Pete Beck

  • Wyomissing Area Runs Past Trinity

    Wyomissing Area Runs Past Trinity

    WYOMISSING – The Wyomissing Area Spartans outran the visiting Trinity Shamrocks for a 35-14 non-league victory Saturday afternoon at the A-Field.  Senior halfbacks Charlie McIntyre and Drew Eisenhower scored two touchdowns each to pace the Spartans.

    Trinity (1-2), playing out of the tough Mid-Penn Capital division, was ready and willing to provide the state-ranked Spartans a stern non-league test, but they were unable to effectively deal with Wyomissing’s (3-0) biggest assets.

    The Spartan’s dominating offensive line, led by Penn State commit J’Ven Williams and senior tackle Pacen Ziegler opened holes up the middle and on the edge for Wyomissing’s stable of running backs to gallop through.  Trinity did their best to maintain their defensive responsibilities, but was physically unable to shed the blocks of Williams and company, and therefore unable to slow down the Spartans.

    Williams, who was used as a pulling lineman throughout the game, opened gaping holes on the edge for McIntyre, Eisenhower, and junior fullback Ryker Jones to run through.  The clearest example of the blocking mismatch he embodies occurred on McIntyre’s 14-yard second-quarter touchdown run when Williams manhandled three Trinity defenders out of the play…by himself.

    The Spartan linemen were just as dominant on the defensive side of the ball.  Williams, Ziegler, and junior tackle Caleb Brewer stifled the Shamrock’s offensive scheme, forcing quarterback Caleb Wray to scramble outside the pocket to move the chains when he was able to do so.

    To Trinity’s credit, the young Shamrocks never stopped fighting and were able to get on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter through a 54-yard dash by sophomore quarterback Tanie Young, who outran several of Wyomissing’s second-string defenders on route to the score.

    The Spartans’ first-team defense also dealt successfully with Trinity’s freshman phenom, Messiah Mickens, by forcing him to the boundary for solid gains, but refusing to allow him big plays.  Mickens was able to punch in a touchdown against the Spartan’s third-string defense late in the fourth quarter.

    Wyomissing, who should be the top-ranked 3A team in Pennsylvania following Belle Vernon’s 14-6 loss to McKeesport Area, will travel to arch-rival Berks Catholic (0-3) next week for the renewal of the Backyard Brawl and the first Lancaster-Lebanon Section 4 game for each school.  Trinity will travel to West Perry (3-0).

  • Wilson rolls to a 37-0 win over Martin Luther King

    Wilson rolls to a 37-0 win over Martin Luther King

    WEST LAWN –  Wilson’s Cam Jones did a little bit of everything Friday night as the Wilson Bulldogs drubbed the visiting Martin Luther King Cougars 37-0 Friday night at Gurski Stadium.

    Jones ran for three first-half scores on rote to a 30-0 halftime lead, but according to Jones, two of those scores didn’t belong to him.

    “One should have been Eddie Case’s,” said Jones, referring to Case being tackled at the 1-yard line after hauling in a 42-yard pass from Tom Hunsicker.   “The other one should have been Amir Welmaker’s,” after Welmaker was also tackled at the one after his 31-yard run.

    “The touchdowns are theirs; they did the dirty work for them,” added Jones.

    There was plenty of dirty work to do Friday night for the Bulldogs.

    Wilson’s offense got the job done but got off to a sluggish start.  “They (Martin Luther King) looked at what happened last week and they blitzed from anywhere and everywhere,” said Wilson head coach Doug Dahms afterward.  “So it took us a little while to start recognizing where the blitzes were coming from, but once we did we took advantage.”

    Junior quarterback Tom Hunsicker found a way to guide the offense to 300 yards and five touchdown drives on the night, in addition to leading the team in rushing with 68 yards on eight carries, but it was the Bulldog defense, led by Jones, Isaiah Casseus, and Nick Crocona, that got the most dirt under their nails.

    The Wilson defenders out-muscled and out-worked an overmatched Martin Luther King offense throughout the game, holding the Cougars to just three first downs, -18 yards rushing, and a paltry 17 total yards of offense.  Jones and his defensive backfield mates gave MLK quarterback Abdal Bin-Habib nowhere to throw, while Casseus and his defensive line manhandled the Cougar running game.

    “We stress: get better, get better, get better,” said Dahms after the game. “The one thing we did better tonight than we’ve been doing is physicality.  There were some big hits out there.”

    Jones also emphasized the importance of taking care of what they can control.

    “As a team, we’re looking to minimize the turnovers and the penalties.  We had three turnovers tonight, and if we do that at the end of the season, that’s going to cost us the game.”

    Their willingness to do the dirty work week in and week out will determine how far the Bulldogs will go this year, but if Friday night is any indication, they are more than ready to get down to business.

  • Wyomissing Blasts Kennard-Dale 49-0

    Wyomissing Blasts Kennard-Dale 49-0

    WYOMISSING – New year; new league; no problem.

    The defending District III 3A champion Wyomissing Area Spartans began their time in the newly refurbished Lancaster-Lebanon League with a 49-0 drubbing of visiting YAIAA Division Two champion Kennard Dale.

    The Rams, who finished last season with a record of 10-2 and reached the semi-final of the District III playoffs, were confident going into their match-up against the Spartans, but that confidence was severely shaken early.  In fact, it was shaken on the first play of the game.

    Senior quarterback Garrett McCleary dropped back from his own 20-yard line and found Wyomissing safety Logan Hyde for an interception.  The Spartans capitalized on the very next play with a 25-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Matt Kramer, and the rout was on.

    Kramer, a senior captain making his debut in the Spartan backfield, would add scoring runs of 2 and 14 yards to extend the lead to 21-0 by the end of the quarter.

    The Spartans would keep the pressure on Ram’s backfield throughout the game, thanks to the defensive line work of Williams, tackle Pacen Ziegler, and nose guard Caleb Brewer, who average a combined 6’4″ and 285lbs.  Their pressure and size allowed linebackers Ryker Jones and Kramer to flow to the ball and prevent the Rams from sustaining any momentum on offense.

    Wyomissing had no such trouble.  They didn’t even punt.

    Senior tailback Charlie McIntyre closed the first half scoring with a 23-yard sweep around the left edge, making the deficit 28-0 at the break, but Wyomissing wasn’t done.  Senior quarterback Ben Zechman found fellow captain Drew Eisenhower for a 39-yard strike to open the second half scoring.  The Spartan’s second and third teams also got on the board, with freshmen Chase Eisenhower and Derek Macrina finding the endzone to round out the day’s points.

    On the day, the Spartans outgained the Rams 425 yards to 79.

    Looking ahead to next week, Wyomissing will travel to Pottsville (2021, 8-3) and Kennard Dale will host Spring Grove.

    Scoring Summary:

    Wyo: Kramer 25-yard run, Levering kick  7-0

    Wyo: Kramer 2-yard run, Levering kick 14-0

    Wyo: Kramer 14-yard run, Levering kick  21-0

    Wyo: McIntyre 23-yard run, Levering kick  28-0

    Wyo: D. Eisenhower 39-yard pass from Zechman, Levering kick  35-0

    Wyo: C. Eisenhower 4-yard run, Levering kick  42-0

    Wyo: Macrina 8-yard run, Levering kick 49-0

    Scoring by Quarters

    Teams 1 2 3 4 Final
    Wyomissing Area 21 7 7 14 49
    Kennard Dale 0 0 0 0 0

     

  • Wyomissing Advances to State Semifinal With Win Over Scranton Prep

    Wyomissing Advances to State Semifinal With Win Over Scranton Prep

    Photo Courtesy of Rick Martin

     

    SHILLINGTON – The District 3 Champion Wyomissing Area Spartans took care of business on Saturday afternoon, defeating the District 2 Champion Scranton Prep Cavaliers 35-14 in a PIAA 3A Quarterfinal matchup at Governor Mifflin stadium.

    The Cavaliers (11-1) had a rough start to the game, losing 2,000 yard back London Montgomery to an upper body injury.  He would not return to action following x-rays at a local hospital.

    Even with Montgomery, the Cavaliers would have been hard pressed to stop Wyomissing (14-0), who scored on their first three possessions of the game to take a 21-7 halftime lead.

    Wyomissing’s offense was methodical throughout the game, churning out yards and first downs on each possession, patiently moving the ball downfield, but their most dominant performance came in the third quarter.

    The Spartans received the second-half kickoff and marched 66 yards on 12 plays, while chewing up 6 minutes and 32 seconds of clock.  The drive was capped by a two-yard Tommy Grabowski touchdown.

    After holding the Cavaliers to a three-and-out totaling -8 yards, Wyomissing retook possession with 4:26 left in the third quarter.  Again, the Spartans were on the march, this time for 71 yards in 10 plays, culminating in an 18 yard Amory Thompson touchdown run with 11:41 to go in the fourth.

    Third-quarter statistics like 137 yards to -8, 9 first downs to zero, and a 14-0 advantage are not numbers fans are used to seeing in PIAA Quarterfinal games, but those moments are seemingly what Wyomissing lives for.

    “We expected to be able to come out today and run our offense,” said junior running back Drew Eisenhower following the game.  “Jet sweeps, blasts, we were able to run our full playbook.”

    Eisenhower carried the ball 13 times for 133 yards and two scores on the afternoon.  Senior Tommy Grabowski added two touchdowns of his own and fellow senior Amory Thompson finished the scoring with an 18 yard, fourth-quarter run.

    Wyomissing quarterback Ben Zechman attempted only one pass on the afternoon, a two-point conversion caught by Thompson.

    Scranton Prep set up their first-half touchdown when punter Rob Rossi took a fake punt 40 yards to the Wyomissing 8.  Liam Barrett would score four plays later to make it a 14-7 game, but that is as close as the Cavaliers would get.

    Wyomissing heads back to the PIAA Semifinals for the third time in the last three years, a fact not lost on Eisenhower.

    “Oh, it’s big!  I remember two years ago when we lost to Tamaqua, and that loss hurt.  Going to the state championship last year felt great, but losing did not.  We’re looking to get back to where we were last year.”

    The Spartans will play District 12 Champions Neumann-Goretti, a 28-0 winner over Danville, in the PIAA Semifinal next weekend at a site and time to be determined.

     

    Scoring Summary

     

    1          8:19     Wyo    Grabowski 3 yard run (Levering kick)                       7-0

    1          6:09     Wyo    Eisenhower 7 yard run (Levering kick)                      14-0

    2          11:14   SP        Barrett 1 yard run (Rinaldi kick)                                14-7

    2          8:43     Wyo    Eisenhower 9 yard run (kick failed)                           20-7

    3          5:34     Wyo    Grabowski 2 yard run (Thompson from Zechman)  28-7

    4          11:41   Wyo    Thompson 18 yard run (Levering kick)                      35-7

    4          2:09     SP        Rossi, 7 yard pass from Monahan (Rinaldi kick)       35-14

     

     

    Score by Quarters

     

      1 2 3 4 Final
    Scranton Prep 0 7 0 7 14
    Wyomissing 14 7 14 0 35

     

  • Exeter shocks Governor Mifflin to win first District 3 Title

    Exeter shocks Governor Mifflin to win first District 3 Title

    SHILLINGTON – Kyle Helm’s eyes were red, he was slightly out of breath, and he was sweating profusely in the cold November air, but Exeter’s center knew he and his teammates did exactly what they’d set out to do, shocking the undefeated and number one ranked Governor Mifflin Mustangs 31-28 to claim the District III 5A Championship, the school’s first.

    After trailing 21-14 at the half, the Mustangs regrouped and re-established their physicality at the point of their triple option attack.  In doing so, they scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second half, taking a 28-21 lead, and seemingly taking control of what had been up to that point been a back and forth game.

    However, Exeter was just getting started.

    On their ensuing possession, the Eagles marched 73 yards in thirteen plays, chewing almost nine minutes of clock and getting a 29-yard field goal from Mike Moser.

    “Our goal for the game was to keep the ball as much as possible, keep them off the field, get the long drives,” said Helm following the game, “It worked out.”

    The kicking game for both teams had been an adventure for both teams, thanks to untimely 40mph wind gusts, and Exeter’s kickoff following the field goal was no exception.

    After bouncing off a Mustang up back, Exeter recovered the ball at their own 40-yard line.  Eric Nangle would put Exeter up to stay four plays later with a fourth-down, 31-yard touchdown run.

    Nangle, who gashed Governor Mifflin’s defense for 225 yards and two scores (one rushing, one receiving) on 36 carries,  found most of his running room up the middle, thanks to Helm’s work in the trenches.

    “We’ve been working hard all week on dealing with their different fronts,” said Helm.  “Whenever they adjusted, we knew our role and what we had to do.”

    When Helm and his fellow offensive linemen weren’t opening holes for the backs, they were protecting quarterback Colin Payne, allowing him time to find his favorite target Joey Schlaffer, who accounted for two scores of his own.

    Credit Exeter’s defense for holding Governor Mifflin’s star running back, Penn State bound Nick Singleton, to just 45 yards and two touchdowns on just 9 carries.  Most of Singleton’s damage came on the Mustang’s second play from scrimmage, a 51-yard touchdown reception.

    “We knew they were going to score, they’re a great team,” said Exeter’s senior captain Ty Yocum following the game. “But every time they scored, we knew we just had to punch back, punch back and punch back again.”

    Thanks to the effort and tenacity they exhibited Friday night, the Exeter Eagles can call themselves District III Champions for the first time in their history.

    Exeter will continue their season next week with a matchup against the District 7 Champion at a site and time to be determined.

     

    Scoring Summary

     

    1          8:18     Exeter Schlaffer, 3-yard pass from Payne (Moser kick)                   7-0

    1          7:24     GM      Singleton, 51-yard pass from Johnson (Schools kick)           7-7

    2          7:52     Exeter Schlaffer, 15-yard pass from Payne (Moser kick)                  14-7

    2          6:38     Exeter Nangle, 33-yard pass from Payne (Moser kick)                    21-7

    2          1:26     GM      Johnson, 9-yard run (Schools kick)                                        21-14

    3          8:32     GM      Singleton, 2-yard run (Schools kick)                                      21-21

    3          7:26     GM      Johnson, 28-yard run (Schools kick)                                      28-21

    4          10:53   Exeter Moser, 28-yard FG                                                                  28-24

    4          9:15     Exeter Nangle, 31-yard run (Moser kick)                                          31-28

     

    Score By Quarters

     

      1 2 3 4 Final
    Exeter 7 14 0 10 31
    Governor Mifflin 7 7 14 0 28
  • Wyomissing Area beats Middletown

    Wyomissing Area beats Middletown

    WYOMISSING – ‘Survive and advance’ was the order of the day for the Wyomissing Area Spartans (12-0) in their 14-0 victory over visiting Middletown (6-5) in Saturday afternoon’s District III 3A semifinal, avoiding the rash of unexpected outcomes that seemed to be the story of playoff week two.

    Through the season’s first eleven weeks, the Spartans had set a blistering offensive pace, averaging 47.7 points per game and a gaudy 39.3 point margin of victory.  Saturday, however, would belong to the defense.

    Facing pouring rains, 40 mph wind gusts, and a well-prepared and very familiar opponent, Wyomissing’s defense showed why the Spartans are 21-1 over the past two seasons.

    After exchanging punts with Middletown through the first quarter, Wyomissing’s defense came up big late in the second.  Senior linebacker Jack Miller forced a Middletown fumble deep in Blue Raider territory, setting up a Tommy Grabowski 17 yard touchdown run with 4:16 left in the half to give the Spartans a 7-0 lead at the half.

    The Spartan special teams seemed to heat up just as the sun poked through the clouds, but an Amory Thompson touchdown on the opening kickoff of the second half was nullified by a holding penalty, meaning Wyomissing would have to score the old fashioned way.

    79 yards, 17 plays, 3 fourth-down conversions, and eight minutes later, Wyomissing had a 14-0 lead and all the cushion they would need.

    “Our line did a fantastic job,” Grabowski said about the defining drive following the game.  “We knew we wanted to run the ball as much as possible.  There was a lot of blast, power, and inside running, trying to get up the field as quickly as possible.”

    Middletown showed a level of defensive discipline that the Spartans had not seen this season. The Blue Raiders did not allow any big plays and made Wyomissing earn every single offensive yard.

    As good as the Middletown defense played, it was the speed and tenacity of Wyomissing’s defense that won the day.  The Spartans held Middletown to 49 total yards on the day, just nine after intermission, and only four first downs.  They also swarmed Blue Raider quarterback Tate Leach into an 0-8 performance.

    When asked about the challenges they overcame Saturday, Grabowski, who finished with 152 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, welcomed the struggle.

    “It was good that we had to have everybody play the whole game.  I think it will help us in the long run, obviously.  It was a good experience for all of us.”

    The Spartans will hope that experience will prepare them for next Saturday’s District III 3A final against Boiling Springs, a 35-7 winner over Hamburg.

    Scoring Summary

     

    2          Wyomissing    Grabowski, 17-yard run (Levering kick)        4:16

    3          Wyomissing    Grabowski, 2-yard run (Levering kick)          3:52

     

    Scoring by Quarters

     

      1 2 3 4 Final
    Middletown 0 0 0 0 0
    Wyomissing 0 7 7 0 14

     

  • Bulldogs Win Thriller on Late Field Goal

    Bulldogs Win Thriller on Late Field Goal

    YORK – “You got this!”

    Those were Wilson wideout Cameron Jones’ words of support for sophomore kicker Ben Rada as the Bulldogs took possession at their own 25-yard line with 7:14 left in the game.  Tied at 11 points a piece with Central York, Jones must have had a feeling that Rada would be the game’s hero.

    Jones wasn’t wrong, but Rada was one of many.

    The Wilson Bulldogs (9-3) defeated defending PIAA 6A finalist Central York (11-1) and Penn State bound quarterback Beau Pribula 14-11 Friday night in a District III 6A semifinal matchup.

    Wilson’s game plan was simple:  run the ball.  The Bulldogs were able to do just that, to the tune of 62 attempts for 349 yards on the ground.  Wilson had two second-half drives that gained 162 total yards on 26 total plays and ate 12 minutes of clock without attempting a single pass.

    The determined Bulldog defense did an excellent job of limiting opportunities for Central York.  The ever-dangerous Pribula still managed to go 20-33 for 308 yards and a touchdown, but the Bulldogs pressured him up the middle all night, giving him little to no time to operate without someone in his face.

    Pribula, without time in the pocket, was forced into settling for underneath throws thanks to a two-deep shell that allowed the defenders to keep speedy Panther receivers Imeir Manigault and Treyshawn Smith in front of them for most of the night.

    “We threw a lot at them,” said Wilson head coach Doug Dahms following the game.  “We threw a lot of blitzes at them, we mixed the coverages, and, hey, they played well enough.”

    After a first half which saw both teams fail to turn long drives into points, the second half began with Wilson quarterback Brad Hoffman calling his own number over the right side, lowing his shoulder, and knocking a Panther defender three yards backward to earn a tough 12 yards.

    “In the first half we weren’t really going as hard in the backfield and upfront,” said Hoffman after the game.  “We knew that and we got together at the start of the second half.  We knew this was a close game and we could pull it off.”

    Hoffman, who would finish with 29 carries for 167 yards, was joined in the backfield by fellow senior Jadyn Jones, who gained 161 yards on 27 carries on the night.

    According to Hoffman “It all came down to the grit of our offensive line.”

    After a fumble ended Wilson’s promising drive to open the second half, Central York was able to move the ball 97 yards in just 4 plays to take an 11-3 advantage, the Bulldog offensive line showed that grit, methodically moving Panther defenders for more than enough yards to keep the chains moving.

    The holes got bigger as the second half wore on.  Hoffman was able to rumble for a 41 yard gain over the right side to set up Wilson’s only touchdown of the night.

    After holding the Panthers to a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs were back in business, using an efficient 12-play 71-yard drive to get to the Central York four-yard line, where the drive stalled.

    Enter Ben Rada.

    “Those were the first and second field goals we’ve attempted this year,” said Dahms.  “That’s a little scary, but what better time to do it!”

    Rada hit his 21-yard attempt right down the middle, just like Jones said he would, advancing the Bulldogs to next week’s District 3 6A Championship.

    “We all looked at each other at the beginning of the season and we set our goals:  league championship, district championship, state championship,” said Hoffman.  “We knew that we would have to go through these guys to get there, and having that in the back of our heads pushed us to get this win tonight.”

     

    Scoring Summary:

     

    2nd      Wilson            Rada, 31 yard FG        10:27

    2nd      Central York   Parker, 29 yard FG     7:59

    3rd      Central York   Manigault, 26 yard pass from Pribula (Pribula run) 7:20

    4th      Wilson            Hoffman, 2 yard run (Dendall pass from Hoffman) 8:03

    4th      Wilson            Rada, 21 yard FG        1:13

     

    Score by Quarters

     

      1 2 3 4 Final
    Wilson 0 3 0 11 14
    C. York 0 3 8 0 11
  • Wyomissing Area Dominates Northern Lebanon, 65-3

    Wyomissing Area Dominates Northern Lebanon, 65-3

    WYOMISSING – If you ask the die-hard fans of the Wyomissing Area Spartans, the same question keeps coming up:  “I thought we lost a lot from last year, why are we doing so well?” You can’t really blame them; transitions usually don’t usually look this easy.

    That question became a little easier to answer on Saturday as Wyomissing (11-0) advanced to the District III 3A semifinal round with a 65-3 drubbing of visiting Northern Lebanon (4-7) in a quarterfinal matchup at the A-Field.

    Wyomissing’s Wing-T expertise was on full display from the first possession.  The Spartans rolled up 478 yards of total offense, 430 of that on the ground.  Their top three rushers gained 269 yards on just 13 carries.  The Wyomissing backs gained yards around the edge, off tackle and up the middle, frequently running through holes 10 yards wide.

    The 65 points are the most the Spartans have ever scored in a playoff game, but the level of offensive production isn’t shocking.  What’s shocking is that the Spartan defense held Northern Lebanon to just 20 total yards in a game in which the staters only played a quarter and a half.

    Much of the credit for Saturday’s dominant defensive display should be given to the Spartan’s secondary:  juniors Drew Eisenhower and Charlie McIntyre, and seniors Nevin Carter and Amory Thompson.  The solid coverage they provide allows the pass rush to disrupt timing and the linebackers to flow to the ball.

    “Coming into the game we knew what we were expecting,” said Carter, who scored on a 77-yard pick-six in the first quarter.  “We love when teams pass.  It gives us the chance to get the interceptions you saw today.”

    “When we play a team that’s more focused on running, we have to worry about tackling and wrapping up,” added Thompson, who scored two first-quarter rushing touchdowns.  “When we play a team like this we’re more focused on the pass coverage and where we need to be to cover the pass.”

    That focus forced Viking quarterback Ethan Ebersole into 5-19 passing and two interceptions.  Those five completions gained just 19 yards.

    Wyomissing will potentially have five more games and the deeper they go, the better their competition will be, beginning next week with a perennial showdown with Middletown, a 35-21 winner over West Perry.

    Looking forward, Thompson and Carter feel that their best defense is still to be played.

    “I think we’ve got so much potential,” said Carter.  “I know we’ve seen some good teams, but I feel we can get to a level we haven’t seen yet.”

    “During most games we have a couple missed opportunities, missed interceptions, blown coverages,” said Thompson.  “When we clean up those mistakes, we may reach our full potential.”

    That’s the answer to the question:  seniors that are still learning, still pushing and still perfecting their craft.  They aren’t satisfied, not yet.

     

    Scoring Summary

     

    1          Wyomissing    Grabowski, 19-yard run (kick failed)                                     9:58

    1          Wyomissing    Eisenhower, 48-yard pass from Zechman (pass failed)        8:49

    1          Wyomissing    Thompson, 9-yard run (Levering kick)                                   5:32

    1          Wyomissing    Thompson, 34-yard run (kick failed)                                     5:18

    1          Wyomissing    Eisenhower, 27-yard interception return (kick failed)         4:23

    1          Wyomissing    Carter, 77-yard interception return (Hyde kick)                   1:39

    2          Wyomissing    Grabowski, 75-yard run (Hyde kick)                                      10:59

    2          Wyomissing    Jackson 3 yard run (Hyde kick)                                              6:49

    2          Wyomissing    Jones 75 yard run (kick failed)                                               3:50

    3          Wyomissing    Neidrowski 40 yard run (Hyde kick)                                      5:15

    4          Northern Lebanon     Grimes, 26 yards FG                                                     6:08

     

    Score by quarters

      1 2 3 4 Final
    Northern Lebanon 0 0 0 3 3
    Wyomissing 38 20 7 0 65
  • Hamburg Edges Out Bermudian Springs, 31-27

    Hamburg Edges Out Bermudian Springs, 31-27

    HAMBURG – In May of 1985, Bruce Springsteen released  “Glory Days,”  a song lamenting sentimental, middle-aged journeys into the past.   Later that same year, the Hamburg Hawks would earn a District III playoff berth for the first time.  The Hawk’s finally caught some glory on Friday night, after a 36-year wait.

    “It means a lot. I’m almost crying right now, I’m so happy.”  Hamburg senior Mitchell Watt had a look of relief as he spoke after Hamburg’s 31-27 victory over visiting Bermudian Springs Friday night, the first District III playoff win in school history.

    Watt was relieved because he knew the outcome could have been very different.

    After scoring 17 unanswered points to lead 17-7 at the half, the Hawks (7-3), came out of the locker room ready to put the game away, and after a 23-yard pickup by running back Pierce Mason on the first play of the second half, it looked as though they would do just that.

    However, all that would change in the blink of an eye.

    Bermudian Springs defensive back Ethan Beachy scooped up a Watt fumble, on the next play from scrimmage, for a 72-yard touchdown, cutting the Hawk lead to 3.

    On the first play of the ensuing possession, Watt couldn’t get a grip on Xander Menapace’s handoff, and the fumble was recovered by the Eagles, who would score seven plays later to take the lead 21-17 halfway through the third quarter.

    “My head was kind of down, but I knew I had to keep going,”  said Watt.  “Whenever I make a mistake, I know I need to make up for it.”

    It was evident that Watt’s individual effort raised the play of his teammates for the rest of the game.  Watt carried the ball 5 times for 24 yards and the go-ahead score on Hamburg’s next possession.  He also leads Hamburg’s pass rush as an interior lineman, helping the Hawks record 10 sacks on the night.

    “He’s been very reliable all year.  You can put him anywhere on the field and he knows what to do,” said Hamburg coach Jeff Chillot.  “He gets mad about things, but he doesn’t let it bother him, it’s always ‘next play’ and I think he thought of that himself tonight.”

    Menapace would end the game with 115 yards passing and two touchdowns, and senior tailback Diohnny Ruiz would become Hamburg’s single-season rushing yardage record holder with a 47-yard sprint touchdown sprint in the fourth quarter.  Pierce Mason also added 161 yards of total offense for the Hawks.

    What shouldn’t be forgotten on this historic night for Hamburg is that it took everyone’s best effort to earn this much-anticipated victory.  That fact was not lost on their coach.

    “When we met at the 50-yard line there at the end, I had the team turn around and look at the scoreboard. ‘ Just look and see what you just did,’ ” said Chillot.  “Because that memory and that vision will never leave you.”

    So, even though the singer in Springsteen’s song hopes that he doesn’t end up reminiscing at the end of the bar, he knows he “probably will.”  What the Boss may have missed, however, is that in order to reminisce successfully, you have to have something to reminisce about.

    For the Hamburg Hawks, these are “Glory Days.”

  • Wyomissing Area routs Conrad Weiser, 45-7

    Wyomissing Area routs Conrad Weiser, 45-7

    WYOMISSING – In 1993, on a warm November Saturday, a scrappy and talented Conrad Weiser team rolled into the A-Field to end the season and derailed a state-ranked Wyomissing squad by the score of 14-7, ending the Spartans hope for making the PIAA playoffs for the first time.

    28 years later, the Scouts tried to make history repeat itself, but in the end, the Spartans (10-0) ran past the Scouts (7-3) by the score of 45-7.  With the victory, Wyomissing earned its third consecutive Berks League Section II title.  It will also be their last.

    Saturday’s game was the last in the storied 64-year history of the Berks (formerly Inter-County) Football League.  The league started in 1957, has featured 29 different teams and almost 2,500 league games.  It produced many District III champions, state playoff participants, and one PIAA Champion, Wyomissing Area in 2012.  Next year, the Berks League teams will join an expanded Lancaster-Lebanon Super League, following a trend becoming more popular throughout the state.

    Saturday’s game also marked Wyomissing’s third consecutive undefeated regular season, a first in the long history of Berks County football.  It was also Wyomissing’s 26th consecutive regular victory, which is four short of Wilson West Lawn’s Berks record of 30.

    On top of all that, it was also Senior Day!

    However, all that history took a back seat to a truly dominant performance by a talented Wyomissing football team, a team that has a historic look.  The Spartans didn’t have to look too far into the past for motivation.

    “Last year we shared the league championship with them (the two teams did not play due to a COVID affected schedule),” said senior fullback Tommy Grabowski following the game.  “That just made us really mad.  We came out here today and gave it everything we had.”

    The key for the Spartans was attempting to contain the league’s most prolific offense. The Scouts came into the game averaging 413 yards of total offense, 180 on the ground, and 233 through the air.  The swarming Wyomissing defense, however, allowed only 22 rushing yards and a stingy 97 through the air on Saturday.

    “We had to establish the outside because their quarterback (Logan Klitsch) is really mobile,” added Grabowski.  “We had to shut it down and we did that very well today.”

    Senior cornerbacks Amory Thompson and Nevin Carter locked down a talented Conrad Weiser receiving corps while the Spartan defensive line disrupted Kitch’s timing, pinning him in the pocket for the duration of the afternoon.

    “Our coaches told us that Weiser used to be one of Wyo’s big rivals back in the day,”  said Thompson after the game.  “So we had that extra chip on our shoulder today.”

    That chip allowed the Spartans to get whatever they wanted on offense.

    Grabowski gained 116 yards on 13 carries to go along with three touchdowns.  Thompson ran for 105 yards on 10 carries and a score.  Junior quarterback Ben Zechman threw only three passes but connected for a 26-yard touchdown strike to fellow junior Charlie McIntyre.

    The Scouts entered the game as the fifth-ranked team in District III 4A, and many felt that they represented the last test for Wyomissing before what looks to be a long playoff run.  Faced with that perceived adversity, the attempt to extend the win and undefeated season streaks, and the ghost of eerily similar games past hanging in the ether, the Spartans more than rose to the occasion.

    “It’s everything to us,” said Grabowski.  “We work extremely hard for this and it’s just paying off now.”

    Scoring Summary

    1st – Wyo – Levering 21 yard field goal – 3-0

    1st – Wyo – Grabowski 36 yard run, Levering kick – 10-0

    1st – Wyo – McIntyre, 26-yard pass from Zechman, Levering kick – 17-0

    2nd – Wyo – Thompson, 18-yard run, Levering kick – 24-0

    2nd – Wyo – Grabowski, 1-yard run, Levering kick – 31-0

    3rd – Wyo – Granowski, 1-yard run, Levering kick – 38-0

    4th – Wyo – Jones, 1-yard run, Levering kick – 45-0

    4th – CW – Dianna, 45 yard pass from Klitsch, Noll kick – 45-7

     

    1 2 3 4 F
    Conrad Weiser 0 0 0 7 7
    Wyomissing 17 14 7 7 45
  • Twin Valley beats Conrad Weiser 37-34 in Double OT

    Twin Valley beats Conrad Weiser 37-34 in Double OT

    MORGANTOWN – Evan Myers believes.

    Twin Valley’s freshman quarterback lead the Raiders (2-0, 4-1) to a thrilling 37-34 Berks II victory over the visiting Conrad Weiser Scouts (1-1, 3-2) on Friday night.

    As a freshman tasked with  leading an offense featuring well-established senior stars in Trey Freeman and Dominic Caruso, Myers could be excused for playing, well, like a freshman.

    However, Myers displayed composure under some intense pressure Friday night.  He also showed that he’s more than up to the challenge of guiding the Raiders offense, even though he’s the new kid on the block.

    “It’s an honor, to be honest,” beamed Myers after the game.  “They’ve (Caruso and Freeman) helped me step into a role that many older players wouldn’t like, but they’ve lead the way for me.”

    A quarterback since the first grade, Myers showed the steady hand needed to distribute the ball to the bevy of dangerous weapons at his disposal.  He passed for 171 yards on 11 completions and a touchdown while leading Twin Valley to six scoring drives.

    He also possesses the youthful assurance that anything is possible.

    “Our word this week was believe.  Every single one of us believed from Monday’s practice to now that we could win this game.  Our coaches did a perfect job getting us ready,” added Myers.

    His head coach, Kris Olsen, believes.

    “We were 1-16 against Weiser all-time and we had to believe that we can do it, and this group did.  For our seniors, this changes our program.  We were never able to get them over the hump.  This is the win that does that.”

    Friday night’s contest was a back and forth affair, with nine ties and three lead changes, culminating in senior placekicker Matt Puccino’s game-winning 28 yard field goal in the second overtime period.

    The seesaw nature of the game was also evident in each team’s nearly identical offensive production, but in the end a lost fumble on third and goal during the second overtime was too much for the Scouts to overcome.

    Freeman contributed for 112 receiving yards and Caruso added 77 yards on the ground for the Raiders in the wining effort.  Conrad Weiser’s Logan Klitsch passed for 165 yards, two scores and two interceptions in the loss.

    But the night belonged to Myers and that one word:  believe.

    “This is just the start,” added Myers when asked about his team’s future goals.  “Everything will lay out just as it’s supposed to.  I’m excited to be on this journey.”

    For Myers, Olsen, and the Raiders, that belief may go a long way.

  • Logan Klitsch Outduels Tanner Maddocks in Berks County Showdown

    Logan Klitsch Outduels Tanner Maddocks in Berks County Showdown

    ROBESONIA – Conrad Weiser’s 52-38 victory over visiting Fleetwood on Friday night lived up to every bit of the pre-game billing.  The game featured two of Berks County’s best quarterbacks in Weiser’s Logan Klitsch and Fleetwood’s Tanner Maddocks and they did not disappoint.  Maddocks gained 293 yards through the air to go along with four touchdowns, only to be out-gunned by Klitsch’s 308 passing yards, 140 rushing yards, and seven total touchdowns.

    The first half resembled a track meet more than a football game, as Villanova-bound Maddocks lead the Tigers (2-2, 0-1) to two scores and 141 yards of offense on their first two possessions of the game, doing so in only six plays.  Klitsch, likely headed to Dartmouth, was able to keep pace by marching the Scouts (3-1, 1-0) into the endzone on two of their first three possessions.

    Both defenses tried to contain the running ability of Maddocks and Klitsch, choosing to play would-be targets shallow and allowing their defensive lines to establish an edge.

    Klitsch and the Scouts were able to take advantage of this passivity by focusing on rollouts and draw plays to keep the Tiger defenders at bay, while at the same time opening up crossing routes underneath the safeties.

    Maddocks and the Tigers sought to keep the Scouts off balance by hammering the ball through the middle of the line, thanks to the hard-nosed running of Gavin Morris, and connecting for deeper level passes once the linebackers were engaged to stop the run.

    Both teams would continue to score at a dizzying pace throughout the first half and would head the locker room with the Scouts holding a 28-24 advantage.

    Clearly, something would have to change in the second half.

    “We decided to mix it up in the first half, bringing pressure and sitting back,” said Scout head coach Alan Moyer following the game.  “At halftime, we decided to do something different and stick with the pressure.”

    Slowly but surely, Moyer’s adjustment paid off.  Maddocks, who lost a valuable asset in Gage Moyer to an apparent leg injury at the end of the first half, was unable to consistently find any outlets once he dropped back and frequently found himself scrambling in the wrong direction.  Maddocks started the second half 3 for 3 and a touchdown and would end it 4-18 with two interceptions.

    “I was very proud of our kids in the second half, digging deep,” added Moyer.  “That’s what Friday night lights are all about.”

    As rough a second half as Maddocks had, Klitsch seemingly got steadier as the game progressed, finding his primary weapon, Aanjay Feliciano for 83 yards and a score over the final two frames while running an efficient and steady offensive scheme.

    “We rally around him (Klitsch) and support him,” beamed Feliciano after the game.  “We’re never satisfied.”

    The Scouts were able to put the game away in the fourth quarter thanks to some hard running from Cole Rothermel and Cameron Jones, which is all their coach wanted.

    “We had to be patient and we had to take some time off the clock,  The longer the ball is in our hands, the less it was in Tanner’s and that was our plan in the second half,” added Moyer.

  • Whitehall lights up scoreboard in 49-14 win over Bethlehem Catholic

    Whitehall lights up scoreboard in 49-14 win over Bethlehem Catholic

    BETHLEHEM – If there was any doubt that the Whitehall Zephyrs (2-0) would be able to live up to their pre-season expectations, Saturday’s 49-14 drubbing of the Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks (0-2) should be enough to silence any critics.

    Whitehall scored touchdowns on each of their seven first-half possessions, amassing 345 yards of total offense in the process.  Whitehall also held Becahi to only 105 first-half yards, 55 of those coming on a Jared Richardson touchdown scramble at the end of the first quarter.

    The story of the game, and maybe the key to Whitehall’s season, is the ease with which quarterback Quinn Wentling operates the Zephyr’s complex offensive system.  Wentling was able to consistently feed open receivers underneath the Golden Hawk’s zone, pull the ball down and run, and drive the ball downfield when necessary.

    “I feel so comfortable in our offense and how it’s designed around our team and our playmakers,” said Wentling after the game.  “We want our playmakers to make plays.”

    Wentling, who threw for 170 yards on 10 for 12 passing with one touchdown, also rushed for 71 yards and two scores.

    “It’s different having a kid like that behind the center,” Whitehall head coach Matt Senneca said following the game.  “He doesn’t get phased.  He doesn’t get rattled.  His demeanor never changes.”

    Bethlehem Catholic couldn’t help but feel rattled after their nightmarish beginning to the game:  two plays, two lost fumbles, and a 14-0 hole.

    “We’ve been preaching all week about a fast start, jumping on them fast.  That’s exactly what we did,” added Senneca.

    Whitehall’s first touchdown came on a one-yard run by Damonte Foreman, capping an 8-play, 69-yard drive.

    Following a Golden Eagle fumble on their first offensive play, the Zephyrs took advantage of a short field.  Nigel Linton’s 10-yard run made the score 13-0.

    Bethlehem Catholic began the ensuing possession at their own 23-yard line, but the ball was coughed up again, setting up another short drive.  Wentling’s first score of the game extended the Zephyr lead to 20-0 with 6:30 left in the first quarter and rout was on.

    Whitehall would add first-half scoring drives of 64, 81, 32, and 44 yards, but the Golden Eagles wouldn’t easily surrender yards or scores.  Lead by Richardson’s 93 yards through the air and 74 yards on the ground, Becahi stubbornly challenged Whitehall on both sides of the ball.  Zyaire Morris’ 1-yard touchdown run capped a 9-play, 78-yard drive that concluded the game’s scoring well into the fourth quarter.

    Senneca added, “This was a big win for our program; one we haven’t gotten for a while in the south.  It’s one of our goals this year to go out and begin to compete with these teams in the south and for our first opportunity I think we did a pretty good job.”

    Whitehall hosts Liberty next week and Bethlehem Catholic travels to Pocono Mountain West.

     

    Whitehall: Forman 1 yard run – Deutsch kick – 7-0

    Whitehall: Linton 10 yard run – kick failed – 13-0

    Whitehall: Wentling 5 yard run – Deutsch kick – 20-0

    Whitehall: Kovalchick 51 yard pass from Wentling – Deutsch kick – 27-0

    Becahi: Richardson 55 yard run – Barczynski kick – 27-7

    Whitehall: Foreman 2 yard run – Deutsch kick – 34-7

    Whitehall: Linton 25 yard run – Wentling run – 42-7

    Whitehall: Wentling 24 yard run – Deutsch kick – 49-7

    Becahi: Morris 1 yard run – Barczynski kick – 49-14

      1 2 3 4 F
    Whitehall 27 22 0 0 49
    Becahi 7 0 0 7 14

     

  • Nick Singleton leads Mustangs to 42-14 win over Wilson

    Nick Singleton leads Mustangs to 42-14 win over Wilson

    On a night when he rushed for 135 yards on 14 carries, scored three touchdowns, set the Berks County career touchdown record, and beat archrival Wilson West Lawn 42-14, Governor Mifflin’s Nick Singleton’s best play of the night may have come from the other side of the ball.

    Leading 14-0, but trying to stave off a Wilson West Lawn scoring drive late in the first quarter, Singleton intercepted a Brad Hoffman pass and returned it 25 yards to the Wilson 45 yard line.  Three plays later, Singleton would take a pitch over the left side for a 37-yard touchdown, effectively putting the Bulldogs on their back foot for the rest of the evening.

    “When he (Singleton) gets on the football field he is so focused and determined,” said Governor Mifflin Head Coach Jeff Lang.  “He wants his team to win; he also wants his teammates to perform well.”

    That’s exactly what he and his teammates did.

    Governor Mifflin utilizes a true two-quarterback system, with senior Eden Johnson and junior Delsin McNeil alternating quarters.  Any thoughts of that system being a detriment to the flow or precision of their triple-option offense should be put to rest.

    “They alternate snap for snap all offseason, pre-season, and during the season,” said Lang.  “They allow us to vary the looks we can use in the option with speed vs power.”

    Johnson acted at the opener and drove the team to a quick 14 point first-quarter lead.  The first score came on a Trey Rock 9 yard touchdown run capping a 9-play drive.  Sophomore linebacker Chase Shrawder ended the ensuing Wilson drive with a strip-sack of Hoffman.  Johnson scored on a 35-yard keeper in the next play.

    Johnson would finish the night with 8 carries for 71 yards and the score.

    McNeil scored a 2-yard touchdown of his own on Governor Mifflin’s first possession of the second quarter, making the score 28-0.

    The second half opened with a 10-play, 65-yard drive that saw the Governor Mifflin offensive line manhandle Wilson, allowing the backs the gaps needed to ground out yards.

    “I’m really proud of them as a group,” Lang said of his offensive line.  “Wilson always has a great defensive line and I thought they played a great game against Central Dauphin last week.  We adjusted our splits and allowed the backs to get to work.”

    A heavy dose of Singleton and Johnson in the second half (combined 106 yards on 12 carries and two scores) allowed the Mustangs to melt the clock and with it any hope of a Wilson comeback.

    Wilson was hampered all game long by a quick, swarming Mustang defense.  Hoffman was harassed into a 9 for 28, 101 yards, two-interception performance, thanks to aggressive coverage by the Governor Mifflin secondary.

    On the ground, the normally dominant  Bulldogs were only able to manage 89 yards, with Jayden Jones accounting for 73 hard-earned yards on 17 carries and two late touchdowns.

    Singleton’s final touchdown of the night, a 37-yard sweep to the left side, was the 80th of his career, setting a new Berks County career touchdown record.

    “I’m very happy for him,” added Lang.  “We are very blessed to have a kid like Nick on our team.”

    The Mustangs will travel to Cocalico next week for another tough non-league game, while Wilson will look to rebound against the Exeter Eagles.

    Scoring Summary

    GM – Rock 9 yard TD run – Schools kick – 7-0

    GM – Johnson 35 yard TD run – Schools kick – 14-0

    GM – Singleton 37 yard TD run – run failed – 20-0

    GM – McNeil 2 yard TD run – McNeil run – 28-0

    GM – Singleton 8 yard TD run – Schools kick – 35-0

    W – J. Jones 5 yard TD run – Rada kick – 35-7

    GM – Singleton 37 yard TD run – Schools kick – 42-7

    W – J. Jones 2 yard TD run – Rada kick – 42-14

    Scoring by quarters:

    1 2 3 4 F
    Wilson 0 0 0 14 14
    GM 20 8 7 7 42