Penn Manor

By John Buffone

jbuffone@gametimepa.com

Penn Manor is entering 2014 down a few playmakers from last year but still has plenty in the cupboard to make some noise in Section One.

The Comets once again played the bridesmaid role to Wilson after finishing with a section record of 5-2, tying Lancaster Catholic and Hempfield for second place. To add salt to the wound, the Comets’ postseason run was ended by the Bulldogs in the second round of the District 3 playoffs.

The Comets will not have their two-headed monster in the backfield in 2014 with Charlie Bell and LeVonta Jones graduated but the opening in the backfield will give some opportunities to some new backs that are eager to make a name for themselves like seniors Aston Leschke and Tyler Spangler both some limited action in 2013.

“It’s a cerebral group and they’re better leaders than we’ve had in the past,” head coach Todd Mealy said. “When you add all those things together, you’ll have a team that will be competitive and who knows where we’ll be at the end of the year.

Senior Tanner Erisman will be back in the saddle as Penn Manor’s starting quarterback in 2014. Erisman passed for 1383 yards in 2013 with 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

With 2013 in the rearview, the Comets are expecting to be in the mix come November.

“This is our eighth year at Penn Manor and Tanner is probably the smartest quarterback we’ve had. He has different skill sets than our two previous quarterbacks (PJ Rehm and Adam Sahd),” Mealy said. “It allows us to do some things differently and he wants to lead and make other players better. It’s been a good experience for all of us to coach him and watch him progress.”

The Comets kick off their season in a rather odd location when they face Cedar Cliff in Dublin, Ireland.

“It’ll be a real cool experience and I’m really looking forward to it over there. But I have to stay focused and keep the team focused on taking it as any other game,” senior lineman Noah Braun said. “We’ve beat them two years a row in the playoffs so they’re obviously going to come out and give us a good game so we have to do the same and come out on top.”