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12- ADVERTISER - Lampeter-Strasburg Edition - December 1, 2021 SPORTS Conestoga Valley • Donegal • Elizabethtown Garden Spot • Hempfield Lampeter-Strasburg • Manheim Central Penn Manor • Pequea Valley • Solanco MORE SPORTS PICTURES and other high school sports news at
Pioneers Claim 5th Shutout in District Semifinal
BY MONA STEINHAUER
An 11-game winning streak and a trip to the District Three 4A final was on the line Friday, November 12 when Lampeter-Strasburg hosted Kennard-Dale in the district semis. Experience, however, favored the Pioneers who set the tone early and cruised to their fifth shutout of the season with a 31-0 whitewash of the Rams. L-S is looking for a 3-peat in the 4A bracket while the Rams won their first playoff game in school history with a 28-14 slugfest over Donegal. The Pioneers have defeated their last ten opponents by an average margin of 37 points.
Defense provided an early spark in this one. On just the second play from scrimmage, Giovanni Malatesta picked off a pass and returned the ball 40 yards to the K-D ten. Two plays later, Payton Cunningham scored on a five-yard carry and L-S never looked back.
Five different players earned points for the hosts while a handful of defenders played key roles in holding the Rams to 98 total yards of offense. Beau Heyser led that group with 10 solo tackles while Nick DelGrande chipped in with six tackles and a pair of sacks. Weston Weaver (9 tackles) and Hunter Hildebrand (7 takedowns) joined Malatesta with interceptions as the
Rams turned the ball over five times. Luke Hines and Jackson Heeter also combined for 14 tackles for a dominating defensive effort. “Beau had a great game,” said Ridenour. “He was all over the place making tackles. Our secondary as a whole played well.” Andrew Reidenbaugh booted a 32-yard field goal (and four PATs) with 5:57 left in the first quarter as
L-S built a 10-0 lead and pinned K-D in its backfield. “We had that early lead and then there were a couple of drives that we didn’t finish,” Ridenour recalled. “We have to finish drives, especially when our defense gives us a short field.”
With 5:59 left in the half, Berkeley Wagner (4-9, 80 yards rushing, 1 INT) sent a 33-yard bomb deep to Malatesta who, despite heavy coverage, hauled in the toss and pushed the lead to 17-0.
Hildenbrand’s pick set up Lampeter’s third touchdown of the night. Two plays later, Wagner found Hildenbrand on a screen pass. The junior converted, sprinting 35-yards, and extending the advantage to 24-0 with 32 seconds before the halftime buzzer.
“At the break we talked about staying together and staying focused,” Ridenour said. “While we have been here before, the district playoffs, we only have four players who have playoff game experience. Our guys have a great focus week to week, and they prepare well. Plus, our seniors wanted to play well for their last home game, and they responded.”
The Pioneers chewed up the clock on the opening drive of the second half, going 60yards in 11-plays and scoring on Wagner’s nine-yard run with 6:56 left in the quarter.
Kennard-Dale, winners of the YAIAA division, end their season at 10-2. Like the Pioneers, who lost their opening game of the season to Warwick, the Rams dropped their opener to Octorara.
“Kennard-Dale was a very physical team,” said Ridenour. “They reminded me of Garden Spot. People seem to forget about GS. They won five of their last six games. They are good and are going to be good next year. Warwick was more balanced than K-D. The game plan was to make them throw the ball. We thought if they had to, it was an advantage to us.”
photo by Mona Steinhauer
Pioneer senior football players make their last walk on their home field after whitewashing Kennard-Dale 31-0 in the District Three 4A semifinals Friday, November 19.
photo by Mona Steinhauer
Lampeter’s Berkeley Wagner hands off to Jonathan Mellinger in the District semifinals against Kennard-Dale Friday, November 19 at L-S.
photo by Mona Steinhauer
Lampeter’s Beau Heyser not only led the team in tackles but gained 12 rushing yards in the Pioneers’ 31-0 District 3 4A semifinal win over Kennard-Dale Friday, November 19.
See Sports pg 13
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