The Wilson Bulldogs came into their matchup with Manheim Twp. riding high off a 68-point, week seven offensive outburst. Manheim Twp. was the last team to beat the Bulldogs in Lancaster Lebanon League Section One play in 2007! Wilson WL stretched their league win streak to 62, but it was not easy. In a hard hitting battle, Wilson WL defeated Manheim Twp. 17-10.
Wilson was led by Junior QB Connor Uhrig. Uhrig passed and ran the Bulldogs to victory. Connor engineered a 67-yard game winning TD drive culminated by his two-yard TD plunge with :26 left. Uhrig told his teammates in the huddle on the final drive, “We are going 110%. We gotta get in the end zone. We have to keep the streak alive!”
Uhrig felt the Bulldog wide outs were a key to the victory, “My receivers can make the plays and I get them the ball.”
Wilson Head Coach Doug Dahms praised his teams effort by saying, “The team played with a lot of heart tonight. They played with maximum effort. They just did not want to lose. The team made the plays when they had to make them.”
Manheim Township controlled most of quarter one. After receiving the opening kick, 
the Blue Streaks marched down the field. The Wilson D stiffened and a 14-play drive ended with a 31-yard field goal by Jack Rodenberger, making it 3-0 at the 5:38 mark. The Township D forced a Wilson punt. The Blue Streaks drove deep into the bulldog end. The big play was a 60-yard run by quarterback Luke Emge. A mishandled snap then gave the ball back to Wilson. The first quarter ended 3-0 Township. Wilson did not have a first down.
The Wilson Defense began to assert itself in quarter two. The Bulldogs forced consecutive three and outs. The problem was that the Blue Streak Defense kept the Wilson offense in check as well. A productive Wilson drive at the end of the half came up empty. Township blocked a field goal attempt. It was Manheim Township 3 Wilson 0 at the half.
Wilson received the second half kick and drove the ball down the field. A lost fumble deep in Township territory ended the drive. Wilson again got the ball deep in the Manheim end after a sparkling punt return by Mason McElroy. The Blue Streak D held its ground. Nick Borelli knocked through a 36-yard field goal to tie the score at three with 4:40 left in the third quarter. Manheim then came right back. The Blue Streaks drove the ball deep into the Wilson end but the drive stalled. A field goal attempt was blocked by Wilson and we were still tied at three. The third quarter ended tied at three.
Wilson was on the move starting quarter four. The Bulldogs fought their way through the Blue Streak defense. Iggy Renoso’s two-yard sweep into the end zone got the Bulldogs on top 10-3 at the 8:47 mark of the fourth quarter. There was no quit in Township. Quarterback Luke Emge hit Grayson Sallade on a 31-yard TD. It was tied at ten with 4:17 to play.
Wilson then got the ball back on their own 33 with a chance to win the game. Quarterback Connor Uhrig ran and passed the Bulldogs down the field. Uhrig had key third down completions to Alex Twiford and Mason McElroy to keep the drive alive.
Connor’s key run got the ball to the two with :28 seconds left. Wilson then called a time out. On the next play, Uhrig dove in to put the Bulldogs in front for good. This was the second week in a row that Manheim Township suffered a devastating last minute loss. The final was Wilson WL 17 Manheim Township 10.
Wilson shoots for League win number 63 in a row at home with Hempfield next week. Manheim Township will try to regroup at home with Lebanon.
Photo courtesy of Lee Vivian
