After being delayed an extra evening due to inclement weather, 2,502 fans still came out to watch some exciting football action at Elden Rettew Field in Manheim, PA. As the Wilson Bulldogs came to town to take on the Manheim Central Barons.
The Barons started out with the ball first. They were able to collect a few first downs on the opening drive, before being stopped and forced to punt the ball away to the Bulldogs. Wilson would then use up the next six minutes and drive down the field on the Barons defense. Concluding their drive when Zach Zweizig would find Tyler Beck in the end zone on a 25 yard touchdown pass. Manheim Central wouldn’t take too long to respond. As on the ensuing kickoff, Dan Trafford would receive the ball at his own one and return the ball 93 yards to get the Barons started at the Bulldogs 6 yard line. Quarterback Justin Gorman would get the Barons on the board when he decided to keep the ball and scamper to the left and get into the endzone. The Barons however were unable to convert the PAT, leaving them trailing 7-6.
After trading turnovers over the next possessions, the Barons would get the scoring again midway through the second quarter. As Joe Gruber would take a handoff from Gorman in the shotgun, and burst up through the middle 19 yards to the endzone. The two point conversion however failed. But on their next possession, Justin Gorman would connect with Dakota Royer on a 50 yard seam pass down the middle for a touchdown. Taylor Groff’s PAT would be good, putting the Barons up 19-7 at the half.
After holding Wilson to a three and out to open up the second half, the Barons decided to turn to their ground game and drive down the field and use up some of the clock. The drive would conclude, when Justin Gorman would roll to his right and connect with Dan Trafford for a 13 yard touchdown pass, and Gorman’s second of the game. With the point after good, Manheim Central now lead 26-7. The rest of the third quarter consisted of both defenses flexing their muscles momentarily forcing three and outs, as well as turnovers.
But the Bulldogs were ready to end the silence. Shortly into the fourth quarter, Zweizig would find Brad Ohlinger for a 14 yard touchdown pass. The Bulldog defense would step up once again on their next series, as Josh Iacob would strip the ball from MC’s Joe Gruber and Wilson’s Louis Weaver would recover the fumble. Minutes later, Nick Greth would bounce out to the left side of his line, and score on a 5 yard touchdown run. The ensuing PAT would be blocked by the Barons Peter Ireland leaving the Bulldogs still trailing, 26-20. Once again though, the Bulldog defense would receive another turnover by the Barons. When Wilson’s Louis Weaver would recover an ackward backward pass by Gorman in the endzone for another Bulldogs’ touchdown. With Shane Witmer’s PAT good, the Bulldogs were finally ahead again 27-26 with 6:16 remaining in the game..
The Barons would get things rolling once again on the ensuing drive. After a few plays of moving the ball down the field, the Barons would settle on a Taylor Groff 26 yard field goal putting the Barons back in the lead at 29-27.
But Wilson was not ready to let the game end just yet. As the Bulldogs relied on moving the ball down the field through the air on short curls, and sideline routes. But with 13 seconds remaining and facing a 4th and 20 at the Baron 25, the Bulldogs elected to bring Shane Witmyer out to attempt a 42 yard field goal to seal the game. The snap was good, the holder had the ball in place, but the ball sailed just left of the posts. Justin Gorman and his offense would come back onto the field and kneel down on the ball to conclude the game and giving the Barons a 29-27 victory over the Wilson Bulldogs.
