OFFENSE

Quarterback — Pat Bostick, Sr., Manheim Township: Bound for the University of Pittsburgh, the Blue Streaks’ star heads a list of quality L-L QBs that includes Lancaster Catholic’s Nick Downey and Annville-Cleona’s Clay Failor.

At 6-feet-4 and 220 pounds, Bostick is similar to former Wilson and current Michigan QB Chad Henne in size and style. Against Henne’s alma mater last fall, Bostick threw for 385 yards and five TDs in a 35-25 win. He compiled a regular-season rating of 125.6 to lead the league and pace Township to a share of the section title and its first district playoff berth. He also led the L-L by throwing for 31 touchdowns and 2,515 yards, and was intercepted just four times.

He was the L-L Coaches’ choice for the All-Section One first team and shared the section’s Offensive Back of the Year honors.

Running back — Geoff Hess, Sr., Penn Manor: Ranked second among Section One backs last season with 1,140 yards rushing and a 6.0 average.

Like Bostick, the 5-11, 205-pound Hess was named to the L-L Coaches’ All-Section One squad as a junior. He set the tone for his season on opening night when he rushed for four scores against Solanco and finished the season with 16 TDs.

Running back — Jake Stopper, Jr., Wilson: Enjoyed a superlative sophomore season last year, leading the L-L in rushing attempts (234) and yards (1,313) despite his smallish (5-8, 175) size. Averaged 5.6 yards per carry and helped the Bulldogs finish 7-3.

He closed the season in style by rushing for three scores and throwing for another against Cedar Crest. His 17 TDs and 102 points tied for second in Section One.

Wide receiver — Ty Bynum, Sr., Conestoga Valley: An All-Section Two first team choice, Bynum had three games with 11 catches or more and a high of 14 versus Cocalico. He reached a season high in yardage with 239 against Blue Mountain.

His 70 receptions led the L-L and his 1,229 receiving yards ranked second in the league. A game-breaker, the 6-1, 185-pound Bynum drew double coverage in every game but still averaged 17.6 yards per catch.

Wide receiver — Josh Smith, Sr., Wilson: A Section One first team choice as a junior, the 6-4, 195-pound Smith paced the Bulldogs with 49 catches for 893 yards, both marks good for second among Section One receivers.

Smith averaged 18.2 yards per catch, and was a Section One first team selection.

Tight end — Matt Balasavage, Sr., Lancaster Catholic: The Crusaders’ star is one of two L-L tight ends to own a D-I scholarship, Penn Manor’s Jordan Gibbs (Pittsburgh) being the other.

Headed for Temple, the 6-5, 240-pound Balasavage earned Associated Press All-State honors and was an All-Section first team choice by L-L coaches. His 30 receptions for 315 yards and five TDs helped Catholic (12-1) claim section and district honors as well as a first-ever trip to states. He saved his best game for last, recording season-high numbers with seven receptions for 58 yards against Montoursville.

Center — Austin Hormel, Jr., Northern Lebanon: Impressed L-L coaches enough as a sophomore last season to be named to the All-Section Three second team.

The 6-1, 215-pound junior helped the Vikings gain 2,079 yards on the ground.

Guard — Steve Hohenwarter, Sr., Hempfield: The 6-2, 280-pound guard/defensive tackle was a prime mover in a Black Knights running game that piled up 2,579 yards and averaged 215 per game.

Hohenwarter earned Section One first team honors as a junior last season, recognition for blocks that helped Hempfield tie Township for Section One honors and finish 10-2 overall.

Guard — Marcus Zimmerman, Sr., Manheim Central: An L-L coaches choice for first team honors at offensive guard and defensive tackle, Zimmerman was a mainstay on a line that helped Manheim Central lead Section Two in total offense and total defense.

The 6-0, 235-pound Zimmerman proved pivotal in Central’s run to its 18th Section Two title and 15th district crown while producing a whopping 658 points.

Tackle — Tom Nardo, Sr., Lancaster Catholic: Like the Barons’ Zimmerman, Nardo was an L-L coaches’ choice for first team honors as a two-way lineman.

Nardo, however, has been moved from guard to tackle for this season, as the Crusaders look to fill the void left by graduated Section Three first team star Tyler Bachman. The 6-4, 255-pound Nardo was a key factor in a Catholic offense that scored 408 points en route to a 12-1 season.

Tackle — Cory Pfautz, Sr., Manheim Township: The 6-4, 310-pounder has bulked up 15 pounds from last year, when he was named to the Section One first team as a junior.

Pfautz was crucial to the success of a Streaks offense that averaged 405 yards per game to rank second in the league en route to a 9-2 finish.

Placekicker — David Soldner, Jr., Manheim Township: By far the busiest kicker in the L-L last season, Soldner’s 55 extra points led the league and was more than twice the second-place total of 22.

He also led L-L kickers with four field goals, including a long of 44. Soldner was one of just two sophomores named to the L-L’s first team last year, the other being Lampeter-Strasburg return specialist Justin Taylor.

Return specialist — Justin Taylor, Jr., Lampeter-Strasburg: The 5-11, 170-pound Taylor will start this season at wide receiver and defensive back, one year after making his mark as a return specialist.

Engaging opponents in a game of “catch-me-if-you-can,” Taylor returned 11 kicks last year for 367 yards and a 33.4 average. He also scored two TDs, including a 94-yard return to spark a win over Northern Lebanon.

DEFENSE

End — Clarence Robinson, Sr. Cedar Crest: Not too many offensive players wanted to venture into Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood in 2005.

The 6-2, 222-pound Falcon star led the team with eight sacks and ranked third on the club in tackles with 43, including 15 solo. His best game was an eight-tackle performance in a win over Reading. Robinson was named to the Section One first team as a junior.

End — Chas Alecxih, Sr., Penn Manor: The 6-5, 270-pound standout earned Section One first team honors last season after leading the Comets with seven sacks, the second-highest total in the section.

Alecxih finished with 40 tackles, and registered season-highs with seven stops against Hempfield and three sacks versus McCaskey.

Tackle — Tom Nardo, Sr., Lancaster Catholic: An All-Section first-team member on offense and defense, Nardo was one of just four linemen to be so honored by L-L coaches. He was also named Section Three’s Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year and was an Associated Press All-State second team choice at defensive tackle.

His strong play in the trenches helped Catholic rank as the L-L’s top defensive team for the second straight season. The Crusaders achieved the difficult trifecta of leading the league against the run, pass, and total defense.

Tackle — Marcus Zimmerman, Sr. Manheim Central: The Baron defense ranked second in the L-L last season, and Zimmerman was a big reason for Central’s success.

His 99 tackles ranked second in the section and helped fuel a unit that produced five shutouts en route to a 12-2 finish. He reached his peak in the postseason with 11 tackles against Cocalico and 10 against Northern in district playoff wins.

Outside linebacker — Rob Zimmerman, Jr., Lampeter-Strasburg: Zimmerman’s 68 tackles tied for second on the team and he led the Pioneers in fumbles recovered with two.

The 5-9, 170-pounder was a second team choice as a sophomore last year on the All-Section Three team. He produced nine tackles in a win over Northern Lebanon.

Outside linebacker — Jeremiah Sholly, Sr., Northern Lebanon: Like Zimmerman, Sholly was an All-Section Three second team selection in 2005.

The 5-11, 170-pound Sholly paced the Vikings with three sacks and was third on the team with 60 tackles. A dominant three-game run early in the season saw him produce 13 tackles against Donegal and 12 each versus Columbia and Annville-Cleona.

Inside linebacker — Michael Good, Sr., Lampeter-Strasburg: The 5-11, 220-pound Good tied Zimmerman for the second-highest tackle total on the team with 68, and he led the Pioneers with 11 tackles for loss.

The coaches’ choice for All-Section Three first team in 2005, he began the season with a combined 21 tackles in two games, including 12 versus Penn Manor.

Inside linebacker — Nick Goodling, Sr., Conestoga Valley: Goodling was a standout for the Buckskins, earning All-Section Two second team honors last season.

The 5-10, 210-pounder ranked second on the team with 66 stops, and had two sacks, two caused fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery. His best outing was a season-best 12 stops versus Lebanon.

Defensive back — Nick Downey, Sr., Lancaster Catholic: Downey starred at QB and defensive back for the Crusaders last season, and was the coaches’ choice for All-Section Three first team honors on offense and defense.

The 5-10, 175-pound Downey helped key a Lancaster Catholic unit that surrendered the fewest points in the league (52). That total is the L-L’s best since 2003, when Central yielded a league-low 40 and Reading 46. The Crusaders also led the L-L with six shutouts.

Defensive back — Brett DeGroat, Sr., Elizabethtown: DeGroat fronted a Bear defense that ranked second to Manheim Central in Section Two in points and yardage allowed.

He tied for the team lead in interceptions with four and recorded 22 tackles. The 6-2, 160-pound DeGroat was an All-Section Two first team choice.

Defensive back — Jay Ridinger, Sr., Manheim Township: A Section One second team selection last year, the 5-8, 165-pound Ridinger ranked third on the team with 52 tackles.

He was one of the keys for a Township team that placed third in the section in pass defense and second in points allowed.

Punter — Anthony Rivera, Sr., Lebanon: Named to the Section Two first team in 2005, Rivera proved valuable to the Cedars. Punting 44 times, he averaged 32.5 yards per attempt.