By Ethan Miller ‘23
Two straight losses had dropped the Buckskins to 2-3 after a strong start. The team needed a win to get on the rails again, and on a blustery homecoming night in Witmer, Conestoga Valley grabbed a commanding victory over Lebanon 38-18.
The Buckskins got the ball first and wasted no time in adding points to the scoreboard. Following an incompletion on the first play of the game, CV rushed for 7 consecutive plays, chewing up yardage and marching down the field. The drive culminated in QB Macoy Kneisley weaving his way through defenders for a 10 yard scamper-and-score to put the Buckskins up 7-0.
Almost immediately after the Cedars got their first shot at offense, the Buckskin offense was back on the field. Isaiah Sensenig picked off a pass and returned it to the house; however, a penalty cost CV the 6 points (the interception still stood), setting up the offense at the Cedars 15-yard line. Three plays later, another touchdown was negated on a holding penalty, which stalled the drive out and brought the field goal unit out onto the field. David Irwin continued his stellar season when he knocked the 34-yard field goal straight through the uprights. CV led 10-0.
The closest Lebanon came to making it a game came early in the second quarter, when Emanuel Mason scored a 38-yard rushing touchdown. Lacking a reliable place kicker, the Cedars failed on the two-point conversion and the score stayed 10-6.
CV added 2 more touchdowns before the half, one on an electric 37-yard dash to the end zone by sophomore standout Jayden Johnson, and the other on an 11-yard rumble by senior RB Nick Tran. The Buckskins entered halftime leading 24-6.
The Cedars received the second half kickoff, but the drive stalled in their own territory. The ensuing punt was blocked and recovered by the CV special teams unit, setting up the offense deep in Lebanon territory. In moments the score was 31-6 Buckskins, thanks to another Tran touchdown run, this one from 6 yards out.
Lebanon scored touchdowns in both the third and fourth quarters, but failed to convert the 2-point conversions on each. Kneisley tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Ish Camacho to conclude the scoring. After a disappointing 41-21 loss to Solanco last week, the Buckskins had no issues on Friday in their 38-18 win.
The win moves Conestoga Valley to 3-3 and third in their section, behind undefeated Manheim Central and Exeter. The Buckskins stay at home this Friday, when they’ll face Governor Mifflin (2-4) in the stadium.
Box Score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| CV | 10 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
| LC | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
Player of the Week
We’ve got two this week! First, from last week’s game against Solanco, Wyatt Wolgemuth wins the POTW award. Wolgemuth, a senior defensive end, gave the Buckskins 6 points with an 8-yard scoop-and-score on a Solanco fumble. This is Wolgemuth’s first POTW of the season.
For Friday’s game, QB Macoy Kneisley gets the award. Kneisley, while only throwing 6 times, scored both on the ground and through the air. In the first, he put the Buckskins on the board with a 10-yard touchdown run. Then, he closed out the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Ish Camacho to bookend the scoring for the CV offense on the night. This is also Kneisley’s first POTW award of the 2022 season.
Past POTW:
Week 1: WR Jeff Fisher
Week 2: RB Nick Tran
Week 3: RB Nick Tran
Week 4: RB Nick Tran
Week 5: DE Wyatt Wolgemuth