Bulldogs throw Comets for loss, remain unbeaten in Section 1
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By John Walk — LNP/Lancasteronline
MILLERSVILLE — Around this time a year ago, Penn Manor’s football program was riding high after upending Hempfield for the first time in years. Those Comets won four games by season’s end, then brought back 16 starters, leading to feelings of optimism that they’d have an even better campaign in 2024.
| Section 1 | ||
| Manheim Twp. | 4-0 | 8-0 |
| Wilson | 4-0 | 7-1 |
| Cedar Crest | 3-2 | 5-3 |
| Hempfield | 2-2 | 3-5 |
| Penn Manor | 1-3 | 1-6 |
| Reading | 1-4 | 2-6 |
| McCaskey | 0-4 | 2-6 |
“It hasn’t happened,” 10th-year Penn Manor coach John Brubaker said after the Comets’ latest setback, a 58-0 drubbing to Wilson in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 play Friday night.
Wilson didn’t allow a first down, had four takeaways, and held the Comets (1-3, 1-6) to negative yardage. The Comets were held to minus-38 yards rushing and minus-31 total yards.
The Comets’ defense gave Penn Manor chances in the opening salvo, forcing Wilson (4-0, 7-1) into two fumbles and a turnover on downs.
“One (fumble) was a pitch and one was the back just fighting for extra yardage and they ripped the ball out,” Wilson coach Doug Dahms said of giveaways. “The pitch, the guy had a hold of him and he should not have tried to pitch it.”
It’s why the visiting Bulldogs were up just 14-0 with a minute left in the first half on Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium.
“If we move the ball, get some first downs, put some points on the board, with our defense we could hang tough,” Brubaker said. “We’re playing some defense and some guys are showing some good things on that side of the ball.”
Wilson scored twice in the final 30 seconds before halftime, the latter a field goal that came after a Penn Manor turnover.
Wilson’s defense tallied 10 tackles for loss and two sacks while its return game had 92 total yards in four tries, on top of the offensive output highlighted by quarterback Madyx Gruber (14-for-20, 136 passing yards, 59 rushing yards, three total touchdowns) and running back Correll Akings (12 carries, 96 yards, two TDs).
“We wanted to work on our tackling – we did a good job of wrapping up,” Dahms said. “We wanted to work on our special teams – we did some nice things there. And getting to the second level blocking, but I’ll have to look at the film before I make a grade there.”
The answer as to what has gone wrong largely lies with the offense. Penn Manor entered Friday averaging just under a touchdown per game, and was held scoreless for the fourth time this season.
“Offensively we got to reimagine something different,” Brubaker said. “We didn’t have a first down tonight. You can’t play a one-sided game like that.”
Wilson has one more tune-up, against McCaskey, before a Section 1 showdown with Manheim Township.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Wilson | 14 | 11 | 26 | 7 | 58 |
| Penn Manor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Wilson | Gruber, 29 run (Hunsicker kick) | 7:48 |
| 1 | Wilson | Gruber, 6 run (Hunsicker kick) | 1:53 |
| 2 | Wilson | Akings, 60 run (Akings, run) | 0:30 |
| 2 | Wilson | Hunsicker, 31 FG | 0:00 |
| 3 | Wilson | Glover, 7 pass from Gruber (Hunsicker kick) | 9:59 |
| 3 | Wilson | Akings, 5 run (Hunsicker kick) | 6:47 |
| 3 | Wilson | Greer , 8 run (run failed) | 3:38 |
| 3 | Wilson | Manzanillo, 2 run (kick failed) | 1:33 |
| 4 | Wilson | Aliza, 1 run (Hunsicker kick) | 3:43 |
Team statistics
| Wilson | Penn Manor | |
| First downs | 21 | 0 |
| Rushes-yards | 33-230 | 20-(-38) |
| Passing yards | 193 | 7 |
| Total yards | 423 | -31 |
| Passes | 19-28-0 | 3-10-2 |
| Fumbles-lost | 2-2 | 2-2 |
| Punts-average | 0-0 | 8-37.5 |
| Penalties-yards | 3-30 | 7-55 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Wilson: Akings 12-94, Gruber 7-59, M. Greer 2-26, Peterson 2-14, Ulrich 2-11, D. Greer 2-10, Manzanillo 2-9, Becker 2-3, Wyatt 1-3, Aliza 1-1.
Penn Manor: Dupree 2-7, Warfel 1-(-1), Guthrie 7-(-4), Robinson 1-(-5), Greggs 1-(-6), Sleigh 3-(-24).
PASSING
Wilson: Gruber 14-20-0–136, Peterson 3-5-0–37, Young 2-3-0–20.
Penn Manor: Sleigh 3-10-2–7.
RECEIVING
Wilson: Glover 6-64, Akings 4-35, Dzurkovich 3-37, Archampong 1-15, M. Greer 1-10, Carpenter 1-10, Dean 1-9, Kline 1-8, Becker 1-5.
Penn Manor: Robinson 2-1, Warfel 1-(-6).
INTERCEPTIONS
Wilson: M. Greer, Gruber.
