Spartans’ winning hand: Four of a kind

Drew Eisenhower never expected to be on the field at crunch time in a district championship game but there he was, a freshman who had played precious few important minutes trying prevent Middletown from winning its fourth straight title.

He was ushered onto the field for the Blue Raiders’ final drive after Jven Tranquillo, one of the starting safeties, was injured and couldn’t go. Wyomissing was clinging to a 24-21 lead.

“There were a lot of nerves,” Eisenhower admitted.

He felt confident he knew what he was doing, but still . . . this was heady stuff for a freshman.

“(Team captain) Max (Hurleman) came up to me and said, ‘We have all the faith in you,’ ” Eisenhower recalled, ” ‘just get this done and we’re gonna be district champs.’ “

A handful of plays later Tommy Grabowski stepped in front of a fourth-down pass deep in Wyomissing territory. After years of frustration and one-sided beatdowns the Spartans finally ended Middletown’s reign.

“Everyone was just so happy that day because we finally beat Middletown,” senior Matt Kramer said.

Who knew at the time the Spartans wouldn’t lose another district playoff game, reeling off a second, third and now, with a 63-7 win over West Perry Saturday, a fourth straight District 3 Class 3A championship?

No Berks football team has ever done that.

“We’ve always talked about it,” said Eisenhower, now a senior and a Spartans captain. “We’re gonna get the four; we’re gonna be the team that does it. We’ve always wanted it. We made it happen.”

Eisenhower was one of four freshmen on that 2019 Wyomissing team, along with Kramer, Ben Zechman and Ian Levering. That’s a big group. Over the last three seasons only one freshman, Chase Eisenhower, has played for Wyomissing.

Eisenhower, Kramer, Zechman and Levering each played limited roles 2019; what they gained by being part of that ride was immeasurable.

“The leadership of Max, Jven and all those juniors and seniors was awesome to learn from,” said Zechman, the Spartans’ starting quarterback the past two seasons.

They’ve shared that knowhow and become leaders themselves, helping the Spartans go unbeaten in each of the last three regular seasons and reach the PIAA Class 3A championship game in each of the last two.

Zechman was pulled up to varsity when his brother Zach, the starting quarterback, was knocked out for the year in the season-opener. Ben saw a few minutes at the tail end of games the rest of the way; he attempted one pass and ran the ball once.

His apprenticeship continued the next year when Zach returned to lead the Spartans to their second straight district title, 38-16 at Middletown.

Last year Ben became the starting quarterback. He’s not called on to throw much but when he is he’s been highly effective, completing over 70 percent of his passes with a passing efficiency rating of 210 — the highest of any Berks quarterback. When Wyo has needed third-down passes to keep drives alive he’s come through.

Kramer got on the field to hold for kicks as a freshman. Last year he emerged as a top-notch outside linebacker and fierce pass-rusher. This year he’s added dominating fullback to his resume. He scored three touchdowns and ran for 145 yards Saturday. He has scored a team-high 24 TDs and has rushed for 909 yards.

Levering was the backup kicker in 2019. He made 10 PATs. He became the full-time kicker last year and converted 72 PATs and three field goals. Saturday he was good on 9-of-9 kicks — a record for a District 3 Class 3A championship game.

Eisenhower has started at safety since his sophomore year. He’s become the quarterback of the secondary, in addition to a top running back. He rushed for close to 900 yards last year and is averaging 11.7 yards per carry this season.

The “Four Freshman” from championship season No. 1 have become pillars of the program. The young guys who will try to go for one for the thumb — a fifth straight title next year — are now watching and listening to them.

The last few district titles have seemingly come easily. Wyo’s won by an average of 40 points. The first — that was the toughest of the lot. The Spartans had to slug it out until the final seconds.

“That might’ve been the best game that I’ve ever experienced,” Zechman said. “That was insane.”

It took a 63-yard catch-and-run by Darren Brunner to erase a third-quarter deficit and another TD catch by Hurleman to give the Spartans some working margin.

Ever since it’s seemed like clockwork.

As West Perry coach Dan Boden said last week: “We know the district runs through Wyomissing.”

There’s more left for the Spartans to achieve: They are focused on bringing home a PIAA championship. No more “going home sad,” Zechman insists.

For now, the “Four Freshmen” know that along with the rest of the seniors they have done something special: They’ve 26-0 at home over four years and 48-3 overall.

“To be written into the history books at Wyomissing is pretty cool,” Zechman said. “It’s such a tradition-rich school and with such an incredible football team, I think it’s pretty awesome to have your own little part of it.”