The beginning and end were the stuff story books are made of. What the Lebanon High football team struggled with was the middle.
On Friday night at Elizabethtown, the Cedars ended their perplexing 2010 campaign on an up note by blasting the Bears 42-14. Lebanon won the game in the first half, when it opened up a 28-0 bulge.
In addition to serving as Lebanon’s season finale, the triumph snapped Lebanon’s six-game losing streak – some of which were of the tough-luck variety. The Cedars, who opened the year with three consecutive wins against Lebanon County foes, went 4-6 in 2010 and 1-5 in Section Two of the Lancaster-Lebanon League.
Lebanon scored on its opening possession, getting a touchdown collaboration between quarterback Alex Trautman and receiver Isiah Baker. And there was still five minutes of the first quarter remaining when the Cedars upped their advantage to 14-0
Lebanon High, which saw 12 seniors dress for a final time, approached the 500-total-yard plateau in the blowout. Trautman paced the onslaught with four touchdown passes and well over 300 yards passing.
Elsewhere in Lebanon County high school football on Friday night:
Northern Lebanon 56, Pequea Valley 28
Under the lights of Fred Gahres Stadium in Fredericksburg, the Vikings rolled to an impressive victory to claim the runner-up spot in Section Three of the L-L. At 4-6 overall and 4-2 in the section, Northern Lebanon finished second to undefeated Lancaster Catholic.
Northern Lebanon really turned on the after-burners in the second half, when they scored 35 points to distance themselves from the Braves. At the half, the Vikings were nursing a 21-14 edge.
Viking junior quarterback Tanner Dresch misfired on only one of his 11 pass attempts and piled up 300 yards through the air. Of his ten completions, four went for touchdowns.
Williams Valley 28, Annville-Cleona 17
At Williams Valley, the Little Dutchmen carried a lead into the fourth quarter in an attempt to stay alive for a District Three Class AA playoff berth. But the 8-2 Vikings scored twice to end Annville-Cleona’s season at 4-6.
A 50-yard scoring jaunt by senior back Ricky Snyder gave A-C a 17-7 third-quarter advantage. The Little Dutchmen enjoyed a 10-7 halftime margin thanks to the right foot of freshman kicker Sam Soliday.
The Little Dutchmen opened a 7-0 lead on a Tyson Hayes-to-Austin Loy touchdown pass.
Snyder cemented his claim as ‘Lebanon County’s Player of the Year’ with 130 yards rushing. The output gave Snyder 1,700 yards rushing for the year and over 3,400 yards for his career.
Lancaster Catholic 39, Elco 18
In Myerstown, the Raiders fell to the powerful and undefeated Crusaders, but they didn’t go without a wimper. After falling behind 18-0, twice in the second half did Elco pull to within six points of Lancaster Catholic.
First, Tyler George hooked up with star wide out Eric Ondo for a 30-yard touchdown that made it 18-12. Then, George plunged for a score that moved the Raiders to within 24-18.
After opening the year with six consecutive setbacks, Elco ended the campaign 3-7. Lancaster Catholic, the defending Class AA state champion, improved to 10-0.
Elco began its comeback early in the third quarter when George hit Chad Horst for a short score.
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