GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week: Berks Catholic vs. Cocalico

By Mike Drago Last updated Oct 24, 2022

Berks Catholic (3-5 ) vs. Cocalico (4-4)

Kick: Friday, 7, at Forino Sports Complex.

Section 4 records: Saints 3-2, Eagles 3-2.

Series: Saints lead 1-0.

Last meeting: Josiah Jordan broke off a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs as the Saints overcame an early deficit to score a 21-7 win last season in a District 3 Class 4A quarterfinal at Forino Sports Complex. The fifth-seeded Eagles led 7-0 before defensive end Tyler Givens intercepted a pass late in the first half and Christian Cacchione ran 36 yards for the tying TD.

In the second half Jordan scored on runs of 47 and 32 runs and the Saints defense stifled the Eagles’ Veer offense, which produced a 14-play scoring drive on its opening possession. They limited Cocalico to 187 rushing yards, more than 100 below its average.

Saints update: Have bounced back from first 0-4 start in program history with three wins in the last four weeks to stay alive in the race for a District 3 Class 3A playoff spot. . . Josiah Jordan ran for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week in a 38-7 win over Octorara. . . Saints led 38-0 after three quarters. . . Will Hess threw a pair of TD passes. . . FS Kevin Olivier had 17 tackles to lead the defense. . . Owen Reber had 6 tackles, a sack and 2 tackles for loss last week. . . Olivier and DE Nafis Blythe share team team with 58 tackles. . . Blythe leads team with 5 sacks. . . Jordan leads team with 775 rushing yards, 11 rushing TDs and 14 TDs overall. . . Jaxon Geddio leads with 12 receptions. . . PK Andrew Kurtas has been good on 5-of-6 FGs, including a 44-yarder against Wyomissing. . . Kurtas has made 20-of-21 PATs.

Berks Catholic’s Kevin Olivier. (PhilMarPhoto)

Fast fact: Berks Catholic’s .619 strength-of-schedule rating is higher than any Class 3A team in District 3 and all but one 4A team. The Saints have played Wyomissing (8-0), Pope John Paul II (8-0), Loyalsock (7-1) and Lampeter-Strasburg (7-1).

Eagles update: Tough schedule has included losses to three unbeaten teams: Solanco (21-7), Manheim Central (35-19) and Wyomissing (38-7). . . Other loss came to Lampeter-Strasburg (7-1) in Section 4 play. . . Ranked No. 3 in entire lead in rushining, at 286 yards per game. . . Sam Steffey carries the load in the Veer offense, with 133 carries for 800 yards and 10 TDs. . . He went for 145 yards on 20 carries last week in 39-14 win over Donegal. . . Aaryn Longenecker is averaging 7.4 yards per carry, Dane Horning 7.8. . . Longenecker returned punt 80 yards for a TD last week. . . Run-oriented Veer offense has attempted just 45 passes. . . Have passed for the fewest yards (221) in the league. . . Ranked No. 9 among 37 teams in total defense, No. 10 in scoring defense (21.2) . . . Likely need to win out to have a shot at the 12-team District 3 Class 5A field. . . Currently ranked No. 15.