Mission accomplished.
Solanco’s football team has been lugging around plenty of bull’s-eyes since August. The Golden Mules were the team to beat in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Three from the jump, and pretty much everyone knew it.
After a gut-punch Week One nonleague loss in overtime at Lampeter-Strasburg, Solanco coach Tony Cox immediately got his team’s attention in the postgame huddle. Flush it was his message. There will be bigger fish to fry later on.
Later on was Friday night and the Golden Mules did indeed land the biggest fish in the Section Three pond.
Johnny Garcia had two touchdown runs, Chase Sensenig and Eric Koch connected on two long TD passes, and Solanco fended off pesky Garden Spot 28-21 to capture the outright section championship at New Holland with their ninth win a row.
“We got some adversity right away with the L-S game,” Cox said. “But everybody buckled up, and the seniors became our leaders.”
“Biggest thing was the dedication after that L-S loss,” Solanco senior secondary standout Gabe Forren said. “I’m so proud of everybody. We worked so hard in the offseason and this whole season for these wins. After the L-S game I told the guys, ‘Hey, this wasn’t a section game.’ And we came out and started hitting harder right away. To get this win here … so, so happy.”
Solanco’s seniors will go out with bookend outright crowns; the Mules went 10-0 when they were freshmen in 2022.
Close
Solanco’s Bryce Cox (44) pours water on his dad, head coach Tony Cox, after the Golden Mules clinched the Section 3 title during an L-L League football game at Garden Spot High School in New Holland on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s team runs out onto the field before the start of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Andrew Pemberton (22) runs the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Andrew Pemberton (22) runs the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Mark Davis (9) runs the ball up the middle during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) runs the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Chase Sensenig (14) powers his way through Garden Spot defenders during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Andrew Pemberton (22) runs the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) runs it in for a touchdown during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Zachary Martin (7) kicks the extra point during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Johnny Garcia (5) runs with the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Eric Koch (4) reaches out for the pass during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Johnny Garcia (5) runs the ball during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) avoids Solanco defenders during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Kris Burgo-Wise (3) is taken down by Garden Spot defenders during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Chase Sensenig (14) runs with the ball during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Chase Sensenig (14) runs with the ball during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Eric Koch (4) catches the ball and runs it in for a touchdown during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Tristan Brown (18) kicks the extra point during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) is brought down by Solanco defenders during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) is brought down by Solanco’s Vincent Henry (6) during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Bryce Cox (44) celebrates with teammate Frank Lucarino (71) after clinching the Section Three title during an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Bryce Cox (44) pours water on his dad, head coach Tony Cox, after the Golden Mules clinched the Section 3 title during an L-L League football game at Garden Spot High School in New Holland on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s team runs out onto the field before the start of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Andrew Pemberton (22) runs the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Andrew Pemberton (22) runs the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Mark Davis (9) runs the ball up the middle during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) runs the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Chase Sensenig (14) powers his way through Garden Spot defenders during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Andrew Pemberton (22) runs the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) runs it in for a touchdown during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Zachary Martin (7) kicks the extra point during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Johnny Garcia (5) runs with the ball during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Eric Koch (4) reaches out for the pass during the first half of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Johnny Garcia (5) runs the ball during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) avoids Solanco defenders during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Kris Burgo-Wise (3) is taken down by Garden Spot defenders during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Chase Sensenig (14) runs with the ball during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Chase Sensenig (14) runs with the ball during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Eric Koch (4) catches the ball and runs it in for a touchdown during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Tristan Brown (18) kicks the extra point during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) is brought down by Solanco defenders during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Gabe Martin (15) is brought down by Solanco’s Vincent Henry (6) during second-half action of an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Solanco’s Bryce Cox (44) celebrates with teammate Frank Lucarino (71) after clinching the Section Three title during an L-L League Section Three football game at Garden Spot High School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
“Storybook,” said Garcia, one of those seniors. “It’s a real honor. The last two seasons haven’t been the greatest. So to come out in our senior year and the win the section, this means the world to us.”
And to everyone in Solanco Nation.
“It’s a big deal,” Cox said about winning a section crown. “And it’s good for the program. Having the program have some success like this, and seeing the kids come together as a family … that leads to some really good camaraderie with the team.”
Garden Spot drew first blood Friday when Gabe Martin had a 1-yard keeper on the second play of the second quarter to put the Spartans up 7-0.
That only seemed to fire up Solanco, which scored three unanswered touchdowns to close the half.
Garcia’s 5-yard plunge made it 7-7. Sensenig’s 26-yard TD flip to Koch gave the Mules a 14-7 lead. And Solanco (6-0 L-L, 9-1) executed a perfect two-minute drill to grab a 21-7 lead at the half on Garcia’s 3-yard body slam with eight ticks left in the second quarter.
Undaunted, Garden Spot (3-3, 5-5) kept slugging in the second half and sliced Solanco’s lead down to 21-14 on Martin’s second TD keeper, an 8-yarder, with 9:26 to play in regulation.
The Mules punched right back when Sensenig hit Koch, who was wide open deep downfield, for a 54-yard TD strike, to give them a seemingly safe 28-14 cushion with 5:24 to play.
But Garden Spot made one last gasp, getting a 4-yard TD pass from Martin to Gavin Compton with 1:12 left. The Spartans’ ensuing on-side kick did not travel the prerequisite 10 yards, Solanco got it back and took two knees in section-championship-clinching formation.
“Extremely proud,” Garcia said. “We could have gone down or we could have gone up after the L-S game. We kept pushing through that adversity. We made the best out of it. We knew after that loss that we didn’t want to lose again.”
They haven’t. Up next, the District Three Class 5A playoffs, where the Mules — pending the rest of the Week 10 results — have a legit shot to earn a top-4 seed and get a first-round bye and a home game in the quarterfinals.
“We took it one week at a time,” Forren said. “It didn’t matter who we were playing. We were going to come out every week and play hard. So to do this is just really amazing.”
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