Week 13 Glance: Twin Valley faces major challenge from 15-time champ McDevitt
Twin Valley won its first District 3 playoff game last week, beating Milton Hershey 43-29 at Twin Valley Stadium.
Now the fourth-seeded Raiders are looking for their first road playoff win. It won’t be easy, not because of the venue but because of the team that calls Rocco Ortenzi Stadium home: 15-time district champion Bishop McDevitt.
The top-seeded Crusaders (9-1) have been a state powerhouse for longer than the Raiders (7-4) have played football. No program has won more District 3 playoff games; only Manheim Central has more championships.
The defending champion Crusaders will be looking to add to their resume when they host the Raiders Friday at 7 at in a district Class 4A semifinal.
Twin Valley has never played for a district championship. Wyomissing (11-0) will be looking for its fourth straight on Saturday when it hosts West Perry (11-1) at 1 in the Class 3A championship. Exeter (11-0) is one win away from playing for its second straight Class 5A title; the Eagles host Northern (8-4) Friday at 7.
Exeter had never played for a title before upsetting Gov. Mifflin 31-28 last season. It won’t be an upset to see the second-seeded Eagles win another.
They have the top-rated run defense in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, one of the state’s top players in tight end/defensive end Joey Schlaffer, one of the league’s most efficient passers in Mason Rotelli and a dominant offensive line that consistently opens holes for 1,300-yard rusher Richie Karstien.
The Eagles are winning their games by an average of 29.2 points and have had only one close game, a 21-17 win at Manheim Central. In fact, that’s the only time they’ve trailed all season. They have mercy-ruled seven opponents.
Northern, the No. 11 seeded, doesn’t have such an impressive resume — the Polar Bears were 4-4 at midseason — but seems to have found a winning formula in the last month.
Much like Exeter a year ago, which took three regular season losses before clicking in the playoffs, Northern has found success with a pounding run game. Cole Bartram has rushed for 1,554 yards and scored 16 touchdowns; he’s rushed for 100 or more yards nine times.
“They’re a strong, physical team,” said Exeter coach Matt Bauer of the Polar Bears. “They try to run the ball with heavy sets, control the clock. It’s clear to see they’re playing their best football.”
The Polar Bears’ success formula relies on strong defense and special teams player. Mason Yohn is one of their key players. In addition to being a strong defensive back — he has six interceptions — he has booted nine field goals, made every PAT and averages nearly 43 yards on punts.
He has helped Northern win a bunch of close games — including three by one point, the latest 21-20 over sixth-seeded South Western in the opening round of the playoffs. Last week they beat No. 3 New Oxford 20-7.
Top-seeded Wyomissing looms as a heavy favorite against third-seeded West Perry. The Mustangs have been dominant and are coming off a 43-point win over previously unbeaten Lancaster Catholic.
Still, the Spartans have been playing at a high level all season — and in recent seasons. Their seniors enter what appears to be their final home game with a 25-0 record at the A-Field. Over the past four seasons Wyomissing is 47-3, the best 50-game record in Berks football history.
The Spartans have shut out four of their opponents and mercy-ruled eight. They have the top-rated defense in the Lancaster-Lebanon League and have allowed fewer points than any team in District 3.
West Perry has standout players in quarterback Marcus Quaker, who has both run and passed for over 1,000 yards, and Ian Goodling, who has over 1,000 receiving yards and has kicked 15 field goals over the past two seasons.
Twin Valley is enjoying one of the best seasons in program history. Its seven wins match the program record, set in 2007 when the Raiders won their only section championship (they shared the Berks 2 title with Wyomissing).
Sophomore Evan Johnson has rushed for over 1,000 yards, including 205 a week ago. Jaydon Goebel has rushed for 872 yards and scored 15 TDs. Evan Myers has passes for close to 1,200 yards and run for 11 TDs.
The Raiders will have to play their best to hang with a McDevitt team that has at least half-a-dozen Division I prospects, likely far more than that.
Tailback Marquese Williams will play at the University of Minnesota. Lineman Riley Robell, a PIAA wrestling champ, is committed to James Madison. Lineman Gabe Arena is a Virginia Tech recruit. Wide receiver Tyshawn Russell is commited to Central Michigan. Wide receiver Rico Scott has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Penn State and others.
And then there’s sophomore quarterback Stone Saunders, considered one of the best at his position in the nation. He passed for over 3,000 yards and 47 touchdowns as a freshman and has added 2,773 yards this season. He’s thrown 41 touchdowns — and been intercepted once.
He’s got offers from Georgia, Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maryland — you name it, he’s got it or will get it.
McDevitt is ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 4A behind Aliquippa, the team it lost to in last year’s PIAA championship game. The Crusaders have won nine straight since opening the season with a 19-14 loss to Imhotep Charter.