Game of the Week: Wilson vs Nazareth, presented by Kevin Miller of Berkshire Investment Group
Wilson (2-0) vs. Nazareth (2-0)
Kick: Friday, 7, at Gurski Stadium.
Series: Tied 1-1.
Last meeting: A fumble at the goal line in the final minute cost the Bulldogs at chance at late comeback in a 35-31 loss last year at Leh Stadium. Even after seeing Nazareth strike on long touchdown passes by Peyton Falzone on each of its first four possessions Wilson found itself leading at the half when Christo Hunsicker nailed a field goal as time expired. Falzone’s 50-yard run late in the third quarter gave the Blue Eagles the lead for good. Wilson had 27 first downs and out-gained Nazareth in total yards but couldn’t overcome Falzone, who threw for 254 yards and ran for 77. Correll Akings rushed for 131 yards for the Bulldogs and Madyx Gruber passed for 233 yards and ran for three TDs.
Fast fact: Wilson coach Doug Dahms needs two wins to become just the third in Berks history to record 200 victories. Bob Wolfrum (374) and Rick Keeley (280) were the first. Dahms is 198-44 and has the highest winning percentage in Berks history (.818). This is his 20th season as Bulldogs head coach and 50th on the Wilson staff.
Bulldogs update: Used a pair of TD passes from Mason Young and EJ Brownback’s 40-yard Pick Six to beat Plymouth-Whitemarsh 27-7 last week. . . Young, in his first year as a starter, has thrown for 356 yards and five TDs in his first two games, completing 28-of-39. . . Correll Akings leads team with 141 rushing yards. . . Monty Greer averaging 6.8 yards per carry. . . All-State tight end Michael Glover has six receptions, one less than team leader Elijah Dean. . . Ranked No. 1 among Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 teams in total offense at 331 yards per game. . . Brownback leads team with 18 tackles. . . LB Cole Peterson is next with 13 stops. . . DT Malachi Toles has 2.5 tackles for losses. . . DE Glover has a pair of sacks. . . Jaiden Carpenter blocked a punt last week. . . Open Section 1 play next week against Reading High at Shirk Stadium.
Did you know? Of the 26 games involving 37 Lancaster-Lebanon League teams this weekend this is the only matchup of unbeaten teams.
Blue Eagles update: Have opened with lopsided wins over Hazleton (46-7) and Whitehall (62-33). . . Peyton Falzone, considered the No. 1 QB prospect in Pennsylvania at his position, is committed to Auburn. . . He previously committed to Virginia Tech and Penn State. . . Falzone completed 13-of-23 passes last year against Wilson. . . Falzone was named Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Offensive Most Valuable Player as a junior after throwing for 2,136 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushing for 743 yards and eight touchdowns. . . His first pass this season went for an 81-yard touchdown to tight end Mason Marinelli. He threw three first-half TDs in the win over Hazleton. . . Marquez Wimberly, a bullish running back committed to Sacramento State, provides balance on offense. He had early offers from West Virginia and Syracuse. . . Wimberly had a pair of TD runs in win over Hazleton. . . Most of offense returns, except for leading receiver Caleb Newsome, who earned a spot in the PFSCA East/West game in the spring and is now playing at Lehigh . . . Team is picked to win the East Penn Conference Northhampton Division, ahead of Easton, Freedom, Liberty, Bethlehem Catholic and Northampton. . . Finished 7-3 in regular season last season before 35-0 loss to Emmaus in District 11 playoff opener.
Fast fact: Wilson is the lone 2-0 team in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Manheim Township, Hempfield and Cedar Crest each have a loss; Penn Manor, McCaskey and Reading are each winless.
Quotable: “You certainly can’t let him break contain or you’re in trouble. We knew that last year but we had a couple mishaps. You throw what you can at him (defensively), try to keep pressure on him so he doesn’t have all the time in the world (to throw). He’s gonna get his yardage; we’ve just got to slow him down, stop him a couple times, and offensively we’ve gotta move the ball.” — Wilson coach Doug Dahms.
