BY JEFF FALK
Never under estimate the importance of a final impression, and the effect it can have on moving forward.
On Friday night at Lebanon’s Alumni Stadium, the Lebanon football team closed out a disappointing campaign with a positive, a 20-13 triumph over Elizabethtown. Sophomore quarterback Mark Pyles provided the Cedars hope for the future by scoring a touchdown with a minute remaining to snap a 13-all draw.
The win snapped the Cedars’ seven-game losing streak and made them 3-7 overall and 1-6 in Section Two of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The Bears fell to 0-10 on the year and 0-7 in the section.
With the Cedars nursing a 13-7 margin in the middle of the final stanza, Elizabethtown moved smartly down the field for the tying score. Lebanon kept the game deadlocked by blocking the extra-point try.
Lebanon assumed a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when Pyles hooked up with senior Steven Padillas for a touchdown completion. But E-town responded on its next possession to tie the score.
Pyles provided the Cedars a 13-7 halftime cushion by scampering in for a touchdown later in the second period.
Elsewhere in scholastic football on Friday night:
Northern Lebanon 33, Pequea Valley 6
At Kinzers, the Vikings officially annointed 2011 a success with a solid performance against the Braves. Let the record show that Northern Lebanon finished the year 5-5 overall and 4-2 in Section Three of the L-L.
The Vikings really fed off their defense, which limited Pequea Valley to double-digits in total yardage. Northern Lebanon needed just a minute to break the ice, as junior Pat Stevens returned an interception for a TD and a 7-0 lead.
Midway through the opening stanza, senior quarterback Tanner Dresch made it 13-0 Vikes with a scoring jaunt. Later, fullback Colton Ryan, who put up over 100 yards rushing, upped the Vikings’ advantage to 19 points with a touchdown blast.
With the loss, Pequea Valley slipped to 4-6 on the year and 2-4 in the section.
Near the end of the third period, Northern Lebanon went up 26-0 on a long pass from Dresch to Ryan. The Vikings’ final score came courtesy of a Ryan Daub burst.
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