Mike Williams and his staff have won the Section Two Coach of the Year award more times than the Manheim Central coach can remember.
His latest honor meant more than any other. By far.
Following an 8-3 season, Williams was voted the Section Two Coach of the Year by his peers. The award had little do with the Barons' record and their trip to the District Three playoffs.
It had everything to do with how Williams was the rock for the Manheim community following the deaths of five Central players within the last year.
"This one means more than any of the other awards," Williams said after Wednesday night's L-L League All-Star banquet. "I'm indebted to the other coaches for this honor."
Williams was presented with a crystal trophy etched with, among other things, a football with the number 129 and a halo above it. The number represents the total sum of the jersey numbers worn by Evan Heiser, Nicolas Bryson, John Griffith, Cody Hollinger and DeVaughn Lee.
"I'm not going to keep this award," Williams said. "This belongs to the school and the community."
The Barons tied back-to-back Section Two champion Lampeter-Strasburg with eight players on the first team.
The Pioneers' Jeff Pickel earned first-team selections at offensive line and linebacker, the latter a repeat selection, and was named Offensive Lineman of the Year. Teammate Jordan Groff repeated as a first-team running back while Ray Lopez made the first team as a receiver and defensive back.
Central's Bryant Myer was named to the first team as kicker and punter while Solanco's Tyler Stitz, the league leader in interceptions, earned a second straight first-team selection at defensive back and was named Defensive Back of the Year.
Stitz's teammate Joe Welk was the only player in the section to earn three different first-team honors. Welk repeated as a first-team running back and return specialist, and earned a nod at linebacker.
Garden Spot quarterback Jon Armbrust and receiver Connor Schelgel, who connected on a league-high 19 touchdowns, were named Offensive Back of the Year and Receiver of the Year, respectively. Cocalico's Kyle Felpel was the Defensive Lineman of the Year and Central's Andrew Kauffman earned Linebacker of the Year.
Section Three champ Lancaster Catholic, which will move to Section One next season, claimed a league-high 13 first-team selections. Senior OL/DL Adam DePietro repeated as a first-team selection at both positions and earned Defensive Lineman of the Year, Offensive Lineman of the Year and Outstanding Lineman of the Year honors for the second straight season.
Running back Roman Clay and linebacker Brandon Hollister were also repeat selections. Coach Bruce Harbach was named Coach of the Year.
Hollister also earned first-time honor at running back while teammate OL/DL Shay Mento was a first-team selection at both positions as was Donegal junior OL/LB Mike Houseal.
Donegal senior Johnnie Martin and Columbia senior Michael Burke IV earned first-team honors at three different positions.
Martin, who led the league with 24 touchdowns, earned first-team honors at running back, defensive back and kick return while Burke IV earned a third straight nod at receiver and also was named to the first-team as a defensive back and punter.
Martin was named the Offensive Back of the Year and Outstanding Back of the Year and Burke IV repeated as Receiver of the Year. Donegal senior Hosea Summerville earned Defensive Back of the Year honors.
Wilson, which won Section One for the 20th time, had nine first-team selections. Senior Rodney Gillin highlighted repeated at running back and defensive back. Gillin was also named Offensive Back of the Year. Matt Rothrock was named to the first team at tight end and defensive end and was named Defensive Lineman of the Year. Ethan Werner (offensive line) and Dominic Moyer (linebacker) earned Player of the Year honors at their respective positions. Doug Dahms was named Coach of the Year.
Also in Section One, Manheim Township's Chase Miller (kick return, defensive back) and Penn Manor's Daullton Parmer (receiver, defensive back) earned multiple first-team honors. Parmer, who led the section in interceptions, earned Defensive Back of the Year honors. McCaskey junior Diante Cherry, who led the league in receptions and receiving yards, was named first-team at receiver and defensive back, and Receiver of the Year.