Spartans approach powerful Neumann Goretti with quiet confidence

Before his Wyomissing team played Imhotep Charter in a 2012 state semifinal Bob Wolfrum looked at video of South Carolina-bound running back David Williams and the Panthers and thought: ‘How are we gonna stop that?’

A week later, as the Spartans prepared to face Aliquippa for the PIAA Class AA championship, Wolfrum had the same question.

The Spartans figured it out. They played smart football. Were in the right spot most of the time. Tackled surely. And played as a team.

This Wyomissing team will do the same Friday when it faces Neumann-Goretti in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal at Pennridge High at 7. The Saints are loaded with big, fast, talented players. At least five have Division I offers.

Wolfrum approaches this challenge with the same quiet confidence as always.

“You find out when you get there, it’s no different than playing everybody else,” said Berks winningest football coach. “They’re just faster.”

Wolfrum’s confidence comes from a defensive unit that has been remarkably sound all season. Defensive end Aiden Mack, who will play tight end at Richmond, is the only Division I recruit on the defense. Yet the Spartans (14-0) have allowed fewer points and fewer yards than any team in Berks.

In fact, they’re playing at an historic level. They’re allowing 134 total yards per game. Over the last 30 seasons no Berks team has allowed fewer yards.

They’re allowing 49 passing yards per game. You’d have to go back nearly 30 years — to an era when the passing game at this level wasn’t nearly as sophisticated, or prominent — to find a smaller number.

In four postseason games — wins over Northern Lebanon, Middletown, Boiling Springs and Scranton Prep — they have allowed 10 pass completions. Ten. Total.

In their regular season finale, against Conrad Weiser and its all-time passing leader Logan Klitsch, the Spartans allowed 93 passing yards.

They’re effective against the pass because two of their best defensive players happen to be their cornerbacks, Nevin Carter and Amory Thompson; they’re tall, athletic, three-year starters. . . And because they know how to bring pressure, from linebackers Jack Miller, Matt Kramer or Rory Filloon, or from Mack off the edge, or Julian DiMaio up the middle. . . And because they know their assignments, and know where to be on a given play.

Opposing passers have compiled a 61.5 passing efficiency rating — a combination of completion percentage, average yards per play, and touchdown and interceptions ratios. A rating of around 120 might be considered average at this level.

“I always feel confident in our defense,” Wolfrum said. “They’ve been what’s kept us solid all year. Our defense is our bedrock. They’re there every week. We can always count on them to make it tough on the other team.”

That defense will be put to the test against the Saints (13-1), who spread the field with fast receivers and let Marqui Adams, a three-year starter, air it out. He has thrown for 2,094 yards and 20 TDs for the Philadelphia Catholic League’s top-rated offense. Other than Klitsch, he’s the only 2,000-yard passer Wyomissing will have faced this season.

“They spread you all over the field, then you’ve got to be able to tackle the (running) back and the quarterback,” Wolfrum said of Goretti. “They can run. And they’ve got size.”

Jayden Sumpter is the top running back; he’s gone for 1,052 yards and 13 TDs.

The top receiver is Yazeed Haynes, who just committed to Ole Miss. He’s averaging 19.4 yards on his team-leading 25 catches. He’s one of five players with 20 or more receptions.

Junior Shawn Battle may be the Saints’ their best prospect. He plays cornerback and returns punts and kickoffs. He’s got 16 major college offers, from schools such as Penn State, Pittsburgh, Arizona State and Cincinnati. He’s rated No. 12 among Pennsylvania juniors by 247sports.com. (Exeter’s Joey Schlaffer is No. 10.)

Wide receiver Kevin Thomas and safety Raleigh Collins are committed to West Virgina. Linebacker Anthony Johnson, their leading tackler, is committed to Rutgers.

Explosive as they are on offense the Saints may be even better on defense. They held Danville to minus rushing yards last week in a 28-0 win and have allowed six touchdowns over their last eight games, with four shutouts. Three of those scores came in a 26-21 win over North Schuylkill first-round PIAA game.

Goretti is ranked No. 1 in the Catholic League in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.