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.

"Our entire defense played really well," said head coach Victor Ridenour. "They deserve a lot of credit for our success this season."

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 60-yards 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."

The Pioneers have outscored their opponents 519-115.

ALL-STARS

Eight soccer players and one cross country runner recently received post-season honors. Senior Andrew Reidenbaugh was a first-team all-star while senior Derick May was a second team selection and Ryker Holsinger, also a senior, was recognized as an academic all-star.

These seniors and their graduating teammates have been playing together since their 8U Youth Soccer days.

The girls' soccer team also received a handful of all-star honors with Jenna Daveler leading the pack. The senior was not only a First team all-star but was voted to the All-LL League team and the PA All-State Team and was the Section Two MVP.

Molly Bucher joined Daveler on the All-LL League team and was also a First team all-star. Ashlynn Keys was a Second team selection while Tori Meredith, yet another senior, was an Academic All-Star.

Chloe Bucher, the only freshman in the group, was a First team all-star.

In cross country action, sophomore Colin Whitaker was one of 11 runners voted by Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association to receive Second Team All-State honors for the 2021 season.