking: #13.

[bulletsponge]

nice read.

you going to tell us where Arceo gets drafted when he does?

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

nice read.

you going to tell us where Arceo gets drafted when he does?

Thanks, bulletsponge.

I agree; Arceo ought to be picked on the first day of the draft. I'm going to start a parallel FOF NFL league, mainly for the purpose of following the graduates who make it in the NFL.

[Big Six]

Week 10, 2006

After a week off, the Lancaster Lancers returned to the field for a Week 10 matchup against K-8 rival Allentown. The game ended up much closer than any of the 26,400 fans that packed Memorial Stadium had expected and, once again, Coach Roger Allen's Lancers pulled out a victory with some last-minute heroics.

The Steel Kings came into the game with a 3-3 record, and were 12-point underdogs to the #13 Lancers. Nobody told the Steel Kings, however, and at halftime, they led 24-7.

Senior captain Edgar White rallied his defensive teammates at halftime. "This is embarrassing," he told them. "They're walking all over us...and at OUR place. That's unacceptable."

Inspired by White's words, the Lancer defense looked like an entirely new group of players in the second half. The offense, which had produced only one score in the first half (the first TD reception of freshman Julio Edgeworth's career), also picked up the pace. A sustained drive stalled out in the red zone, but Leslie Giang booted a 29-yard field goal.

A minute into the fourth quarter, the Lancers drove down the field again. Norman Griffis connected with Mickey Carpenter for 35 yards, and two plays later Griffis hit Broderick Creveling in the end zone for a 2-yard score.

With six minutes to play, Lancaster had the ball at their own 21. Mixing runs by Luke Cash and passes to Edgeworth and Creveling, the Lancers drove down the field. When Cash took an option pitch from Griffis and raced 12 yards for the game-tying touchdown, the fans rocked the old stadium to its foundation.

"DEE-FENSE! DEE-FENSE!" The crowd exhorted the Lancers, who responded by holding Allentown to a three-and-out. The Steel Kings' punter had the ball glance off the side of his foot, and White's fair catch gave Lancaster the ball on their own 41. Could Norman Griffis lead the team on another game-winning drive?

On first down, Griffis ran the option. When a Steel Kings defender bore down on him, he deftly flipped the ball to Cash. Zack Starks creamed another Steel King, and Cash raced 18 yards to the Allentown 41.

Allentown's defense then stepped up, stuffing Griffis on a quarterback draw and covering Lancer receivers so well that he had to throw the ball away twice. Kelvin Myers punted the ball away, and with 56 seconds remaining, Allentown took over at their own 9-yard line. It looked like the game would go into overtime.

Allentown coach Howie Kaiser decided to go for a game-winning score. Quarterback Rob Rasmussen wound up and threw a long pass down the sideline, intended for Troy Browning. Lancaster's Ricky Dawson picked off the ball as the crowd erupted once again. Rasmussen buried his face in his hands on the sideline as his teammates consoled him.

Forty seconds remained, and Lancaster had the ball on the Allentown 36. Giang began warming up on the sideline.

Griffis threw incomplete on first down, and on the next play he rolled to his right and looked for an open man. He spotted Creveling and fired the ball in his direction. The freshman tight end grabbed it and stepped out of bounds on the Allentown 19.

With 15 seconds remaining, the Lancers called for a running play that, at worst, would place the ball in the middle of the field for Giang. Instead, Luke Cash took the handoff, got a huge block from fullback Otis Meier, and raced into the end zone.

Lancaster 31, Allentown 24.

The Steel Kings' last-second Hail Mary pass was intercepted by Jackie Webb, and the Lancers' undefeated season was still intact.

Luke Cash was, understandably, the hero of the day. His 187 yards on 17 carries and his two late touchdowns were among the biggest keys to the Lancers' come-from-behind win. However, as Cash pointed out, the victory was a true team effort.

"If Broderick doesn't make those big catches, we're not in position to score," Cash told a reporter on the field. Creveling, who caught five Griffis passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, was emerging as one of the top tight ends in the conference.

The only dark cloud over the Lancers' happy afternoon rolled in when Griffis woke up the next morning with a knee so stiff he could barely walk. The team medical staff diagnosed the injury as a ligament strain, and the quarterback was listed as "questionable" for the Lancers' next game. It was possible that the Lancers would have to play without Griffis, Cris Middleton, and A.J. Goldberg--three All-Conference players--when they traveled to Reading next week. The quality of the young skill position players Coach Allen had recruited--guys like Cash, Edgeworth, Carpenter, Creveling--would be once again put to the test.

Coach Allen remained optimistic. "We've won big games with Kevin Kanyuh at quarterback," he pointed out. "And our younger guys have been stepping up all year long."

Lancaster's record: 7-0; 4-0 in Keystone Eight play.
National ranking: #15.

[Big Six]

The Lancaster recruiting class of 2006-2007 is now complete. Let's meet the 16 newest Lancers:

PLAYER              POS  HT    WT   HOME TOWN           HIGH SCHOOL
Chester Newhart     T    6-5   276  Big Lake, MN        Big Lake
Corwin Lang         DT   6-0   241  Stoneham, MA        Stoneham
Brad Bernhard       DE   6-2   241  Somerset, PA        Somerset Area
Reuben Hitchcock    T    6-4   272  Newtown, PA         Council Rock
Luke Tymeson        K    6-1   173  Wantagh, NY         Wantagh
Kim Olshansky       T    6-9   308  Bedford, PA         Bedford
Al Shields          WR   5-10  167  Collegeville, PA    Perkiomen Valley
Justin Dodge        QB   5-11  191  Mechanicsburg, PA   Cumberland Valley
Dexter Jagger       C    6-1   251  Mechanicsburg, PA   Cumberland Valley
Stanley West        OLB  6-2   214  Frederick, MD       Frederick
Eugene Rivers       G    6-2   263  Newtown, PA         Council Rock
Lone Wolf Johnson   S    6-2   189  Lewisberry, PA      Red Land
Scottie Fletcher    OLB  6-4   228  Shillington, PA     Governor Mifflin
Tom Dotson          S    5-11  182  Allentown, PA       Salisbury
Tony Shea           FB   6-2   235  Cookstown, MN       Central
William St. Louis   DT   6-6   284  Altoona, PA         Altoona Area
 

Once again, Coach Roger Allen managed to attract some of the nation's best high school talent to Lancaster. Newhart is a real catch, and Lang will possibly step in and start as a freshman. Allen was able to reinforce several positions where the Lancers were relatively weak.

All-State players are highlighted in blue. There's an All-National selection in this year's class, too; he's highlighted in red.

PLAYER              SCT    RNK   ST  POS ST  STATS            
Chester Newhart     85++    19    1   1   1   None
Corwin Lang         95--    66    3   1   1   90 tckls,9.5 sacks 
Brad Bernhard       74+     71   17   2   1   74 tckls, 12.0 sacks
Reuben Hitchcock    77+    103   15   4   1   None
Luke Tymeson        85+    110    3   8   2   18 FG, 47.4 punt avg.
Kim Olshansky       68+    160   21   5   2   None
Al Shields          81-    186   19   6   1   70-1780-8 rcv.
Justin Dodge        53+    507   49  19   4   131-250-1759-7-7 pass, 189-912-6 rush
Dexter Jagger       56+    536   27  21   2   None
Stanley West        44++   570   35  18   2   34 tckls, 3.5 sacks, 2 int.
Eugene Rivers       61+    664   60  26   2   None
Lone Wolf Johnson   56+    675   36  28   1   62 tckls, 3.5 sacks, 11 int.
Scottie Fletcher    54+    708   42  31   4   82 tckls, 7.0 sacks, 5 int.
Tom Dotson          43-     NR   67  47   5   61 tckls, 3.0 sacks, 8 int.
Tony Shea           44+     NR   42  25   4   56-359-3 rush, 27-340-2 rcv.
William St. Louis   35-     NR   NR 100   5   42 tckls, 6.5 sacks

Coach Allen deliberately recruits players who excel academically, too. It's rare for him to offer a scholarship to a player who hasn't earned at least a 3.00 GPA in high school, or who hasn't scored 1100 or better on his SAT.

However, the chance to get a guy named Lone Wolf Johnson on his team was too much to resist.

PLAYER              GPA    SAT    MAJOR                    ATTITUDE
Chester Newhart     3.73   1470   Electrical Engineering   Terrific
Corwin Lang         3.67   1430   Sociology                Fair
Brad Bernhard       3.75   1330   Electrical Engineering   Good
Reuben Hitchcock    3.72   1480   Nuclear Engineering      Good
Luke Tymeson        4.00   1400   Medicine                 Pretty Good
Kim Olshansky       3.35   1290   Nuclear Engineering      Very Good
Al Shields          3.42   1190   Communications           Good
Justin Dodge        3.64   1520   History                  Good
Dexter Jagger       3.52   1540   Metallurgy               Terrific
Stanley West        3.20   1260   Marketing                Pretty Good
Eugene Rivers       3.90   1520   Mechanical Engineering   Decent
Lone Wolf Johnson   3.19   1050   Social Work              Good
Scottie Fletcher    3.55   1260   Education                Terrific
Tom Dotson          3.92   1470   Sociology                Pretty Good
Tony Shea           3.29   1150   Differential Equations   Very Good
William St. Louis   3.99   1440   Differential Equations   Terrific

[Big Six]

Week 12, 2006

The Lancaster Lancers ran their record to 9-0 and clinched their second straight Keystone Eight Conference championship with wins in Weeks 11 and 12.

If the Lancers and their fans didn't already know it, they learned just how tough senior quarterback Norman Griffis really was. Shaking off the effects of a sprained knee, the team's captain and leader started games against Reading and Harrisburg. He took every snap in a thrilling 41-38 overtime victory over Reading, and played in the Lancers' 45-14 defeat of Harrisburg until the outcome of the game was decided.

"When your quarterback mans up like Norman did, it inspires everyone to play hard," said freshman lineman Jim Hamilton. "He's a great leader and we all respect him very much."

"I'm not running the ball nearly as much this year," Griffis pointed out. "That's a result of our game plan; my knee doesn't have anything to do with it." Instead, when the Lancers ran their trademark option, Griffis was pitching the ball to the team's halfbacks much more often.

Luke Cash, who entered the Reading game with 980 yards rushing, gained another 187 yards. Cris Middleton, who like Griffis was listed as "questionable" for the game, carried 11 times and picked up 95 more.


Griffis got it done through the air against Reading, throwing TD passes to Cash, Broderick Creveling, and Julio Edgeworth, and leading the team on its game-winning drive. Leslie Giang's 29-yard field goal provided the winning margin, but the victory wasn't secure until ILB Sean Whitfield picked off a Reading pass in the end zone.

Still, much of the credit for the victory went to Griffis; for the tenth time in three years, the quarterback was credited with pulling off Late Heroics.

Hapless Harrisburg didn't present the Lancers with nearly as much of a challenge. Gaining yards nearly at will against the Harrisburg defense, the Lancers accumulated over 300 yards rushing once again. Cash (29 carries, 187 yards) and Middleton (15 carries, 110 yards) each scored touchdowns, as did Griffis, who romped 30 yards for a score on one of his two carries.

The real star of the game was Jim Hamilton, who delivered six of the team's 20 key run blocks. Hamilton, the big West Virginia "hillbilly," was adapting extremely well to his shift from guard to tackle, and Coach Roger Allen wondered if he'd make the change permanently.

As the players celebrated their conference-winning victory, Coach Allen thought about how far the Lancaster program had come. For three straight games, fans had packed Memorial Stadium to its 26,400-seat capacity. The Lancers were riding a 19-game undefeated streak, and were nationally ranked. Their games were occasionally televised regionally, a rare event for a small school.

Things were going well, and Coach Allen reminded himself to pause from time to time and enjoy the ride while it lasted.

Lancaster's record: 9-0; 6-0 in Keystone Eight play.
National ranking: #14.

[Big Six]

Week 14, 2006

The Lancaster Lancers completed their undefeated 2006 regular season with a convincing 27-10 victory on a rainy day in Scranton and an exciting, emotional 17-10 win over Temple on Senior Day.

The Lancaster offense and defense each distinguished themselves against Scranton. The offense controlled the ball for nearly 35 minutes, as Luke Cash and Cris Middleton churned out yardage on the muddy field. Cash, thriving as the Lancers' feature back, toted the ball 35 more times for 179 yards. Middleton, who was enjoying life as a change-of-pace back after being the main man the year before, gained 57 more on 10 carries.

"We're winning, so it doesn't matter who's getting the carries," said Middleton, expressing the kind of attitude any coach would want from an influential senior player.

Cash knew that he was, in effect, playing for his job next season. There were two running backs with glittering credentials--Jesse Camacho and Brenden Gunn--redshirting this year, and most so-called "experts" believed they were both far more talented than Cash.

"I don't think it's going to be a problem," said Cash. "Our system gives more than one back the opportunity to run the ball. I've watched Cris handle the situation this year, and I'm going to try to demonstrate the same kind of attitude next year. Brenden and Jesse are good guys."

There was no need for Cash to say much. His production--he had gained nearly 1400 yards rushing--spoke loudly enough.

While the offense was rolling up yardage, the defense was stopping Scranton in its tracks. Scranton gained only 80 yards rushing, and the Lancaster defense sacked QB Dennis Duncan four times.

The Lancers had all kinds of reasons to be pumped up for the Temple game. The Owls were the last team to defeat them; they'd whipped the Lancers 31-6 at Temple in last season's opening game. And, for the team's 16 seniors, it would be the last time they played before their home fans.

Eleven of the seniors were starters: backs Griffis and Middleton; receiver A.J. Goldberg; offensive linemen Lionel Arceo and Carl Neumeyer; D-lineman Tony May; linebacker Sean Whitfield; defensive backs Edgar White and Norbert Stanberry; specialists Leslie Giang and Kelvin Myers. The other five--LB Keith Foulke, RB Bobby DeMoen, DT Rich Elliott, OT Cole Kotler, and WR Buddy Thomason--had all been on the field in at least ten games as seniors. Players like Griffis, Goldberg, and White were among the all-time best in Lancaster history at their positions, and Arceo was arguably the most acclaimed Lancer ever. The fans who filled Memorial Stadium realized what this class of seniors had meant to the program, and their appreciation was sincere and hearty.

The day was cold but sunny, good football weather. The Lancers and Owls traded field goals in the first quarter, and neither team managed to score during the remainder of the half.

Temple took the ball to start the second half and drove 72 yards for a touchdown to take a 10-3 lead. Unlike most of the Lancers' opponents, the Owls were able to move the ball well enough against the Lancaster defense to mount time-consuming drives. And their defense was stout enough to stop Luke Cash from running wild; they held Cash to 33 yards on 16 carries that day.

Lancaster, however, could strike quickly. On the next play from scrimmage, Griffis hooked up with speedy freshman Julio Edgeworth on a 70-yard scoring play. Then, after the Lancers defense forced the Owls to punt the ball away, Griffis connected with another first-year player--tight end Broderick Creveling--for a 48-yard gain down to the Temple 3. From there, Luke Cash scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.

Redshirt freshman Norbert Givens, who racked up 12 tackles and two sacks from his defensive end position, was named the Player of the Game. But, as Givens put it so well, "Today belongs to the seniors."

Lancaster's record: 11-0; 7-0 in Keystone Eight play.
National ranking: #14.

[Big Six]

Week 16, 2006
Oyster Bowl: Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Lancaster Lancers returned to Virginia Beach to fulfill the Keystone Eight Conference champion's commitment to the Oyster Bowl. This year, the Lancers faced a much tougher opponent than the New Mexico State team they routed the year before. The #19 North Texas Mean Green lived up to their name, and defeated Coach Roger Allen's Lancers, 38-22.

The Lancers defense had no answer for North Texas QB Kenneth Croom, who connected with Dwight Alston and Seth Campbell for two touchdown passes apiece. Croom threw for 317 yards, and the Mean Green outgained the Lancers 465-320.

In his final collegiate game, Norman Griffis went 8-20 for 223 yards. He threw one TD pass, a 22-yard strike to Luke Cash, and was intercepted twice. Cash gained 70 yards on 14 carries and added 92 more on three receptions, but otherwise, the Lancers offense was unable to get much done.

Another senior, LB Sean Whitfield, led both teams with 15 tackles, and Cris Middleton overcame a sore thigh muscle to gain 36 yards on seven carries in his final game in Lancaster blue and gold.

There was one Lancer senior who could realistically imagine a future that involved professional football. Lionel Arceo had not been quite as dominant as a senior as he had been in 2005, but was still considered a solid NFL prospect. For every other graduating memberof the team, the loss to North Texas would be the final chapter in the story of his life as a football player, and it would be a chapter they would look back upon with sadness.

Still, the seniors could look back at much more that had happened to them over the past few years with happiness and pride. "We won 22 games in two years," Griffis pointed out. "We won 20 games in a row, we won two conference championships, and we won a bowl game.

"It's been a hell of a ride."

Lancaster's final 2006 record: 11-1.
Final national ranking: #15.

[bulletsponge]

well its for the best. dont want too much success too soon, gotta aim for something

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

well its for the best. dont want too much success too soon, gotta aim for something

That's true, bulletsponge. I've been trying to get big-time schools to accept games with Lancaster so I can see how the Lancers match up against the best possible competition. Maybe now that Lancaster has had two 11-win seasons in a row, I can get the big boys to agree to a game. I'll probably have to have Lancaster go to their place, but that's fine.

[Big Six]

The Keystone Eight conference standings for 2006 looked like this:

TEAM           OVERALL    PCT  PF   PA    CONF.    PCT  PF   PA
Lancaster      11  1  0  .916  351  250  7  0  0 1.000  223  130
Reading         5  6  0  .454  317  304  4  3  0  .571  237  163
Williamsport    5  6  0  .454  210  287  4  3  0  .571  163  189
Allentown       6  5  0  .454  237  284  3  4  0  .428  177  195
Erie            4  7  0  .363  211  299  3  4  0  .428  152  193
Scranton        4  7  0  .363  228  262  2  5  0  .285  144  134
York            3  8  0  .272  196  254  2  5  0  .285  118  149
Harrisburg      2  9  0  .181  157  323  2  5  0  .285  123  184
 

Lancaster's ground game wasn't quite as productive as it was in 2005, but the Lancers still ranked fifth in the nation in rushing yardage. As usual, the
RK column indicates Lancaster's rank among K-8 teams.

Rushing Offense   1   527-2310 (4.3); 192.5 ypg
Passing Offense   2   145-252 (57.5%); 2180 yds, 181.5 ypg
Rushing Defense   1   395-1405 (3.5); 117.0 ypg
Passing Defense   7   194-357 (54.3%) 2662 yds, 221.8 ypg
Turnover Margin   1   +12
 

The team's low ranking in pass defense is due more to the fact that Lancaster's opponents couldn't run the ball against them. Since Lancaster usually had a lead, most teams were playing catch-up, and throwing the ball a lot.

Here are some individual statistics for the 2006 season.

PASSING    ATT  COM  YDS   TD  INT
Griffis    246  140  2119  18   8
TEAM       252  145  2180  19   8
 
RUSHING    ATT  YDS   AVG  TD
Cash       281  1449  5.2  14
Middleton   57   421  7.4   4
Del Barco   51   228  4.5   1
Griffis    106   145  1.4   2
TEAM       527  2310  4.4  23
 
RECEIVING   NO   YDS  AVG   TD
Edgeworth   36   660  18.3   5 
Creveling   33   519  15.7   5
Cash        19   258  13.5   3
Goldberg    12   224  18.6   4
Middleton   11   109   9.9   0
Grosz        9   123  13.6   1 
Del Barco    8   101  12.6   0
Meier        7    56   8.0   0
TEAM       252  2180  15.0  19
 
DEFENSE    TCK  AST   SCK  TFL INT  PD
Whitfield   70   27   2.0    9   1   3
Bullock     67   20   0.0   10   0   1
Webb        66   20   0.0   11   3   8
Stansberry  61   23   0.0   12   4   8
Givens      58   27  12.0   16   0   0
Durham      48   13   1.0    7   0   2
Dawson      34    7   0.0    1   3   2
White       33    9   0.0    0   3   4
McMahon     25    2   1.5    3   1   3
May         22    9   2.0    7   0   0
Elliott     21    7   3.5    5   0   1
Bailey      16    6   5.0    7   0   0
Roberson    14   11   3.5    5   0   1
Zawilinski  13    2   1.5    1   0   0
Monroe      12    4   4.0    6   0   0
Peterson    12    7   0.0    1   0   0
TEAM       646  200  36.0  104  17  34
 
KICKING     FG  FGA   LG  XP  XPA  PTS 
Giang       14   18   44  43   43   85
 
PUNTING     NO   YDS   AVG  LG In20
Myers       58  1940  33.4  53  20
 

Graduating seniors' names and stats are highlighted in blue.

[Groo]

#15 this season, a bowl game, and another good recruiting class, and they should start lining up to test themselves on Lancaster, rather than the reverse.

Keep up the great work, Lancers!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Groo

#15 this season, a bowl game, and another good recruiting class, and they should start lining up to test themselves on Lancaster, rather than the reverse.

Keep up the great work, Lancers!

Thanks, Groo. You've backed Coach Allen and the Lancers from the beginning.

The Lancers' 2006 recruiting class was ranked #26 in the country, so you're right, it was another good, solid class. I'm expecting their 2007 lineup to be full of freshmen and sophomores, in fact.

Lancaster's academic program was also ranked highly: #14 in the nation. Coach Allen is demonstrating that it's possible to win football games with true student-athletes, at least in the Keystone Eight Conference.

Here are the final rankings for 2006:

1  USC
2  Utah
3  Miami (FL)
4  Tennessee 
5  Georgia
6  UCLA
7  Nebraska
8  Oklahoma
9  Penn State
10  Stanford
11  Michigan State
12  Wisconsin
13  Florida State
14  Kansas State
15  Lancaster
16  North Texas
17  TCU
18  LSU
19  Central Florida
20  Boise State
21  Northern Illinois
22  Virginia Tech
23  South Carolina
24  Michigan
25  Iowa
 

And here are the final grades for the 2006 Lancaster program:

Team Performance         80/100
Academic Performance     70/100
Recruiting Performance   89/100
Television Revenue       20/100
Alumni Donations         63/100
Attendance/Stadium       56/100
Final Grade              65/100
 

They're a little lower than they were in '05, but I'll take 65/100 any day.

The list of Lancaster players who earned post-season honors is a long one.

TE Broderick Creveling was named a Freshman All-American. This honor is reserved for true freshmen; redshirt frosh aren't eligible.

Three Lancers made Academic All-American: RB Luke Cash, OT Jim Hamilton, and DE Norbert Givens.

The Keystone Eight Conference MVP was QB Norman Griffis. Cash was named the Offensive Player of the Year, and Creveling was chosen as Offensive Freshman of the Year.

Twelve Lancers were named to the All-Keystone Eight Conference first team: Griffis, Cash, Creveling, WR Julio Edgeworth, G Zack Starks, Hamilton, K Leslie Giang, P Kelvin Myers, Givens, LB Sean Whitfield, and CB Edgar White.

Three more were selected to the All-K8 Second Team: G Lionel Arceo, LB Derek Bullock, and S Jackie Webb.

Cash, Hamilton, Giang, Myers, and Givens all made the All-K8 Academic Team, as did C Phillip Dawson and LB Russell Durham.

[Big Six]

Preseason 2007

The retirement of offensive coordinator Ian Gallardo meant that, for the second straight year, Coach Roger Allen will be working with a new wingman.

The Lancers hired another wily veteran, 68-year-old Donnie Everett. Known for his Terrific play-calling ability and his Excellent skills at developing the talents of quarterbacks and running backs, Coach Everett is new to the Power I offense that has been the trademark of Lancaster's teams since Allen arrived on the scene. Don't expect any major changes, however, as Allen has recruited a stable full of players whose talents are suited to the hard-hitting, run-based offense for which the Lancers have become known.

I've had the computer hire Coach Allen's staff members so far, but I think I'm taking control of that myself now. I'd like to see him hire a coordinator who will be around for a while, rather than a series of "wily veterans."

Here are the projected starters for the 2007 Lancaster Lancers offensive unit:

POS  NO  NAME                   CL  HT    WT   HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
QB   11  Ernest Floyd           Fr  6-2   217  Washington, PA/Trinity 
RB   45  Luke Cash              So  5-11  214  Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley
RB   39  Brenden Gunn           Fr  6-0   203  Prospect Park, PA/Interboro
FB   35  Otis Meier             So  6-1   259  Pittsburgh, PA/Penn Hills
WR   82  Julio Edgeworth        So  5-9   186  Homer City, PA/Homer-Center
TE   83  Broderick Creveling    So  6-4   252  Blanchester, OH/Blanchester
LT   60  Chester Newhart        Fr  6-5   296  Big Lake, MN/Big Lake
LG   73  Zack Starks            So  6-6   330  Philadelphia, PA/Horace Furness
C    59  Dixon Sampson          So  6-3   287  Rockville, MD/Thomas S. Wootton
RG   78  Jim Hamilton           So  6-3   288  Circleville, WV/Circleville
RT   72  Kim Olshansky          Fr  6-9   312  Bedford, PA/Bedford
 

The keys to the Lancers' powerful offensive machine will be handed to redshirt freshman Floyd, whose ability to run and pass should remind fans of Norman Griffis. Floyd will be expected to step right in and replace Griffis, who graduated with career totals of 5733 yards passing, 57 TD passes, and well over 1000 yards rushing. The redshirt freshman might be a better passer right now than Griffis ever was.

Cash and Gunn give the Lancers two backs with the potential to gain 1000 yards each. Cash, of course, greatly exceeded that figure in '06, and Gunn has the talent to be every bit as good, or better. Meier is a fine lead blocker who can also run and catch the ball.

Edgeworth stepped in when A.J. Goldberg was injured and gave the Lancers a dangerous deep threat at wide receiver, and Creveling could develop into an All-American at tight end.

The offensive line will feature new starters at tackle: highly touted true freshmen Newhart and Olshansky. Hamilton will move to his natural position, and pairs with Starks to give the Lancers a pair of guards that are considered the best in all of Division One. Sampson is rock-solid at center.

Here are some key reserves, as well as a few other promising young players who could make an impact this year:

POS  NO  NAME                   CL  HT    WT   HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
QB   15  Kevin Kanyuh           Sr  6-0   204  Fairmount, IN/Madison-Grant
RB   23  Jesse Camacho          Fr  5-9   199  Arnold, MO/Fox
WR    8  Mickey Carpenter       So  6-3   224  Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove
WR    4  Sean Willmer           Fr  6-1   210  Pittsburgh, PA/Penn Hills
TE   81  Archie Grosz           Sr  6-4   248  Wyandotte, MI/Roosevelt
OL   54  Phillip Dawson         Sr  6-3   282  Bangor, PA/Bangor Area

Kanyuh returns for a fourth season as the Lancers' backup QB, and he's perfectly capable of leading the team. Camacho's talent might force Coach Allen to work him into the backfield rotation. Carpenter and Willmer will get plenty of playing time when the Lancers use more than one wideout. They're both big and strong. Grosz has been a starter, and he'll see lots of playing time, too. Dawson is the best of the O-line reserves.

All eleven of the projected offensive starters on this year's team are players who have been recruited by Coach Allen; they're all freshmen or sophomores. Allen's efforts to upgrade the talent level of the Lancaster program have been successful, and now it's time to see if the younger players are ready to produce another winning season.

[Big Six]

Preseason 2007

Coach Roger Allen's starting defense will feature a little more experience than his young offense, but there are still a number of players with very little collegiate experience (if any) on whom the Lancaster defense will depend heavily in 2007.

POS  NO  NAME                   CL  HT    WT   HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
DE   94  Deron Monroe           Jr  6-1   242  Myerstown, PA/Eastern Lebanon Co.
DT   77  Broderick Andersen     Fr  6-0   247  Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood
DT   79  Bo Peterson            Sr  6-1   265  Lewistown, PA/Indian Valley       
DE   74  Norbert Givens         So  6-0   253  Burgettstown, PA/Burgettstown
OLB  55  Scottie Fletcher       Fr  6-4   242  Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin
ILB  50  Kennedy Campos         Fr  6-1   220  Carlisle, PA/Carlisle Area
ILB  46  Derek Bullock          Sr  6-3   224  Windber, PA/Windber Area      
OLB  40  Russell Durham         Jr  6-0   232  Pittsburgh, PA/Plum
CB   27  Jamal Herndon          Fr  5-8   181  Montclair, CA/Montclair
CB   42  Phillip Hayes          Fr  5-11  187  Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls
SS   22  Jackie Webb            Sr  5-11  188  Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen
FS   38  Levon Givens           Fr  5-10  204  New Castle, PA/Shenango Area
 

Monroe is leading a great battle for one of the DE spots. His non-stop motor makes him a disruptive pass rusher. Highly regarded freshman Andersen combines with veteran Peterson at DT. Givens, who excelled on the field and in the classroom as a freshman, is on his way to stardom.

Campos has big shoes to fill, as he's called upon to replace All-Keystoner Sean Whitfield. He's expected to fill them, and then some. Bullock has improved steadily since he arrived in Lancaster and is poised for a big senior season. Durham returns for his third season as a starter. Fletcher will start as a true freshman, as Durham did.

Herndon and Hayes will probably get the nod at corner. Both have tremendous potential; will they suffer some growing pains this year? Senior Webb, a defensive captain, starts at safety, and he'll be paired with stud freshman Givens.

Among the top defensive reserves are:

POS  NO  NAME                   CL  HT    WT   HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
DE   75  Kyle Diz Pardo         Fr  6-4   249  Philadelphia, PA/Penn William
DE   98  Vernon Bailey          Sr  6-2   257  Hegins, PA/Tri-Valley
LB   44  Kyle Au                Sr  6-4   239  Windber, PA/Windber Area
LB   96  Walter Roberson        Sr  6-2   228  Lake Elsinore, CA/Temescal Canyon
CB   26  Mercury McMahon        Sr  5-10  181  Ambler, PA/Wissahickon
CB   37  Ricky Dawson           So  5-10  182  Pittsburgh, PA/Plum
S    20  Ken Ravenola           Fr  5-10  182  Warren, PA/Warren Area

Expect to see Diz Pardo and Bailey on the field a lot, as the Lancers rotate in all four defensive ends. Seniors Au and Roberson have proven themselves in the past, and could easily step in if something happens to a Lancer LB. Au is the Lancer special teams captain. McMahon and Dawson will battle for the nickel corner position; it's been Mercury's for two years, but Ricky started in '06. Ravenola is Webb's heir apparent.

Last year, the Lancers allowed about eight points per game more than they had in 2005. Defensive coordinator Wendell Carr has a year under his belt now, and his unit has a good mix of experience and youthful talent. I wouldn't be surprised to see Lancaster's defense return to its 2005 standard this year.

Now, let's meet the Lancers' kicking specialists:

POS  NO  NAME                   CL  HT    WT   HOME TOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
K    14  Luke Tymeson           Fr  6-1   191  Wantagh, NY/Wantagh
P    10  Pete Radecki           So  6-4   215  Philadelphia, PA/Stephen Girard

Tymeson was considered one of the top 10 kicking prospects in last year's recruiting class, and should be a fixture in Lancaster for the next four years. Radecki has patiently waited for his chance, and is talented enough to make the most of it.

[Big Six]

2007 NFL Draft

Roger Allen watched the NFL draft more closely than usual in 2007. For the first time, he had a former player who was highly regarded enough to be on NFL teams' draft boards.

Guard Lionel Arceo enjoyed an incredible junior season, in which he earned second team All-American honors. His senior year wasn't nearly as remarkable. The presence of more talented players on the Lancers O-line meant the team didn't depend on Lionel as heavily as they had in 2005. And, when they did, Lionel didn't seem to perform with the same dominance he'd shown as a junior. He didn't repeat as an All-American; in fact, he was named to the All-Keystone Eight second team, while two of his fellow offensive linemen made the first team.

Nevertheless, Arceo was regarded by NFL scouts as a decent pro prospect. He was listed as one of the ten best available players at his position, with a projected rating of 5.2.

The Indianapolis Colts selected Arceo in the third round, and he reported to camp with a real shot at a roster spot. The Colts' projected starters at guard were Kevin Taylor, a 10-year veteran who would be a free agent at the end of the 2007 season, and six-year veteran Bethel Merriday, a 330-pound behemoth.

Lionel was thrilled to be drafted by the Colts. "I'm going to enjoy playing for Kyle Prescott," he said. "Coach Prescott is the kind of man who earns your respect right away."

The Colts had experienced both highs and lows during the past few years, usually finishing a game or two on either side of .500. "I'm going to go into camp and compete for a job, and see what happens," said Arceo. "I know the game will be much more intense in the NFL. I believe I'm ready."

[Groo]

I love that you are running FOF as well, and watching your players continue in the NFL. Very interesting already, and adding the extra flavor is awesome.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Groo

I love that you are running FOF as well, and watching your players continue in the NFL. Very interesting already, and adding the extra flavor is awesome.

Thanks, Groo. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the very talented recruits Coach Allen has brought to Lancaster get a shot at the NFL, too. Lionel Arceo was on the team when I started the dynasty, and as good as he was, some of the players who have arrived in Lancaster over the past couple of years have even bigger upsides.

[Big Six]

In 2007, Lancaster Lancers will play the most ambitious schedule they've attempted since Roger Allen became the head coach. The Lancers will make the short trip to Happy Valley to play the powerful Penn State Nittany Lions. Furthermore, Lancaster will play four of their seven Keystone Eight Conference games away from Memorial Stadium.

Week 2   ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM
Week 3   at Penn State
Week 5   at York
Week 6   NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Week 7   at Harrisburg
Week 8   RUTGERS
Week 9   ALLENTOWN
Week 10  ERIE
Week 11  at Williamsport
Week 12  SCRANTON
Week 13  at Reading
 

Home games are listed IN BOLD TYPE.
Conference games are highlighted in blue.

[Big Six]

Week 3, 2007

The first weeks of the 2007 season brought as much hardship to the Lancaster Lancers as they'd endured for some time. They won their season opener against Alabama-Birmingham, but two key members of their revamped offensive unit went down with injuries. Then, the Lancers discovered that they might still have some work to do before they could run with the big dogs--and that they were clearly not ready to do so unless they were at full strength.

The skies over Memorial Stadium were stormy when the Lancers took the field against UAB, but for a while it looked like nothing but sunshine for Coach Roger Allen, his players, and their fans. The Lancer defense pushed the Blazers around all day, holding them to a pair of field goals. And, for three quarters, the offense ran roughshod over the UAB defense, too.

Then, within the span of five plays from scrimmage early in thefourth quarter, two Lancers were forced to leave the field with injuries. The first was running back Luke Cash, who limped off with a badly sprained ankle. Then, true freshman OT Chester Newhart injured his shoulder and left the game, grimacing in obvious pain. The final score--Lancaster 25, Alabama-Birmingham 6--was good news, but the prognoses for the two injured players were not. Neither would be available for the Lancers' next game at Penn State.

Even though Cash rushed for over 1400 yards in 2006, the Lancaster staff believed he might be easier to replace than Newhart. Brenden Gunn gained 91 yards against the Blazers, including an exciting 47-yard touchdown romp. Another redshirt freshman, Jesse Camacho, had impressed everyone with his talents since he arrived on campus. Newhart's injury forced Coach Allen to shift Jim Hamilton back to tackle and insert Phillip Dawson into the lineup at guard. Dawson and Sean Belyeu would probably both see lots of action against the Nittany Lions.

Coach Allen could predict that many of his players might be distracted by the atmosphere at Penn State's Beaver Stadium. "Don't you dare think you don't belong on the field with those guys," Allen cautioned them. "You've won a lot of football games the past couple years. If you execute and keep hitting for four full quarters, you can win this game, too."

Midway through the second quarter, the game was tied at 14. Ernest Floyd threw the first two TD passes of his collegiate career, one to Julio Edgeworth and one to Brenden Gunn. The huge crowd at Beaver Stadium and many more watching on television probably thought they were in for an exciting contest.

They weren't. The Nittany Lions spent the remainder of the afternoon putting a 45-0 beatdown on the reeling Lancers. Coach Allen made sure every man in uniform got into the game; players like third-string quarterback Clyde Baptiste, a senior who hadn't thrown a pass in a game since 2004, got a chance to tell their grandchildren they once played before nearly 100,000 fans at one of the most historic stadiums in America.

The Lancers couldn't afford to mope about their 59-14 loss at Penn State for long. After a bye week, they would begin their Keystone Eight season with a game at the home of their arch-rival, the York Crusaders.

Lancaster's record: 1-1.

[Big Six]

Week 6, 2007

Had the beatdown the Lancaster Lancers received at Penn State destroyed the Lancers' mojo? Coach Roger Allen had to wonder, after his Lancers dropped two close games to fall to 1-3 on the season.

He knew that Lancaster fans hated to lose to York more than anyone, but that's exactly what happened during Week 5. The way it happened--with the Crusaders driving down the field with time running out and scoring with eleven seconds left to defeat the Lancers, 17-10--made it even worse.

Brenden Gunn carried a heavy load for the Lancaster offense, and the freshman running back played well. His 20 carries yielded 128 yards, all but 24 of the Lancers' total. "We missed Chester Newhart today," said Coach Allen. "He might be only a freshman, but he really helped our offensive line jell. Without him, it seemed like we lacked the same cohesion."

Lancaster's inability to score negated a stout performance by the Lancer defense. First-year LB Kennedy Campos was all over the field, racking up eighteen tackles and playing the way a guy who was one of the best high school players in the country ought to play when he gets to college.

A chilly rain was falling when the Lancers met Northern Illinois in Week 6. Still playing without Newhart or running back Luke Cash, the Lancers continued to struggle. Quarterback Ernest Floyd wasn't able to consistently move the team down the field, and another late touchdown cost the Lancers the game; the Huskies scored with 1:37 remaining to sew up a 23-16 victory.

Fans who had become used to the cool efficiency of a veteran signal-caller like Norman Griffis were frustrated by the on-again, off-again play of young Floyd. His howitzer-like arm was far stronger than Griffis' was, and there was no way Griffis could have ever matched the 25-yard laser Floyd fired to Julio Edgeworth for the Lancers' second touchdown. And while freshman placekicker Luke Tymeson had a stronger leg than former Lancer Leslie Giang, Tymeson botched an extra point and misfired on an easy 30-yard field goal attempt. Things Lancaster fans had started to take for granted were no longer such sure things.

"We're living with the fact that we're young, and we're banged up," Coach Allen told the fans on his weekly radio show. "I'm not making excuses, because injuries are part of football, and being a freshman or a sophomore doesn't mean you can't be a really good college football player. I'm just saying that there are reasons why we aren't playing as well right now as you've seen us play the last couple years."

Would Lancers fans be patient, or would they turn away from the team unless it bounced back quickly?

Lancaster's record: 1-3, 0-1 in Keystone Eight play.

[Big Six]

Week 8, 2007

When Roger Allen was playing high school football in Dover, Ohio, his coach used to tell him and his teammates "you can't lose if the other team doesn't score." Allen, who played fullback and linebacker, took those words to heart, and when he began his coaching career and thought about the kind of team he wanted to build, he always envisioned it playing rugged defense.

The 2007 Lancaster Lancers were showing signs of being just that kind of team. They allowed two consecutive opponents to score a single touchdown apiece during Weeks 7 and 8. Meanwhile, the Lancers offense was getting healthier by the week, and the result was a pair of victories that evened the team's record.

Coach Allen knew that if his team struggled against Harrisburg, they were in for a long, long season. The Lancers scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters and cruised to a 42-7 victory in front of a sparse crowd that seemed even smaller inside Harrisburg's 43,000-seat stadium.

Ernest Floyd seemed to channel the spirit of Norman Griffis, taking control of the game through the air and on the ground. Floyd carried the ball only six times, but scored touchdowns on half those carries. He completed 12 of 16 passes before surrendering the bridge to Kevin Kanyuh, who tossed a TD pass to Broderick Creveling. Both Creveling and Julio Edgeworth gained over 100 yards receiving, and running backs Brenden Gunn and Jesse Camacho combined for 98 yards on the ground. Gunn smashed into the end zone twice on short runs. One of Gunn's scoring runs came courtesy of a crushing block by Chester Newhart, who was back in the lineup at left tackle.

The next week, Gunn and his teammates ran all over Rutgers, putting 27 more points on the board against a defense that hadn't allowed more than 17 points all season. While Luke Cash continued to mend, Gunn rushed 23 times for 152 yards and scored on a 28-yard jaunt. Camacho also found the endzone, and Floyd continued to pass accurately (17-31 on the day).

It was, however, the Lancaster defense that truly stepped up against Harrisburg and Rutgers. Neither opponent gained more than 250 total yards against the Lancers, and neither rushed for more than 60. The Lancers sacked Harrisburg quarterbacks five times, with Norbert Givens doing the honors twice. Kennedy Campos intercepted a pass against Harrisburg, and recorded 12 tackles against Rutgers. Safety Levon Givens, no relation to Norbert, picked off passes in both games.

"We're playing with some swagger now," said Givens' safety partner, senior captain Jackie Webb. "We're lining up and sticking people. We don't run our mouths; that's not our way. We like to talk with our pads."

They were getting their message across loud and clear.

Lancaster's record: 3-3; 1-1 in Keystone Eight play.