Littlestown

Aug 31, 2006 — The Thunderbolts are hoping to do something no Litllestown team has done since Dwight Eisenhower was in office: win three straight league championships. The last time the school won so many titles in a row was from 1958 to '60.

Coach Mike Lippy believes one of the team's strengths is its experience. The Thunderbolts have 24 returning letterwinners from last year's squad.

Oh, and he's also pretty confident in the Bolts' ability to stop opponents from scoring.

"We really believe that, with our front eight people, our defensive line and our four linebackers, we can be as good as anybody in the league," he said.

Offense: Lippy also has a lot of confidence in the offensive unit. Any success will come from the big Bolts at the line of scrimmage.

"It's all going to start up front for us this year,"

he said. "I think one of the big keys is up front because we plan to run the football, and I think we have the guys up front that can make that happen."

That said, the Bolts are also excited about their skill positions, including running back Brian Zelanko and receivers Cory Hegarty and Kameron Armacost. Lippy also believes quarterback Luke Reichart's experience from the past two years will help.

"We feel very comfortable and confident with the experience he has gotten the last few years that he'll be able to do the things that we do within our offensive game plan," Lippy said.

Defense: Reichart's play in leading the secondary will also be crucial for the Bolts. The cornerbacks and safeties have not been tested as much as the rest of the defensive unit.

"I think, up front, our eight people are going to be very solid," Lippy said.

The squad, he said, is strong enough defensively that it has another opportunity to reach the District 3 Class AA title game for a third consecutive season.

Linebacker Adam DeGroft said the key is putting in the extra work at practice.

"We have to be prepared," he said.

Intangibles: Lippy said he wants to make sure the Thunderbolts remain hungry. The team cannot take its success for granted, he said. Zelanko believes the team will continue to put in the quality practice time needed to succeed.

"We're still going to be hard working," he said. "We're not looking ahead."

Tight end/linebacker Nate Murren agreed.

"We're staying focused on the goal," he said.

Verdict: With their experience and talent, the Thunderbolts have to be one of the favorites to win the league for a third consecutive season.

However, they have a lot of hard work ahead of them.

After the first day of practice, Lippy said the Thunderbolts needed to realize they can't relax because opponents won't roll over for them.

"These seniors have an opportunity to do some things that most classes of kids don't have an opportunity to do," he said.

Contact Patrick Abdalla at pabdalla@eveningsun.com.

Thunderbolts in the huddle

General
School: Littlestown
Nickname: Thunderbolts
Offense: Multiple
Defense: 4-4
Returning lettermen: 24

Coaching staff
Coach: Mike Lippy
Season: Fourth
Assistant coaches: Corey Bittle, Joe Bowman, Steve Lane, Eric Naylor, Bob Warehime, Gary Zelanko

Key returners
· RB/DE Brian Zelanko, Sr.
· ILB/G Adam DeGroft, Sr.
· TE/ILB Nate Murren, Sr.
· QB/S Luke Reichart, Sr.
· WR/DB Cory Hegarty, Sr.

Key losses
· RB/CB Nate Rolon
· QB/DB Zach Beaver
· SE/S Evan Bair

top  

2-minute drill

LUKE REICHART
    Senior quarterback

Who is the toughest opposing player you've ever faced? I'm not really sure. There are a lot of tough guys. There are a lot of guys on this team that are tough to go up against in practice.

Who are your favorite NFL players? Ben Roethlisberger and maybe Tom Brady.

What job do you see yourself in five to six years from now? I haven't decided yet. There are a lot of things out there, but I don't know.

top  

2005 results

10-2 overall, 6-0 in Division III

Res.	Opponent	Score
W	Pius X	27-7
W	West York	26-16
L	at Lanc. Catholic	0-21
W	at York Co. Tech	61-0
W	at Lebanon	14-7
W	Bermudian Springs	9-7
W	Biglerville	35-3
W	Fairfield	56-20
W	Delone Catholic	13-0
W	Hanover	28-7

District 3 Class AA semifinal
    W at Boiling Springs, 36-33

District 3 Class AA final
    L vs. Lanc. Catholic, 7-34

top  

2006 schedule

Date	Opponent	Time
9/1	at New Oxford	7:30 p.m.
9/9	Kennard-Dale	7 p.m.
9/15	South Western	7:30 p.m.
9/22	at Biglerville	7:30 p.m.
9/29	Delone Catholic	7:30 p.m.
10/6	Fairfield	7:30 p.m.
10/14	at York Co. Tech	1 p.m.
10/20	at West York	7 p.m.
10/27	at Hanover	7:30 p.m.
11/3	Bermudian	7:30 p.m.

top  

Great game

Littlestown 36, Boiling Springs 33

Nov. 11, 2005
    · Nate Rolon ran for 268 yards, scored two touchdowns, and intercepted a Boiling Springs pass in the waning moments to lead the Bolts to victory.

top  

Littlestown roster

No.	Player	Yr.	Ht.	Wt.	Pos.
5/20	Nourdean Bentajar	10	5-8	140	K
7	Jerrod Reynolds	10	6-1	160	QB-S
9	Luke Reichart	12	5-8	175	QB-S
11	Cory Beaver	11	5-10	180	RB-OLB
12	Kameron Armacost	12	5-10	145	SE-DB
13	Charlie Hunt	12	5-10	170	K
14	Cory Hegarty	12	5-10	170	SE-DB
15	Jordon Rolon	10	5-8	230	RB-DE
16	Evan Bowers	10	5-7	145	SE-DB
19	John Clines	10	5-10	175	QB-OLB
22	Zach Laughman	10	5-8	140	SE-DB
23	T.J. Baust	10	5-6	130	SE-S
25	Cory Helm	12	5-7	160	RB-DB
26	Mike Donaldson	10	5-7	115	SE-DB
27	Matt Helm	12	5-7	160	RB-DB
28	Nate Murren	12	5-10	190	TE-ILB
30	Justin Hippensteel	10	5-11	135	RB-OLB
32	Jordan Staub	11	5-11	155	QB-OLB
33	Cody Puller	10	5-10	165	TE-DE
34	Brian Zelanko	12	5-11	185	RB-DE-OLB
35	Kevin Litz	12	5-10	175	RB-DE
36	Chester Ripple	10	5-9	175	RB-OLB
40	Daniel Buckley	10	6-0	175	TE-OLB
42	Dan Keller	10	5-7	165	SE-DB
43	Brandin Worley	10	5-6	145	RB-OLB
44	Cody Myers	12	5-9	185	RB-ILB
45	Matt Coppersmith	12	6-3	200	TE-DE
48	Thomas Senseney	10	6-0	165	RB-OLB
50	Tyler Zittle	11	5-8	190	G-ILB
51	Zach Fair	12	6-0	260	C-G-DT
52	Andrew Stevenson	11	5-10	175	G-DE
54	Adam DeGroft	12	5-11	200	G-ILB
55	Davis Strine	12	6-3	315	OT-DT
56	Joe Hansen	11	5-10	195	C-G-OLB
57	Andy Goth	12	6-3	270	OT-DT
61	Luke Redding	10	6-0	195	C-DE
62	Michael Gerrick	10	6-1	200	OT-DT
63	Jacob Luckabaugh	10	6-0	175	G-ILB
65	Chris Lewis	11	5-10	300	OT-DT
67	Wesley Boyd	10	6-5	215	OT-DT
68	Robert Stevenson	12	5-11	205	G-DE
71	Brendan Woryk	10	5-10	235	OT-DT
72	Jason Arrizola	10	5-6	185	G-DE
75	Jake Penton	10	6-1	255	OT-DT
77	Jeremiah Laughman	12	5-11	250	OL-DT
81	Jeramey Justice	12	5-10	150	SE-S
82	Chris Tully	11	5-9	165	SE-DE
83	Curtis Voelker	10	6-0	140	TE-DB
84	Justin Emig	10	5-8	155	SE-DB
85	Mike Nelson	10	5-3	90	SE-DB
87	Zack Zeitler	10	6-0	180	SE-DB
88	Ryan Wickline	10	5-11	145	SE-DB
89	Chad Davis	10	5-6	135	SE-DB

top