The Solanco football team lost its regular season finale but still managed to make the playoffs by virtue of its solid resumé. The Mules (5-5) earned the 14th and final seed in the district tournament. Solanco will travel to third-seeded Shippensburg Friday night at 7. Manheim Central, seeded fourth in the district tournament, defeated the host Mules 49-20 Friday night, October 25. Solanco put forth a spirited effort but could not keep pace with the high-octane Manheim Central aerial attack led by quarterback Evan Simon, who threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns. "It's always tough to defend, especially with the quarterback they have," Solanco coach Tony Cox said. "They went to play in the state championship last year with him. He's a great athlete. They do a great job with him. Coach Hahn does a great job with his team. I felt like we had our opportunities. We were right there but then we made a couple mistakes. Again, we're young and the kids are making young mistakes but we're getting better every time. It's good to play good teams like this and go out there and keep our heads up and keep pounding away. Our kids never gave up and that's what I'm proud of them about. Our kids never gave up." The Mules made a game of it early. Manheim Central scored 30 second into the game but Taivon Murphy blocked the extra point attempt. Solanco almost responded on its first play from scrimmage thanks to an astute play call which fooled the Barons defense. Mason St. Clair lined up at quarterback where he had played the previous game in place of injured starter Grady Unger leading Central to believe nothing was out of the ordinary. Unger lined up at halfback took a pitch from St. Clair. Ronnie Fulton was wide-open streaking down the right sideline but the pass was overthrown. Solanco got going on its second drive. Mules fullback Nick Yannutz gained 34 yards to the Central 17 then rushed for 13 yards on the following play. On 4th and goal, Rashawn Carter bulled in from the one and Trent McDowell's PAT gave the hosts a 7-6 edge with 4:04 left in the first quarter. The Mules' onside kick attempt did not work but the defense forced a three-and-out and Solanco got the ball back while leading by a point. The Mules were forced to punt and Simon connected with Colby Wagner for a 74-yard TD pass to put Central up for good, 14-7. Trailing 21-7, Solanco scored on a 17-yard scamper by Unger with 6:46 to go before halftime. After Central went back up by 14 on a 23-yard TD run by Simon, the Mules drove into Barons territory but a running play lost three yards on 4th and 3 from the 28. Simon and Wagner combined for another touchdown on a fade pass with 30 seconds left in the second quarter to make it 35-14. Down 49-14, Unger scored on a two-yard run with 8:53 to go. Solanco has lost its last three games but all have come against district playoff qualifiers. Junior High Solanco's Junior High football team lost to visiting Manheim Central 50-8 in the season finale Wednesday, October 23. The Barons returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown to take an 8-0 lead but the Mules responded on their first drive. Cole Harris scored from seven yards out and added a two-point conversion to tie the game with 4:41 left in the first quarter. It was all Manheim Central after that. The Barons scored with seven seconds left in the first half to go up 22-8. Ahead 30-8, Central scored two touchdowns in a 17 seconds spanning the third and fourth quarters. Jaden Summers had an interception for the Mules. Junior Varsity Solanco's JV team downed Cocalico 32-18.
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