Central Dauphin and Wilson WL clashes have become so fierce that the Great American Rivalry Series highlighted this year’s game in Harrisburg as a marque matchup. Between regular and post season meetings, CD has a rare overall advantage against the Bulldogs. This year’s game was just as hard hitting and emotionally charged as the previous seven match ups. The CD defense took control of this game early and never let up. Central Dauphin prevailed over Wilson WL 24-6.
Manus Frank had two TD’s to pace the Rams. One was a 59-yard fumble return. The other was a four-yard TD reception. Penn State commit Michah Parsons had two sacks and an interception to lead the defense.
Last year CD Head Coach Glen McNamee had the Wilson game circled on the
calendar as the off season motivation for his team. This year Coach McNamee said, ”It’s Wilson, there is no more motivation needed. They have an unbelievable program. Everyone around these parts has great respect for Wilson football, so there really does not need to be any additional juice added to this game.”
Both teams started the game having very little success on offense. On CD’s second possession they began to have some success. A grinding, 14 play, 69 yard drive ended with a QB AJ Millar TD. It was 7-0 with 3:43 left in quarter one. Most of the the next ten minutes was a defensive struggle in the CD end of the field. Wilson got the ball with a short field midway through the second quarter and quickly scored. Alex Twiford’s TD with 5:02 in the half closed the gap. The CD defense blocked the PAT. It was 7-6 CD. Then came the turning point of the game. A controversial 58-yard fumble return TD by Manus Frank turned all the momentum back to CD for good. The score made it 14-6 CD just before halftime. A review of TV video by this reporter and a TV station videographer clearly showed that an incorrect call was made by officials. A fumble return TD should not have been allowed on the play.
The half ended 14-6 CD.
Manus Frank TD gives @CDAthletics a commanding 24-6 lead on @WilsonBulldogs @EPAFootball @PJsPub pic.twitter.com/8B6NU1k8ac
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) September 17, 2016
Central Dauphin’s offense controlled most of quarter three thanks to interceptions by the Ram defense. A 26-yard field goal and a TD reception by Manus Frank put Central Dauphn in complete control of the game. The fourth quarter was all CD, who ground the clock down on offense all while frustrating the Wilson offense with solid defensive play. The final was CD 24 Wilson 6
Both teams move on to league play next week. CD goes against undefeated Carlisle. Wilson with a huge conference winning streak on the line, faces Warwick.
