Wyomissing vs. Neumann-Goretti is GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week

By Mike Drago Last updated Dec 9, 2022

Matt Kramer breaks free against Neumann-Goretti in last year's meeting. (Tim Macrina photo)

PIAA Class 3A semifinal

Wyomissing (13-0) vs. Neumann-Goretti (10-3)

Kick: Saturday, 1, at Benjamin Johnson Stadium, Germantown.

Series: Spartans lead 4-0.

Last meeting: Wyomissing won 42-6 last year in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal at Pennridge High School. The Saints scored on their opening drive, then not again as the Spartans rushed for 347 yards and allowed just 158 toal yards, forcing a pair of turnovers and four punts. Amory Thompson and Tommy Grabowski each rushed for over 100 yards, Drew Eisenhower scored a pair of touchdowns and Ben Zechman threw a pair TD passes.

Spartans update: Reached 13-0 for the fourth time in program history and second straight year with a 21-19 win at Danville. . . Had to survive a 32-yard field goal attempt, which sailed wide, with three seconds left. . . Matt Kramer rushed for 157 yards and a TD and Drew Eisenhower rushed for 109 yards and a TD. . . Kramer (1,066) and Charlie McIntyre (1,007) each went over the 1,000-yard mark. . . Eisenhower needs 157 yards to join them. . . They’re working behind a huge offensive line, achored by Penn State recruit Jven Williams, the top-ranked overall prospect in Pennsylvania. . . Williams was named Outstanding Lineman and Offensive Lineman of the Year in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League . . . TE Caleb Brewer and T Pacen Ziegler were also first-team all-league picks. . . Kramer has a team-high 25 touchdowns. . . League’s top-rated defensive unit earned five spots on the Section 4 all-league team: Ryker Jones and Kramer at LB, Brewer and Williams at DL and Eisenhower at DB. . . Kramer was Linebacker of the Year. . . Defense allowing 8.3 points per game, third-lowest among Class 3A teams in the state. . . Jones had team-high 10 tackles in Friday’s win at Danville, the third straight game he’s had 10 or more tackles. He has a team-high 78 tackles. . . LB Drew Forrey is second with 44 tackles. . . Ranked No. 1 in the state.

Fast fact: Three running backs in the Lancaster-Lebanon League (with at least 50 carries) are averaging better than 10 yards per carry: Wyomissing’s Charlie McIntyre (12.1), Hamburg’s Pierce Mason (10.3), Wyomissing’s Drew Eisenhower (10.0) and Manheim Central’s Jaden Weit (10.0).

Did you know? Wyomissing’s Bob Wolfrum and Neumann-Goretti coach Albie Crosby first faced each other in 2012 when Crosby coached Imhotep Charter and their teams met in a PIAA Class AA semifinals. The Spartans prevailed 35-13 a week before beating Aliquippa to complete a 16-0 season. They faced each other for a second time last year, in the 3A semifinals. Crosby won the 2015 PIAA Class AA championship with Imhotep.

Saints update: Have won seven straight since back-to-back losses to Bonner-Prendergast and Conwell-Egan dropped them to 3-3. . . Beat Egan three weeks later and finished second in the Blue Division of the Philadelphia Catholic League behind Bonner-Prendergast. . . Back in PIAA Final Four for second straight year, and second time in program history. . . Roster includes seven Catholic League first-team all-league picks and at least six players with Division I offers. . . Boston College recruit Shawn Battle scored four TDs in last week’s 38-6 win over Northwestern Lehigh, including a 106-yard INT return. . . Battle, the No. 14 college prospect in PA, according to 247sports.com, has rushed for 916 yards and scored 21 TDs. . . He, like many other key players, didn’t participate in a 26-20 win over South Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Day, three days before their PIAA quarterfinal. . . Battle has a team-high 30 receptions. . . QB Mekhi Wharton has thrown for 1,430 yards and 16 TDs. . . All-League WR Denim Smith has 28 catches, seven for TDs. . . Strength of the team is a defensive unit which is allowing 48 rushing yards per game and 2.01 yards per carry. . . Allowing 109 total yards per game. . . Giving up 10.3 points per game, fifth-lowest in the state among Class 3A teams . . . Defense is anchored by a pair of highly rated ends, 6-5, 270-pound all-league Deshon Dotson and 6-4 225-pound Daniel Adefolarin. Deshon, the 11th-ranked junior prospect in PA, has offers from Boston College, Bowling Green, Miami and Nebraska. . . . Adefolarin, a sophomore, has an offer from Temple. . . All-League LB Sam Hobbs leads team with 62 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. . . Junior DB Khari Reid has offers from Penn State, Maryland, Boston College, Pittsburgh and others. . . DL Koren Robinson has offers from Maryland and West Virginia. . . All-League lineman Samier Bromfield has an offer Maryland and is getting looks from Penn State. . . This is Goretti’s fourth PIAA appearance under Crosby. It lost a quarterfinal to eventual champ Southern Columbia in 2017 and a first-round game to Pope John Paul in 2019 before winning twice last season and two more times this year. . . Set a program record for wins last year, going 13-2. . . Jumped from No. 9 in the state to No. 4 in PennLive.com rankings after 38-6 win over Northwestern Lehigh last week.

Drew Eisenhower cradles ball after touchdown catch last year against Neumann-Goretti. (Tim Macrina photo)

Fast fact: Before the playoffs began Neuman-Goretti had beaten just two teams which finished with winning records: Lansdale Catholic (7-3) and Archbishop Ryan (6-5). Two of Wyomissing’s opponents — Trinity and Cocalico — are playing in the PIAA semifinals this weekend.

Did you know? Neuman-Goretti’s first opponent in the PIAA Tournament was Kipp-DuBois Collegiate Academy, which went 0-8 in the regular season before beating Vaux 22-16 in a District 12 playoff. Goretti beat Kipp 52-0.

Winner gets: District 7 champ Belle Vernon (10-2) or District 6 champ Central (12-2) of Martinsburg.

PIAA Class 3A championship game: Saturday, Dec. 10, noon, at Cumberland Valley High School.