Conestoga Valley QB Sawyer Esbenshade

The 2024 football season was one for the ages at Conestoga Valley.  The Buckskins ran the table in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League.  They held off Exeter 28-27 to claim their first section championship since 2006.  Conestoga Valley was (11-0) for the first time since 1985.  The magical run ended with a 48-14 loss to Exeter in the District 3-5A semifinals.  The Buckskins return seven starters on offense and six on defense.  Sawyer Esbenshade is back after throwing for 2,078 yards and 25 touchdowns with just three interceptions.  The 6', 185-pound senior added 419 yards on the ground and six more scores.  Esbenshade was voted the first team quarterback in Section 2.  He will be spreading the football around to familiar targets in JoJo Garcia, Cordell Bair, and Konnor Fisher.  Garcia was named a first team wide receiver in the section last year.  Teagan Ruble, a standout wrestler with 98 career wins, will get the bulk of the carries.  Conestoga Valley will have several new faces up front.  Only one starter returns on the offensive line, but Esbenshade remains confident.  "Having that clean pocket and the time to get the ball out comfortably is super important. I think these new guys will be able to get it done and give me plenty of time," he told SV Sports' Paul Roberts.  The Buckskins travel to Penn Manor this Friday for their season opener.  They begin league play at home against Ephrata on September 12th.  Conestoga Valley visits Gov. Mifflin on October 3rd and hosts Exeter in a Week 9 showdown.  "I think there's some really good teams out there, all of them are gonna be pretty good," replied Esbenshade.  He isn't just busy in the fall.  Esbenshade also plays basketball and baseball for the Buckskins.  "Playing one sport your whole life, it would get boring. I think it's important to have new experiences, new teammates," he said.