Lancaster Catholic 19  Loyalsock 13

December 5^th, 2009 

On a snowy wet field, temperatures in the 20’s the 2009 season came to an abrupt end for the Lancers as they were defeated by number one ranked Lancaster Catholic 19-13. It will be loss that the players, coaches and fans will feel for a lifetime. In state playoffs the stakes are high with the loser going home. Sometimes it’s a game of inches or one play as the Lancers found out, missing scoring opportunities and having costly turnovers. Lancaster Catholic with quarterback Kyle Smith, Pennsylvania’s High record holder of touchdown passes did just enough to win in tough conditions, passing for 3 touchdowns. Two of those came in the first half with Lancaster Catholic leading at halftime 13-0. Loyalsock never quit. After receiving the ball at the beginning of the second half the Lancers drove 80 yards to make it 13-6 early in the 3^rd quarter. Wet, cold and sloppy conditions made for turnovers as conditions worsened during the game. Mid way through the 4^th quarter after exchanging turnovers, Lancaster Catholic drove 50 yards. On 4^th and 8 at the Lancer 16 yard line Smith hit Travis Purvis crossing the middle for a touchdown with 3:22 left to play. The Lancers took the kickoff and drove 70 yards as Stephen Stopper hit Frankie Pagana to cut the score to 19-13 with 2 minutes to play. Sock’s attempted on side’s kick went out of bounds as Lancaster Catholic was able to run the clock out. The loss will sting a lifetime for the players, coaches and fans knowing a play or two could have won the game for the underdog Lancers. The Seniors made history as no other Lancer graduating class ever captured 2 District Championships, 2008 AA Eastern Championship, first ever eastern final appearance and 4 straight years of post season play. Also, for the first time in school history, after 17 years the Lancers beat District A Champion Southern Columbia. Congratulations to the Seniors for all the hard work and dedication for the past 4 years. The township along with many fans in the Williamsport Area congratulates you and wishes you well in your future! The success of the program could not have been done without the countless hours and player loyalty of Coach Jackson and his Coaches (Girardi, Confer, Kinney and Nettles) over the years thus putting Lancer Football on the state map. Again, congratulations on a season to be proud of and one to remember!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES AND A SEASON TO BE PROUD OF!

Lewisburg 6  Loyalsock 41

November 28, 2009

On a sunny but cool & breezy Saturday afternoon the Lancers traveled to Lewisburg to play the Green Dragons for the District 4 Class AA Championship. The Lancers had not played Lewisburg since beating them in the last 2007 regular season game. A first quarter interception by Alex Eggerton and 38 yard return to the 4 yard line set up the Lancers first score. Stephen Stopper ran off the right side to put the Lancers up 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. Lewisburg answered on a 58 yard, 6 play drive but missed the extra point attempt. That started a barrage of point scoring in the second quarter by the Lancers. In a span of 7 minutes the Lancers scored 20 points. The first touchdown had the offensive line open up holes as Stopper ran up the middle then picking up blockers to the right side for a 46 yard touchdown run. After the defense shut the Green Dragons down, the Lancers moved the ball on 6 plays capping it off as Stopper threw a 16 yard pass to Don Kinney down the middle. Again the defense came up to stop the Green Dragons from obtaining any first downs which forced them to punt. The last Lancer touchdown in the second quarter was set up by a 22 yard Stopper to Frankie Pagana catch down the middle then a Stopper to Pagana 23 yard touchdown reception as the pass sailed over two Lewisburg defenders outstretched hands on the left side of the end zone to put Sock up 27-6 at halftime. Getting the second half kick off, the Lancers looked to run time off the clock. They put together a 7 minute 10 play drive as Stopper again scored on a 6 yard run. The last score of the game came when Brian Losell blocked down a defensive lineman at the line and Derek Mandresh ran over Lewisburg’s linebacker which cleared the path as Brandon Smith’s 56 yard burst up the middle put the game out of reach,  41 -6 Sock. Starting from the Lancer offensive line, the backs and wide outs put together a well balanced attack scoring the most points of the season. Even with the windy conditions Coach Girardi didn’t stop going to the air nor did it hamper Stopper’s air game. Defensively, Sock’s bend and not break mentality only allowed one score. Lewisburg’s first scored was on a 58 yard drive but after that Sock shut them down for a total of 132 yards of total offense. Congratulations to the Lancers, Coach Jackson and his coaching staff (Confer, Girardi, Kinney and Nettles) for capturing District 4 Class AA Championship!!! Next week the Lancers will play a high powered offensive Lancaster Catholic team at Shamokin which will test the Lancer’s defensive in the next round of the 2009 AA, state playoffs. Good luck Lancers!!!!!!!!

Hughesville 6  Loyalsock 17

Danville 3  Loyalsock 35 

November 13, 2009

On a fairly mild and dry November night the Lancers traveled to Danville to play the Ironmen for their first District playoff game. Danville scored 42 points a week ago against JerseyShore and was looking to put up big numbers against the Lancers. In the first quarter Sock’s defense quickly put a stop to that while the offense showed they could move the ball, especially through the air. Stephen Stopper just missed his target Frankie Pagana deep in Danville territory on a 40 play mid way through the first quarter. In the second quarter, Stopper wasn’t missing as Pagana caught two touchdown passes of over 30 yards each. The Ironmen was able to capitalize on some Lancer penalties hitting a 26 yard field goal as the Lancers lead at halftime 14-3. In the third quarter both teams played field position with no teams scoring. The Lancers took control of the game in the fourth quarter as Mike Kinney scored on a 2 yard run with just over 8 minutes to play. After the defense held Danville, Stopper called his own number and after a key block by center Brian Losell freed Stopper for a 51 yard score up the middle to make the game 28-3. Sock got the ball again. Coach G trying to run time off the clock put in Sock’s version of what some call “The Bus” or what I call “The Frig” Derek Mandresh. Mandresh scored on a 27 yard run while carrying Ironmen into the end zone. It was a total team effort on both sides of the ball. Defensively, not allowing a touchdown as the defensive line put pressure on Danville’s offensive, allowing just a few big plays. The linebacker’s filled holes making tackles as the defensive backs Tyler Pinkerton, Brandon Smith and Don Kinney each had a pick. Offensively, the O line gave Stopper time to hit a variety of receivers from Pagana, Jackson Person, Corey Oliver, Connor Schaible, Mike and Don Kinney. The Lancers balanced attack featured over 200 yards of both passing and rushing. In order for the Lancers to win in the playoffs they must continue this balanced offensive attack. Defensively they need to continue not to give up big plays, bend but not break and be stubborn on points they allow. Sock will travel to Hughesville for a rematch in which Sock’s 21-0 loss to the Spartans earlier this season is still fresh on the Lancers minds.