With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 3

Are you ready for some football?

The 2024 Lancaster-Lebanon League gridiron season is right around the corner, with Media Day on tap for Aug. 2, heat acclimatization practices set for Aug. 5, scrimmages on tap for Aug. 17, and the Week 1 games scheduled for Aug. 23-24.

To get you prepped and ready for all the action, LNP|LancasterOnline and Mike Drago Sports — back in the saddle for its third season of wall-to-wall pigskin coverage — have compiled a list of the top returning players from around the L-L League.

High School Football

With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 1

JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer

High School Football

With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 2

JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer

High School Football

With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 4

JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer

High School Football

With 2024 L-L League football season on tap, here are the top returning players to watch in Section 5

JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer

Here is the Section 3 list, with capsules written by Jeff Reinhart and Mike Drago. Players are listed alphabetically …

12 FOR THE SHOW

Dane Bollinger, RB-LB, Cocalico — Ball-hawker ‘backer spearheaded the Eagles’ D during Cocalico’s spirited run to its second straight D3-5A title and return trip to the state semifinals last fall. Gave up his body for 129 tackles, with 17 sticks for losses, two sacks, a pick, six pass breakups and a pair of blocked punts to boot. His honors: Bollinger was a Section 4 first-team all-star at LB, he was a first-team ‘backer all-state pick by PA Football News, and he made our Big 37 team. Not the biggest dude, but he’ll chase you down and drop you like a ton of bricks. Bollinger is dealing with an offseason injury; we certainly hope he’s back flying around on D for Cocalico this fall.

Jace Conrad, WR, Garden Spot — Came into his own on the flanks last season with 46 receptions for 619 yards with seven TD grabs for the Spartans, who shared the Section 3 flag and went back to the D3-5A playoffs. First-team section all-star wideout last fall has great hands. Possession-type receiver. Pinpoint route-runner. Conrad will have Trenton Hoober as his flank mate again this season, giving Sparty Nation an incredible 1-2 receiving punch. But Garden Spot will be breaking in a new full-time QB. Whoever it is will have Conrad and Hoober as vet go-to safety valves.

Brodie Daugherty, LB, Manheim Central — Swarmed his way to a whopping 113 tackles last fall, helping the Barons win the Section 2 hardware and go back to the D3-4A title game for the second year in a row. Daugherty, a first-team section all-star ‘backer pick last fall, will help anchor Manheim Central’s D this time around, and the Barons will be chiseled on that side of the ball. Keep reading.

Trenton Hoober, WR-DB, Garden Spot — Part of the Spartans’ 1-2 all-star receiver punch with Conrad, Hoober was Garden Spot’s home-run threat last fall with 33 catches for 688 yards (18.4 yards per reception) with 14 TD grabs — second-most in the L-L League behind Manheim Central’s Aaron Enterline and Manheim Township’s Landon Kennel, who had 25 TD grabs apiece. You might have heard of those guys. Hoober, who totaled 973 all-purpose yards, also took care of business from his DB spot, with 31 tackles, 12 pass breakups and five picks. His haul: Section 3 Receiver of the Year, plus first-team section all-star nods at WR and DB. Flank defenders, you better be on your toes if you’re lined up against this guy. If he sees green, he’s gone.

Johnny Garcia, RB, Solanco — If you run the Flexbone, that means a lot of carries for your fullback. Hello, Mr. Garcia, who took the rock 227 times last fall for the Golden Mules. He battering-rammed his way for 1,371 yards with 13 TD romps, earning first-team section all-star RB status for his bell-cow efforts. The bulldozer back helped the Mules churn out 3,018 rushing yards, and he’ll be back to do more between-the-tackles damage this season. He’s tough to bring down. Better wrap and tackle if you get Garcia in your crosshairs. Or else he’ll drag you for a ride.

Donovan Gingrich, QB-P, Conrad Weiser — He’ll give the Scouts one of the most experienced signal-callers in the section, and perhaps the most athletic. Gingrich started behind center as a sophomore, throwing for 1,044 yards with 10 TD throws. He just missed the 1,000-yard passing plateau last season, when completed 47.3% of his attempts for 963 yards with 10 TD tosses. That netted Gingrich second-team all-league credentials in Section 4. He was also named first-team all-league as a punter, after averaging 32 yards per boot, with a long of 56 yards. His strength is directional punting, with the ability to keep the ball away from dangerous return men. Gingrich is also a basketball standout; he was one of Berks’ top perimeter shooters last season, and he’s on the cusp of 1,000 career points. His best prospects are likely on the football field, where an efficient senior season this fall could lead to college offers.

Tyler Groff, C-DT, Manheim Central — When you chat Barons’ football over the years, you think rugged O and D lines. It’s their bread and butter, especially up front offensively. Say hello to Manheim Central’s line-of-scrimmage anchor. Groff is back to man the trenches, and he’ll switch from OT — where he earned second-team section all-star honors and a Big 37 team spot last fall — to center. It’ll all start with him. Last fall, Groff helped the Barons gouge out 2,428 rushing yards, with 44 points and 410 yards a game, as Manheim Central took the Section 2 title and went back to the D3-4A championship game. Groff tacked on 25 tackles on D, where he was an honorable mention section all-star selection at DT. Battle-tested vet. Tough customer. Line leader.

Owen Hursh, TE-DE, Warwick — Really came into his own in 2023 as one of the Warriors’ top edge rushers and tackle makers. Hursh’s efforts were rewarded handsomely with a first-team section all-star nod at D-end, as Warwick gave everyone headaches in the Section 2 race. Hursh will be back to spearhead the D once again this fall, when the Warriors set up shop in Section 3.

A.J. Hurst, WR-DB, Garden Spot — Heck of an under-the-radar two-way season last fall for Hurst, who was all over the place on O and D. His sparkling numbers: 22 catches for 367 yards with eight TD snags — as the No. 3 receiver, behind Conrad and Hoober — plus 70 tackles, four hits for losses, five pass breakups, four forced fumbles and five big interceptions from his DB spot. Hurst was a first-team section all-star pick at D-back, and he picked up an honorable mention section all-star nod at receiver. He also served as the Spartans’ backup QB last fall; with all-star dual-threat wiz Kye Harting gone, we’ll see if Hurst gets more snaps this time around. Stay tuned. Either way, he can certainly play — and make plays — all over.

Josh Myer, QB, Cocalico — His stats won’t blow you away. But his bottom line numbers certainly will. Myer, the Eagles’ pitch-man QB, has guided Cocalico to back-to-back D3-5A championships, and consecutive state semifinal trips. Last fall, he lowered his shoulder for 820 rushing yards with 12 TD keepers. The Eagles very rarely throw the ball out of their Flexbone; Myer had 19 completions for 373 yards with four TD tosses last fall, picking up an honorable mention section all-star nod. Can he help guide Cocalico to a D3-5A three-peat? We shall see. Myer certainly has the moxie and the field-general skills to lead the way.

Evan Rittle, WR-DB, Conrad Weiser — He’s a unique all-around talent who earned first-team all-league honors on offense, defense and specials teams as a junior last fall — the only player in Section 4 to pull off that feat. Rittle was the Receiver of the Year in the run-happy section, catching a section-best 38 passes, many of them contested. He pulled in a section-leading seven TD grabs and averaged 11 yards per catch. Rittle had a season-high 10 receptions vs. Elco, and the 5-11, 165-pounder was active from his safety spot, making 53 tackles with a pair of forced fumbles. He also earned all-league honors as a long snapper, where he was flawless on his snaps, and he also got downfield quickly to make plays in coverage. Rittle is also a standout baseball player, and he was one the league’s top lead-off batters and relief pitchers this past spring for the Scouts.

Zion Rolon, LB, Manheim Central — Barons’ stick-meister can absolutely lower the boom. Rolon made his presence felt last fall when he piled up 88 bone-jarring tackles, with four sacks plus a blocked field goal. He was an honorable mention Section 2 all-star ‘backer pick, helping Manheim Central win its 28th section championship and go back to the D3-4A finale. Rolon will team with Daugherty to give the Barons a hard-hitting 1-2 combo over the middle. They’ll bring the noise. Rolon is a hammer; you don’t want to be the nail if he’s got you in his sights.