For a pair of schools that share a lot of the same characteristics in terms of the size of their shared student body populations while also being two campuses that are separated by all of six miles give or take from one another, having their annual game be scheduled for the final week of the regular season might seem like this is one of those rivalries that has stood the test of time and have always been some version of “must-see television.”
Well, sort of. I mean, you’d think that at least, right?
As far as the housekeeping goes as it relates to this series, yes, it’s true to say that both Manheim Central and Warwick have a long history with each other that spans across the decades now. In fact, the history books would show that the Friday night battle between the Barons and Warriors would be the 68th all-time get-together these two neighboring schools have had against one another. Shoot, the first such meeting came all the way back in 1925 for goodness’ sake.
But there’s more to this series than what first meets the eye perhaps.
Like this for instance – between the years of 2004 and 2011, this was a shelved matchup that never once took place. Or, in layman’s terms, that’s two full rotations of graduating classes that never once saw, nor partook in Warwick vs Manheim Central football played at the varsity level. Now, there’s added dynamics to that of course. Most notably those being the years that Warwick was up in the old AAAA, L-L Section One ranks, battling it out against the likes of McCaskey, Wilson, and Reading High on an annual basis in the old world of big school football. But yeah, not even a nonleague game slated there between the two. That, on the Warriors’ side at least, was a slot saved for their annual rivalry game against their other neighbor, Ephrata, a seemingly always-played series that ironically enough has since been tabled these last couple of seasons in much the same light.
Beyond that though, the added element was that these were two programs — during that time most of all — that were competing inside entirely different stratospheres too.
All-time, there’s no debate as to who this series has belonged to. That would unequivocally fall in Manheim Central’s favor given the Barons’ sturdy 41-21-5 record accrued against their neighbors to the east. Inside the numbers though, the difference is somehow even more stark. For instance, during the 90’s and into the early 2000’s, the Barons ran around, over, and through the Warriors during their heyday of competing at the absolute highest levels of Pennsylvania high school football, winning those games by a combined 216-26 count. That equates to, are you ready for this, five shutouts pitched against Warwick in a span of seven overall meetings (Umm, yo!). In fact, the closest the Warriors ever came during that stretch was a 21-20 loss at Manheim Central, a game decided by a botched PAT operation towards the end of regulation that remains a legendary topic of discussion when recollecting back on this series for those that remember it intimately and vividly. Perhaps all too well depending on which sparring corner you happen to come out of.
So, that’s it right? Nothing much to see here other than two nearby schools where the narrative never really has changed over the years, yes?
Again, not exactly.
In terms of recent history here – like your older brother’s type of historical timeline – the narrative on this series has flipped.
Since 2019, it’s been Warwick who has regained control of this neighborhood brawl, something best evidenced by their 5-2 clip during that stretch, a more staggering feat considering that 3 of those 5 wins have come at Elden Rettew, without question one of the preeminent house of horrors for opposing Lancaster-Lebanon League teams to try and snatch up a victory when playing inside the Barons’ hallowed confines.
And coming into Friday with the 2025 iteration of this matchup afoot, one might’ve thought that this meeting might be careening towards the same type of trendline considering Warwick’s possession of the #5 seed in the District 3-5A field entering the final week of play, 7-2 overall record to their name, with an outside shot at claiming a piece of the L-L Section Three title for what would be the program’s third such occurrence since the dawn of the 21st century, with the Barons conversely sitting exactly ten spots below them in the same field, #15, 5-4 record on their side of the ledger.
But even for all the peaks and valleys that this rivalry series has seen, no matter if it’s been an annual or semiannual matchup, no matter who’s had the bragging rights across any one period of time, for a high school football program the likes of Manheim Central, one that everyone would be foolish not to try and emulate themselves after, along with a program that has found “it” in recent years in Warwick where the wins on the field against the Barons and others have been backed up with the talent produced that has translated onto the collegiate and even NFL ranks, yes, this is indeed a matchup of must-see television after all.
And if that’s the case, rest assured that the program would have incredibly high Neilsen ratings in the town of Lititz if Friday night remains a harbinger of things.
To say that the home team started off their Senior Night festivities with a scintillating start might be doing them a gross disservice.
Sure, while the Warwick defense would yield Manheim Central an initial first down on the Barons’ first offensive series of the contest, they would in turn stiffen and force the visitors into an early punt, albeit while staring down the barrel of a short 4th & 1 opportunity with the ball just a smidgen into Warwick territory.
As a result, it would take the Warwick offensive unit – Heath Schnipke most of all – next to no time in terms of offering up the game’s first haymaker as a simple toss right resulted in the Warriors’ sophomore running back talent ripping off a 79-yard jaunt on the first Warwick offensive play from scrimmage — all while without so much of a finger being laid upon him — making it a lightning quick 7-0 Warwick lead following a Tyler Schoffstall PAT with 8:54 left to play in the opening stanza.
Yet for as immediate and impressive jab that the Warwick offensive troops landed right of out the chute, their most stifling side of the ball exhibited throughout the entire 2025 campaign, the defensive unit, wasn’t about to get outshined by their offensive cohorts.
Case in point, Warwick junior defensive back, Braydon Hill, snatching an errant Barons’ pass on the second play of the ensuing Manheim possession following the Schnipke score, giving the ball back to the hosts at their own 47-yard line in the process.
Ironically however, for as many fireworks that had erupted over the course of that handful of plays inside the game’s opening frame, the offenses for either side would remain somewhat stuck in neutral over the course of the remaining eight minutes and change as the quarter wound down.
For proof of that, look no further than Manheim Central’s Ryan Wissler and Jevin Carbonneau tag-teaming with one another defensively to compile a sack on a 3rd & 14 play facing the Warwick offense inside the waning moments of the first quarter, helping to conclude what would result in a three-and-out that also helped to sunset the opening quarter of action with Warwick possessing the 7-0 lead at the end of the first dozen minutes.
But that second frame? That’s where Warwick made their most hay.
Did we mention by this point that the Warwick starting defense has been a thorn in everyone’s collective side throughout the first nine weeks of the season? And if that hadn’t themselves already heeded that call themselves, Manheim Central was learning first-hand as to just how imposing that Warriors’ D could be.
If locking down the opposition isn’t enough, how about scoring straight up? For if that’s more your cup of tea, Warwick has you covered there too. Well, Koen Adams did in this instance at least seeing as how the Warriors’ senior DB proceeded to demonstrate thievery in coming away with what would amount to a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown, making it a 14-0 Warwick buffer following Schoffstall’s second PAT of the young evening with 10:18 left before the half.
And while it wasn’t necessarily encroaching upon a “danger zone” type area for Manheim Central at that point in time necessarily, authoring a tangible rebuttal would be precisely what the doctor would order when it came to the Barons’ contingent. Sure enough, that prescription would indeed be filled.
Despite starting off this drive at their own 20-yard line, Central found a safety valve early in the form of junior tailback, Isaiah Oxceva, as a pair of totes by the 5’8 135lb Barons’ ball carrier helped to propel the MC attack out to the near the midfield stripe in relatively short order.
Then again, if Warwick wanted to serve as hospitable hosts, the Barons certainly wouldn’t turn down the Warriors’ ill-timed generosity either.
With that in mind, the Central drive gained momentum while on the heels of two costly Warwick personal foul calls not long afterwards, ushering the Barons all the way down inside the Warwick redzone. From there, after seeing their senior bruiser of a fullback, Noah Templin, move a host of Warriors along with him amongst a scrum of humanity to move the bill down ever closer to the goal line, it seemed nothing if not apropos that Templin would be the one to have the honors following his third successive run behind his offensive line mates, this time making good on a 5-yard touchdown run, helping to cut the Warriors’ lead in half, 14-7, following a Cayden Chacon PAT with 5:28 now remaining before intermission.
In fact, the barometer seemed to continue pointing in the Barons’ direction on Warwick’s ensuing 3rd & 10 attempt their next time out on offense considering how said play would end in an Oxceva interception, thus demonstrating his well-rounded game found on either side of the football for the Manheim Central contingent.
But that good juju would be short-lived however following a fumbled exchange between the center and quarterback, yielding a second Warwick takeaway by that point with Warwick senior defensive stalwart, Vinny Bagonis, falling on the loose pill making it two straight plays and two straight turnovers in true back-to-back fashion.
From there, the ying and yang of the Warwick offense working in harmony between their rushing and passing facets was on display for all to see.
First up, a 29-yard drop in the bucket type throw from senior quarterback, Thomas Myers, — playing in his first game back from an injury dating back to mid-September — into the hands of fellow senior, Tyler Musser, as the duo helped to spring the Warriors’ O down the Central 28-yard line within the blink of an eye. Next, a successive and somewhat mundane pitch and catch between Myers and another senior weapon in the Warriors’ receiving room, Bode Madera, as the Myers to Madera tandem helped to move the sticks on a crucial 4th & 8 play later in the drive. Then, in terms of the complementary piece coming together, a 15-yard jaunt by way of Schnipke’s legs which in turn led to him compiling his second TD run of the contest, this of the 1-yard variety on the very next play, making it a 21-7 Warwick lead now with 1:53 left prior to trips back into the locker room.
Yet greedy would remain the prevailing mood that the Warriors possessed inside the second quarter’s final gasps of life.
On the first play of the Barons’ ensuing series in the aftermath of Schnipke’s second touchdown no less, an unfortunate bout with the turnover bug continued to plague Manheim Central as this inopportune fumble back to Warwick would see the Warriors now set up shop at the MC 27-yard line while looking to insert the proverbial dagger no doubt.
And insert they would right out the chute as Myers launched a perfect rope across the middle of the MC defense before the ball found the mitts of Tyler Musser once more, this time with Musser coming away with the spoils of a 27-yard touchdown reception for his troubles, which in turn helped to close the book on a first half that would expire with Warwick owning what felt to be a somewhat gargantuan 28-7 lead following the game’s first 24 minutes while undoubtedly aided by the 21 points either directly or indirectly attributed to four Manheim Central turnovers the had cascaded inside the first half of play on Friday night in Lititz.
Now, all that is to say, while the current Warwick lead at the break may have “felt” quite imposing, it certainly wasn’t out of the question when it came to ultimately being erased. And it most certainly didn’t feel like an insurmountable hill to climb once Manheim Central’s Ryan Wissler, already having a starring role in this, his final scholastic football game, came away with a fumble recovery to close the curtain on the Warriors’ first series out of the break courtesy of the Barons’ senior defensive lineman.
Just checking in here, but have we detailed how imposing the Warwick defense has been? Oh well. Here’s another friendly reminder just for safekeeping.
Again, despite witnessing their offensive side have the ball taken away from them with the Manheim Central proceedings now all of 65 yards away from perhaps slicing further into the Warriors’ existing cushion, the Barons would proceed to fall victim to a quick three-and-out right then and there. Then again, Jace Conrad certainly had his role fulfilled in the affairs seeing as how another of the Warwick seniors had a marvelous night in their regular season swan song at Grosh Field with Conrad coming away with a key sack that in turn led to a 3rd & 13 scenario which resulted in a Manheim Central punt back to their hosts.
Remarkably though, that would be the lone and final instance in which the Barons would possess the football inside the third frame as Warwick put forth a masterclass of sorts in terms of game control inside the third frame, all while riding into the final period with that same 28-7 advantage still comfortably to their benefit following nearly ten minutes’ worth of possession time.
Suffice to say, with the number of opportunities now dwindling just as fast as the grains falling through a sand dial, the Barons needed to find top gear immediately.
And to his credit, especially as an athlete who has inserted his name atop the list of most outstanding players that the entire Lancaster-Lebanon League has had to offer this season, Manheim Central’s Cody Hess proceeded to come away with an acrobatic, one-handed stab of an interception to thwart what appeared to be a sure-to-be Warwick insurance touchdown, with the senior’s pick instead giving the ball back to the Barons’ offense, albeit while pinned back at their own 15-yard line.
But just as the game giveth, so too does it taketh.
Once more, while stymied by the largely impregnable Warwick defense, this particular Barons’ drive following the Hess-generated interception hit the skids in the aftermath of Warrior junior DB, Markus Brown, storming into the MC backfield on a blitz – largely unimpeded – lowering the boom on the Manheim Central quarterback on 3rd & 6, culminating in what would result into an MC three-and-out yet again.
Speaking of taketh, that would quite literally be the end result of the next Manheim Central offensive possession afterwards once Braydon Hill came away yet another interception to add to his night’s resume of work, his second pick of the contest, helping to extinguish what was largely the Barons’ last flicker and flame in regards to a possible frantic comeback bid with time running dry.
And so, after being able to lean on the collective body of work in which they had tabulated before riding intermission upon, the verdict had already been decided as fate would have it as Warwick was able to not just put the finishing touches on a 28-7 final verdict against their nearest neighbors to the west, but also lock up an 8-2 regular season mark and high seed line in respect to the upcoming District 3-5A playoffs in the process. Oh yeah, also while making it now six victories in the last eight meetings against the Barons too just for good measure.
For Manheim Central on the other hand, Friday night’s defeat at the hands of Warwick formally marked the end to the Barons’ 2025 campaign with the dust settling on a final 5-5 overall clip. And with it, two consecutive years in which the Barons will have to sit idly by once the postseason gets underway. But it certainly wasn’t as if Manheim Central struck out looking, mind you. No, these guys went out swinging this fall, including what almost certainly figures to be their high-water mark on the journey, a resounding and thorough 35-7 victory on the road against their bitter rivals by way of Cocalico back at the end of September. And make no mistake about it. If you’re thinking that these last two years in a vacuum are somehow the trajectory that the Barons will continue to have long-term moving forward, tread carefully at your own peril. This is quite literally one of the state’s bluest of blue bloods we’re talking about here. They will be back. And with quite a bit of underclassmen found on this year’s roster slated to return, brighter days figure to be right around the corner in this football-crazed town. Say, 2026 for instance.