It can be nurtured. It can be fostered. It can be promoted.

But success can also feed upon itself. Success can breed success.

The success of the Manheim Township football program continues to manifest itself in varying forms and on different stages. It's a holistic type that blurs the line between cause and effect, between individual success and collective success.

"When you have team success, individual opportunities are greater," said Mark Evans, who's in his 13th year as Manheim Township's head coach. "These guys don't get those accolades on teams that don't have that success. You have kids doing their jobs on Friday nights and to the victor goes the spoils. But you also have to have character and talent. I think you reap what you sow. But you also have to promote your program and your kids."

Not one, not two, but three Manheim Township student-athletes - quarterback Hayden Johnson, defensive end Eli Rodriguez and wide receiver Landon Kennel - were selected to the team that represented Pennsylvania in the annual Big 33 Football Classic, one of the most prestigious senior all-star games in the country. On May 26 at Cumberland Valley's Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg - with Kennel nursing an injury - Johnson and Rodriguez helped Pennsylvania defeat Maryland 31-7 in the 67th renewal of the Big 33 game.

"It's a tremendous honor," said Evans. "When you think of the history of the Big 33 game and all the activities associated with it, it's truly remarkable. It was an invaluable experience. They enjoyed the opportunity to play one more high school game and represent Pennsylvania. They had nothing but great things to say about the game and the events leading up to the game."

A record-setting, all-state quarterback, Johnson completed seven of his 11 pass attempts for 142 yards and two touchdowns, as Pennsylvania raced out to a 31-0 lead. With two tackles, Rodriguez was a key contributor on a Pennsylvania defense that limited Maryland to 155 yards of total offense.

"They did awesome," said Evans. "Hayden threw the first touchdown of the game. Eli played defensive end and had a couple of nice plays, and his motor was always running."

Johnson, Rodriguez and Kennel were all important cogs during Manheim Township's 12-1 2023 fall campaign. Each will be continuing his academic and athletic careers at the next level this fall, Johnson at Lehigh, Rodriguez at Shippensburg and Kennel at Monmouth.

Of the 19 senior members of the 2023 Manheim Township football team, a total of eight are going on to play the sport in college.

"They are the best young men, hands down," said Evans. "You develop relationships with kids over time. Character-wise, they are second to none."

Having one student-athlete chosen to play in the Big 33 Classic is an honor, and having two players selected to compete in it in the same year is remarkable, but having three selected from one team is nearly unheard of in Lancaster County football history. Consider this: In Evans' 12 years on the job, the Blue Streaks have sent a total of eight student-athletes to the Big 33 game and three of those players came from the 2023 squad.

"I'm going to say it hasn't happened before in Lancaster County," said Evans of Township's three selections. "Or at least not that I know of. It's truly an anomaly. To have one is definitely a positive and it's very rare to have two."