By Mona Steinhauer
In Quarryville this past Friday night, the Mules rushed a season high 429-yards to propel themselves to a 41-7 victory over winless Garden Spot, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Senior running back BJ Enck fueled the offense with 212-yards on 13 carries and scored three times and John Fisher chipped in with 114-yard on eight carries and one touchdown.
"I thought we played a solid game," said head coach Joe Pearson. "We were focused. We knew this was one step we needed to take to keep our playoffs chances open."
The Mules got off to a bit of a slow start, scoring just once in the opening quarter, but that was on their second possession. Fisher set up that score, a 2-yard run by Ralph Brown, with a 20-yard
scamper.
Garden Spot looked to return the favor but their drive ended when Enck, who finished with three interceptions for the game, came up with a pick at the sideline.
Solanco countered and Fisher lifted the Mules to 13-0 after snagging a 12-yard toss from QB Justin Zellman in the second quarter.
Enck pushed the advantage to 20-0 at the break with a 14-yard run.
Solanco (5-4 overall) committed its first turnover in three games early in the third quarter and that led to Garden Spot's only score of the game. They chewed up the clock for most of the third frame and then scored on a one-yard keeper to start the fourth.
"We fumbled on their 20 and they used a fake punt to start a series of 17 consecutive plays," Pearson recalled. "After they scored, we responded to their push and scored right away."
The Mules turned their 20-7 advantage into a rout with three unanswered touchdowns after that. Enck, on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, took the handoff at the 32, dodged a defender at the 40 and raced to the end zone.
Fisher followed with a 37-yard burst down the sideline and Enck capped the scoring when he returned an interception 35 yards with less than a minute left to play.
John Kirk posted a season-high 21 tackles (12 solo, 8 assists, 1 tackle for a loss) and Phil Dobinson chipped in with eight tackles.
Offensively, Ryan Kutz went 63 yards on 14 carries and Brown added 30 yards on six carries.
"For us to rush a season high 429-yards, our line blocked well," Pearson stated.
"This week is like a playoff game for us," he added. "We need a win to get to 6-4 and qualify for districts."
The Mules, currently 3-3 in Section Two along with E-town and Lebanon, host Cocalico (7-2), currently tied with CV at 4-2 in the section, in the regular season finale this Friday night.
CROSS COUNTRY
Taylor Ludman, who finished fourth with her best finish in the Lancaster-Lebanon League meet with a time of 19:24, wasn't happy two weeks ago. She wanted to finish higher and this week she did, earning third place overall in the District Three Class AAA cross country championships held at the old Parkview Golf Course in Hershey and punching her ticket to the State Meet. Ludman, with a 20:09, finished behind overall champ Leigha Anderson, of Cumberland Valley (19:35) and Warwick's Alli Mannon (19:49) and improved her 19th place finish a year ago.
"Taylor ran a very fine race in very sloppy conditions," said head coach Scott Weaver. "She got out well and ran strong from start to finish."
Ludman was the only Solanco runner to medal and the only one to advance to the PIAA Championships this Saturday on the same course in Hershey.
"Because of all the rain two days prior to the race, the course walks were cancelled," noted Weaver. "And when the boys' ran, in the final race of the day, the course was more than sloppy."
Backing Ludman and pushing the Mares to a ninth place team finish was Jillian Eberly 71st (22:01), Vontoria Post (75th, 22:06), Laura Bowman, who passed 15 runners in the last mile, (85th, 22:14) and Rachel Cairns (86th, 22:14). Also Rebekah Linde (119th, 22:53) and Brit Musselman (171st, 23:37). A total of 312 runners competed.
"Jillian ran a fine race and came away with a new sense of the level of competition," stated Weaver. "She'll only get better in the years to come.
"Vontoria has hit her stride and has learned some important lessons this fall she'll apply in the future," he added.
"Laura moves so well in the second half of the race and Rachel made a nice comeback after the flu," Weaver said, "and Rebekah was still feeling the effects of having the flu. And Brit has really helped the freshmen learn the ropes of varsity cross country.
"So four freshmen in the top six and one junior and one senior," he added. "This team could grow into a real power in the district if they continue to learn and work."
Solanco's ninth place team finish left them as the third L-L League to place, following Warwick, the District champs, and Township, which finished in fifth place.
The boys' team, behind Steve Linde, also finished in ninth place out of 46 scoring teams. Linde was tops for the Mules with a 17:54 for 37th place and just missed advancing to states by three places.
"This was one of the lowest numbers to advance to states," recalled Weaver. "Usually the top 40 go. Steve laid it all out but just ran out of steam at the finish. His leadership and great work ethic will be missed."
Also placing for the Mules was John Ausel (58th, 18:13), Tom Whitehill (73rd, 18:29), Josh Temple (79th, 18:30), Isa Yuzon (86th, 19:27), Zach Paxson (140th, 19:06) and Neil Munro (180th, 19:27). A total of 343 runners competed.
"John put together another great season and will only get better in the next two years," said Weaver. "Tom put together a fine last race in a fine career and has been a great example of what a Mule cross country runner is all about. He's been a great leader of this team.
"Isa had a bout with the flu but will be a force for the next two years and Zach has improved tremendously this year and got to run his first district meet," he added. "He will be missed next year.
"Neil has run the last couple of meets with shin pain but he'll be counted on next year to run to his ability after six seniors leave the team."
Conrad Weiser earned the District championship and Dallastown's Chuck Lockwood secured first place overall with a 16:36.
Against L-L teams this time, Solanco fell to only Cedar Crest and Township and finished ahead of E-town, McCaskey and Hempfield, three teams they lost to in the league meet.
"The following athletes will receive post-season awards at the league banquet on November 12," Weaver noted. "Steve Linde, Taylor Ludman, Brit Musselman, Zarah Post, Josh Temple, Heather Tran and Tom Whitehill are all scholar athletes and Taylor is a first-team all-star."
FIELD HOCKEY
After advancing to the round-of-16 with a solid 2-1 victory over 19th seed Manheim Township on October 23, the Mares saw their season come to a disappointing end at Comet Field in Millersville. For the third time this year, Solanco came up short against Cocalico, falling 2-1 after holding a 1-0 advantage for 38 minutes.
"This was a tough one," said head coach Stacy Shelton. "The team played their best game of the season and we are proud of them."
Tricia Jackson scored Solanco's only goal of the game a quick 2:33 into the contest. Cocalico did not tie the game until ten minutes into the second half and only escaped with the victory on a goal scored with 1:13 left to play.
"It was a good start for us," said Shelton of the early goal. "And once again, our defense and goalie, Carley Payne (First Team all-star, seven saves), helped keep us in the game when we had several corners in a row that we had to defend.
"This team is a great turf team," she added. "They are able to play at a whole different level when they play on turf and are more able to show their ability and skill. Turf makes field hockey even more exciting."
Defense was definitely the highlight for the Mares, who fell in the opening round of Districts a year ago. Cocalico worked 16 corners and registered 10 shots on goal but, for the most part, the Solanco (11-6-1) defense weathered the storm. The Eagles, who were denied on a penalty stroke midway through the opening half and after their seventh corner, knotted the game at the 9:21 mark of the second half when Courtney Ueberroth scored on a rebound that was set up by a penalty corner. Carissa Witmer notched the game-winner with 1:13 left to play. The Mares, who fell 2-0 and lost in overtime to the Eagles during the regular season, finished with one corner and four shots on goal.
"Both of the Cocalico coaches commented on the improvement of our team over the last five years and said they never look forward to playing us," noted Shelton.
"Individually, we had some solid play," she added. "Veronica Redmond had two defensive saves and Alyssa Baughman, who has really stepped up her play in the last part of the season, was also solid on defense. Mary Atkins (Second Team all-star in the midfield) was impressive with her block tackle and helped set up several double teams and Carley did another outstanding job in goal," she continued. "Karleigh Beane (Second Team all-star) and the defense did a great job maintaining and controlling their top player Jordan Paige. And Tricia (First Team all-star) was able to score in her last game.
"It was an emotional ending for all of us and I will miss the seniors," Shelton stated. "They were great role models and leaders and have taught the underclassmen a lot and have helped develop a winning season for the field hockey team."
Also receiving all-star recognition was Second Team selection Katherine Ault at back and Honorable Mention choice Kate Miller, as a forward.
"In my five years as the head coach we have added programs to include mini camps for grades K-3, 4-6 and a junior high clinic," Shelton noted. "The commitment level of players and parents over the last five years has changed and because of that, we are seeing winning teams, a tradition we hope to continue."
