L-L League football 2024: Week 6 predictions (2025)

The leaves are starting to swirl. Flannel shirts are now in heavier rotation in my closet. Pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha coffee creamers have made their way to the front row in my fridge. The patio furniture is back safe and sound in the storage unit, and it’s getting darker earlier.

And it’s Week 6 of Lancaster-Lebanon League football. Happy fall to you and yours.

There are 19 games on the Week 6 card — 18 on Friday and one on Saturday. Two trophy games highlight the schedule. And there is just one first-place showdown on the slate, and that’s Hamburg visiting Lancaster Catholic for a Section 5 tussle.

Pick time. Put on a cozy flannel shirt, pour yourself a cup of coffee with your favorite fall creamer — I have plenty of pumpkin and peppermint mocha if you need a splash — and pull up a chair.

LAST WEEK: 16-4

OVERALL: 88-34

Manheim Township over McCaskey — Got my first live look at the Blue Streaks last week. Yeah, they’re legit. Township tops Tornado.

Hempfield over Penn Manor — Battle of 462 trophy up for grabs in Landisville, where the Comets will come calling coming off their first win. Black Knights picking up the pieces after a shutout setback at Township last week. But methinks they get a bounce back here. Hempfield picks off Penn Manor, hoists the 462 hardware. That one was kinda wordy. Sorry.

Cedar Crest over Reading — Falcons took Wilson to the tape last week, and they have a lot of weapons. Crazy stat of the week: Red Knights are 0-14 in section play since rejoining the L-L. Didn’t see that coming. Crest rumbles past Reading.

Exeter over Ephrata — One of the Section 2 Games of the Year here, and it’ll be a tricky road tester for the Mountaineers, who are tasked with slowing down one of the hottest teams on this side of the state. Habanero pepper-hot Eagles erase Ephrata.

Conestoga Valley over Lebanon — Buckskins’ offensive jets were cooled off a tad last week by Spring Grove. But a win is a win is a win. CV wins again here. Bucks chop down Cedars.

Elizabethtown over Muhlenberg — Struggled with two picks this week, and this was one of them. Been saying this for a few weeks now: Bears are due. And they get a home date against a Muhls’ squad that struggled in the trenches vs. Governor Mifflin. E-town bears down, gets its first dub. Final answer.

Cocalico over Manheim Central — Nope, I can’t figure out what’s going on with the Barons, either. Do know that they lost a ton and a half of horsepower to graduation, and figured this season would be … different. Going Eagles here. Their D has been sharp, and their option game is always a handful. Cocalico clips Central in renewal of their spirited rivalry.

Garden Spot over Warwick — D3-5A playoff implications all over the board in this scrap; currently, the Spartans would be the last team in, and the Warriors would be the first team out. Bracketology in late September? Hey, why not. Sparty Nation here. Too many offensive weapons to deal with. Spot stops Warwick.

Conrad Weiser over Solanco — Tip of the cap to the Scouts, who bottled up the Barons and are legit contenders for the Section 3 crown. They’ll have to stop the Mules’ vaunted running game here to stay in line. Weiser finds a way, slows down Solanco.

Elco over Daniel Boone — Raiders will need to play some keep-away here to keep the Blazers’ air raid O on the sidelines. Another tricky gut-hunch pick, but Elco gets the nod. Raiders hold off DB.

Lampeter-Strasburg over Octorara — Really digging what the Pioneers are doing. They’ve successfully reloaded and are flashing a ton of balance. They know Twin Valley and Wyomissing are out there lurking. But they won’t get caught looking ahead. L-S uppercuts Braves.

Twin Valley over Northern Lebanon — Raiders continue to put up crooked numbers on O and stuff people silly on D. TV — now the top-ranked Class 4A team in the state — is the whole package and, like L-S, won’t get caught looking ahead. Raiders ransack Vikings.

Wyomissing over Donegal — Spartans have been picking up steam, and produced a pair of defensive scores last week. Are they still flying under the radar? Asking for a friend. Mega games are right around the corner. And no, Wyo won’t get caught looking ahead, either. Spartans strip-sack Indians.

Annville-Cleona over Kutztown — Dutchmen have been minding their own business, getting healthier, and doing ground damage. Couple of run-first outfits here. This game might take an hour and a half. Keep those chains moving and that clock running. A-C muzzles Cougars.

Lancaster Catholic over Hamburg — Crusaders and Hawks are part of a 3-way tie (with Schuylkill Valley) for the Section 5 lead, so those standings will get a facelift here. Going with the Crusaders at home. Seems like they’ve been coming up big in crunch time — and in special teams — a lot lately. Catholic handles Hamburg.

Pequea Valley over Columbia — Two teams in dire need of an offensive pick-me-up getting together up on the hill. Leaning Braves here. If they can recapture that D magic from earlier this season, look out. PV tops Tide.

Berks Catholic over Schuylkill Valley — Mentioned I really struggled with two picks this week. This was the other one. Call this the coin-toss prognostication of Week 6. Saints solve Panthers.

Wilson over Governor Mifflin — Friday’s lone non-con scrap, and the Gurski-Linn trophy (it’s a real beauty if you haven’t seen it) will be in the stadium. Pick is the Bulldogs, although the Mustangs have some beef and have been running the heck out of the ball. Could be a close one here. Wilson outlasts Mifflin.

Fleetwood over Kennard-Dale — The only Saturday game on the docket, and it’s a nonleague battle royale between the Tigers and the Rams, oh my. I’ve liked Fleetwood’s multi-purpose artillery from the start. They’ll unleash it here. Tigers K-O K-D.

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