Raiders, Spartans bring L-L’s top-ranked defenses to Section 4 clash
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
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There were times last year when Twin Valley had trouble stopping good offenses – it allowed 599 total yards and 65 points in a season-ending loss to Manheim Central in a district semifinal.
This year the unbeaten Raiders have stopped everyone they’ve seen.
“We’ve improved a lot,” said Raiders coach Brett Myers. “Last year we were better on defense (than the year before) but when we played playoff level teams we struggled a little bit.”
A year ago Twin Valley was ranked No. 17 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League in total defense during the regular season; this year it is No. 1.
It goes against No. 2 Wyomissing in a battle of state-ranked teams Friday at Twin Valley.
The Raiders are ranked No. 1 in the 37-team team league in rushing defense (41.4 yards per game), total defense (104.7 yards), and scoring defense (5.7). It is No. 2 in pass defense, behind Exeter, which is likewise unbeaten.
The Spartans are ranked No. 2 in total defense and No. 3 in rush defense; they’re allowing 11.4 points, eighth-best in the league.
Twin Valley is also No. 1 in the league in scoring at 48.8 points per game. It slipped to No. 3 in total offense, in part because it played just two quarters last week when Donegal opted not to finish the game.
Solanco is the league’s No. 1 rushing team, and by a wide margin. The Mules are averaging 342 yards per game. The Muhls – of Muhlenberg – are No. 2 at 285.8 yards per game. (Must be something about that donkey-like name.)
Schuylkill Valley is ranked No. 1 in the league in passing yards; Solanco is No. 1 in total yards.
(Tim Macrina photo)
Team offensive leaders
| RUSHING | PASSING | ||
| Solanco | 342.0 | Schuylkill Valley | 197.6 |
| Muhlenberg | 285.8 | Hempfield | 188.7 |
| Annville-Cleona | 271 | Garden Spot | 187.7 |
| Gov. Mifflin | 259.8 | Manheim Township | 185.3 |
| Twin Valley | 251.8 | Wilson | 184.3 |
| Cocalico | 251.7 | Conestoga Valley | 175.4 |
| Exeter | 247.0 | Daniel Boone | 174.6 |
| Lampeter-Strasburg | 239.6 | McCaskey | 164.0 |
| Wyomissing | 237.4 | Hamburg | 163.3 |
| Lancaster Catholic | 232.4 | Conrad Weiser | 141.7 |
| TOTAL YARDS | SCORING | ||
| Solanco | 406.1 | Twin Valley | 48.8 |
| Manheim Township | 396.7 | Exeter | 46.0 |
| Twin Valley | 393.4 | Lampeter-Strasburg | 40.5 |
| Wilson | 387.6 | Wyomissing | 38.0 |
| Exeter | 373.0 | Conestoga Valley | 37.1 |
| Lampeter-Strasburg | 371.7 | Manheim Township | 36.5 |
| Annville-Cleona | 366.3 | Conrad Weiser | 35.1 |
| Conrad Weiser | 351.7 | Lancaster Catholic | 35.1 |
| Conestoga Valley | 349.7 | Wilson | 32.1 |
| Muhlenberg | 346.7 | Annville-Cleona | 32.0 |
| Gov. Mifflin | 322.6 | Solanco | 31.5 |
| Berks Catholic | 322.1 | Cedar Crest | 30.4 |
Team defensive leaders
| RUSHING YARDS | PASSING YARDS | ||
| Twin Valley | 41.4 | Exeter | 57.1 |
| Manheim Township | 74.3 | Twin Valley | 63.3 |
| Wyomissing | 75.8 | Lampeter-Strasburg | 72.8 |
| Conestoga Valley | 95.3 | Donegal | 80.0 |
| Pequea Valley | 98.1 | Conrad Weiser | 80.8 |
| Cocalico | 105.0 | Northern Lebanon | 84.1 |
| Conrad Weiser | 106.1 | Hamburg | 86.5 |
| Wilson | 106.4 | Annville-Cleona | 91.6 |
| Garden Spot | 123.1 | Daniel Boone | 95.8 |
| Lampeter-Strasburg | 124.8 | Octorara | 96.4 |
| Fleetwood | 133.8 | Columbia | 96.7 |
| Cedar Crest | 138.4 | Pequea Valley | 97.0 |
| TOTAL YARDS | POINTS ALLOWED | ||
| Twin Valley | 104.7 | Twin Valley | 5.7 |
| Wyomissing | 181.6 | Exeter | 7.7 |
| Conrad Weiser | 187.0 | Lampeter-Strasburg | 7.7 |
| Manheim Township | 184.3 | Manheim Township | 7.8 |
| Conestoga Valley | 193.0 | Conestoga Valley | 8.7 |
| Pequea Valley | 195.1 | Conrad Weiser | 9.2 |
| Lampeter-Strasburg | 197.7 | Warwick | 10.4 |
| Exeter | 200.8 | Wyomissing | 11.4 |
| Annville-Cleona | 236.6 | Cocalico | 14.0 |
| Cocalico | 237.4 | Wilson | 15.5 |
| Wilson | 241.4 | Cedar Crest | 17.2 |
| Donegal | 242.8 | Schuylkill Valley | 17.4 |
