Twin Valley beats Berks Catholic 42-16

READING – Many eyes have been focused on the 2024 version of the Twin Valley Raiders in the preseason whether it be media, fans, or other coaches. In 2023, the Raiders matched the program record for wins with 10 and tied for the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 title last season – only the second championship in their 28-year history.

With about a dozen starters returning, six of which earned All-LL League honors, the Expectations have never been higher entering a season for a football team at Twin Valley. The Raiders passed their first test to open the 2024 season as they convincingly defeated Berks Catholic 42-16 on the road at the Forino Sports Complex during a crossover LL League sectional battle.

“We came out prepared and played fast at a tempo that all of us are proud of.” Raiders head coach Brett Myers said. “Second half we did not show the maturity we have and with 14 seniors plus 13 starters back we should be able to close out a game cleaner. We have some stuff to learn from as we wrap up the game tomorrow.”

The tempo that the Raiders played with was apparent early as quarterback Evan Myers found Matthew Knight for a 49-yard completion on the first play of the game and his team was quickly back on the line after the long completion for the next play. Twin Valley saw its drive end on downs, but the Raiders needed just four plays on its next drive to get on the scoreboard which ended with a 45-yard scamper down the right sideline by Myers.

“Our players believed in our coaching staff from day one and we worked together all summer very well,” Evan Myers said. “Everyone did their job and made it easier for each individual player on the field tonight. The offensive line did a great job giving myself time in the pocket and our receivers time to get open and they made great plays.”

Myers went right back to work again following another Saints punt and hit Knight from 44 yards out for a touchdown to make it a 14-0 game just before the second quarter. Things quickly went off the rails for the Saints to open the second quarter after fumbling a snap on a punt. The ball bounced 10 yards backwards after Raiders defenders made contact with punter Devyn Sutton and was scooped up by Ryan Rementer, who needed just to go nine yards for the touchdown. The Saints finally put together some momentum after kicker Tyler Osorio made a 29-yard field goal to make it 21-3 and Owen Schalk intercepted Evan Myers as the Raiders were driving once again.

However, that momentum was short-lived with a three-and-out plus a 13-play drive from the Raiders that ended with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Lucas Myers to make it 28-3 into halftime. Twin Valley continued to pour it on in the second half when Drew Engle ran for a 43-yard touchdown early in the third quarter that made it 35-3. Greyson Miller forced a Saints fumble three plays into the next Berks Catholic drive and Evan Myers needed just one long throw to Ben Grundy for his second passing touchdown of the night, capping the Raiders scoring.

Myers, the Raiders all-time leading passer, put on another show Friday night by accounting for 346 of the 521 yards of total offense for Twin Valley behind 237 passing yards and 109 rushing yards. He tossed a pair of touchdowns while running for another.

“He has been very productive his whole life,” Brett Myers said. “Probably the last two years I held him back a little bit, but he is a playmaker on the field and any field he plays on. He is a competitor and tonight we took advantage of what they do defensively against a dual-threat quarterback.”

While Brett Myers has built Twin Valley into a contender in such a short time, Friday was also the debut of Dave Stahler as the Saints new head coach. Stahler, who spent 11 years as an associate head coach under recently retired Saints head coach Rick Keeley, had a tough task entering 2024 by replacing four All-LL League selections.

“We played a really good and physical football team,” Stahler said. “I think we can eventually match their physicality on both sides of the ball but we are still working towards it. They were bigger and deeper than us and it wore on us as the game went on. Despite that, I am proud of the kids effort tonight and we will get better.”

Saints quarterback Zach Suski went 12-for-16 passing for 142 yards in his first high school start and tossed one touchdown to Nathaniel Rose late in the fourth quarter. Berks Catholic now heads up to the Lehigh Valley next Friday to face Executive Education, a team the Saints knocked off 19-14 in week two of 2023.

The Raiders have heard and seen the expectations placed from the outside this summer but are constantly focused on what they can control.

“I think most of the guys on this team take that as just white noise,” Evan Myers said. “We do not let anything outside affect us and within the program we have hard-minded kids that come in and want to work to win. It definitely is nice though to see our name mentioned once in awhile.”

Twin Valley makes their home debut in Elverson next Friday against a strong District 4 contender in Selinsgrove.

“We are going to watch film tomorrow, guys are going to work out, and if their effort does not meet our standards they are going to move off the depth chart and we will get it fixed,” Brett Myers said. “That is ultimately what matters for this team is to play and have fun.”

Scoring summary

Team statistics

Individual statistics

RUSHING

Twin Valley: E. Myers 5-109, Johnson 11-91, Engle 8-82, L. Myers 1-2, Reilly 3-2, TEAM 2-(-2)

Berks Catholic: Rose 11-47, Gerald 1-6, Gumby 5-1, Schalk 4-1, Suski 1-0, Curley 3-(-1), TEAM 2-(-11), Sutton 1-(-20)

PASSING

Twin Valley: E. Myers 12-17-1–237

Berks Catholic: Suski 12-16-0–142

RECEIVING

Twin Valley: Grundy 5-93, Knight 2-93, L. Myers 2-22, Engle 2-17, Johnson 1-12

Berks Catholic: Duffy 3-77, Rose 2-19, Curley 2-3, Kozik 1-24, Sutton 1-7, Welker 1-6, Partsch 1-5, Schalk 1-1

INTERCEPTIONS:

Berks Catholic: Schalk