L-L Football: Here are 5 things to watch in Week 4

In LNP's Game of the Week, Elizabethtown (3-0) rides the L-L League's stingiest defense into Denver for a Section Two opener at Cocalico (1-2), where the Eagles look to build on last week's 48-14 win over Upper Perkiomen.

Despite its sub-.500 record, Cocalico has outscored opponents, 83-60. Nine different Eagles have scored at least one touchdown with sophomores Colton Goodman (3) and Austin Landers (2) authoring multiple scores. In the Eagles' win last week, six different players found the scoresheet.

The variety of options in the Cocalico offense meets a Bears defense that has surrendered 12 points all season and 427 total yards of offense. Another stout defensive effort could help Elizabethtown double its win total from a year ago and avenge the 49-7 decision dealt by Cocalico when the two teams clashed last fall. But if the Eagles continue to roll on offense, they can make a strong opening statement in the Section Two race.

Donegal offense looks to end drought

Suffering three consecutive shutouts to open the season, Donegal (0-3) attempts to jump start its offense against section rival Columbia (0-2) in a showdown between two of the five L-L League teams entering Week 4 without a win.

Donegal lost to L-L League opponents E-town, 17-0, and Manheim Central, 55-0, before a 17-0 setback at Palmyra in Week 3, accumulating 359 yards of offense in the process.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide surrendered 79 points in a 43-14 loss at Delone Catholic followed by a 36-14 loss at York Suburban.

More L-L Football: Ed Gruver's Week 4 Preview

The last time an L-L League team went scoreless through the first three games of the season, Ephrata broke the drought in Week 4 of the 2014 season but lost to Northern Lebanon, 47-6. The Mountaineers finished the season with five shutout losses and scored 48 total points.

While Donegal's offense mustered 87.3 yards per game through the first three games, leading rusher Nick Ketner averaged more than half of those yards per game (45.3) and 4.5 yards per carry on 28 carries. Meanwhile, Columbia allowed 417 rushing yards through two games.

Penn Manor's progression vs. Lebanon

Another team looking for its first win, Penn Manor (0-3), visits Lebanon (1-2) in a Section One opener. With 16 consecutive losses dating back to 2014, the Comets have improved in each of their first three games this season.

Penn Manor gained 116 yards in a 40-0 season-opening loss to Cedar Cliff, 192 yards in a 30-16 Week 2 loss to Lampeter-Strasburg and 297 in a 23-13 loss to Dallastown last week. In the Dallastown game, Penn Manor forced three fumbles against the unbeaten Wildcats.

More from Section One: Manheim Township's offense develops

On the other end of the field, Lebanon has allowed 341 yards per game but maintained a minus-seven point differential through the first three games. If the Cedars can stifle Penn Manor's rising offensive tide, it has a chance to grab a win in its first game back in Section One.

Plenty of points for Pioneers/Barons

The two most productive offenses in Section Two share a field when Manheim Central (3-0) visits Lampeter-Strasburg (3-0) with a pair of unblemished records on the line.

The Barons have outscored opponents 156-17 while the Pioneers owned a 107-49 advantage over their foes. The teams shared the section title with Solanco last year and could take a major step in defending the crown with a win in Friday's game.

Offense has keyed matchups between the two programs over the last few years. In the past three meetings, the teams combined to score 67 points, 84 points and 87 points.

Despite the plethora of points, the smallest margin of victory during that span was 13 in Lampeter-Strasburg's 40-27 win last year. Manheim Central had won the previous two meetings, 56-28 and 56-31.

District Three power rankings: Where L-L League teams stand through Week 3

The Manheim Central defense posted conscutive shutouts in Week 2 and Week 3 after surrendering 17 points to Warwick in the season opener. Meanwhile, Lampeter-Strasburg's offense posted 409 yards in a 35-26 win over Conestoga Valley.

If the Pioneer offense can break the Barons' shutout streak, expect big points from both sides of the Section Two rivalry game.

A strong second half in Conestoga Valley, McCaskey

Six L-L League teams — Elizabethtown, Cedar Crest, Manheim Central, Lampeter-Strasburg, McCaskey and Conestoga Valley — have given up fewer than 25 second-half points this season.

Four of them put their second-half stinginess in head-to-head matchups.

Beyond the Barons and Pioneers, McCaskey (2-1) meets Conestoga Valley (2-1) in a Section One opener Friday.

The Red Tornado shook off a 24-13 season-opening loss against State College with a 26-6 win over York and a 41-19 victory against Reading. Meanwhile, the Buckskins look to bounce back from a 35-26 loss to Lampeter-Strasburg after starting the season with a 54-7 win over Ephrata and a 46-20 decision against Solanco.

McCaskey flipped a halftime deficit and sealed its win last week by holding Reading to 79 yards of offense in the second half.

Conestoga Valley surrendered three second-half touchdowns in three games this season.

An early surge could make a difference in a game between two teams that have authored strong finishes.