Football notes: Logan Klitsch doubly dangerous now, ugly incident at Spring Grove, and more
Logan Klitsch is running with an elite crowd.
The Conrad Weiser senior is on the verge of setting a touchdown rushing record for Berks quarterbacks and is on pace to become just the third dual-threat quarterback in Berks history to combine for 3,000 rushing and passing yards in a season.
The Dartmouth recruit leads Berks quarterbacks in passing yards (1,524) and touchdown passes (13). He led in both categories a year ago, too.
He’s become doubly dangerous this season as a runner after improving his speed and strength in the offseason.
Rushing TDs by a quarterback, single season*
| Tommy Bodolus | Daniel Boone | 2011 | 19 |
| Jan Johnson | Gov. Mifflin | 2014 | 18 |
| Aidan Brosious | Conrad Weiser | 2013 | 18 |
| Vince Garipoli | Gov. Mifflin | 2018 | 18 |
| Brad Rhoads | Gov. Mifflin | 2006 | 18 |
| LOGAN KLITSCH | Conrad Weiser | 2021 | 17 |
| Chase Yocum | Exeter | 2014 | 16 |
| Marques Glaze | Conrad Weiser | 1997 | 16 |
Klitsch has rushed for 660 yards and scored 17 TDs. That’s two touchdowns short of the Berks scoring record for quarterbacks. Daniel Boone’s Tommy Bodolus set the mark in 2011, running for 19 TDs. Several other QBs have run for 18 in a season.
“Because of his ability to throw the ball, people are starting to really drop (in coverage),” said Weiser coach Alan Moyer, “and that leaves a lot of lanes open. He’s very good at that as well; he sees the field real well.”
Klitsch has scored a touchdown in all seven games, and two or more six times. He has also topped 100 rushing yards three times.
All these scores aren’t coming on QB sneaks, either. He has scored five times from outside the 20 and twice on runs of 50 or more yards.
The majority of Klitsch’s carries have come on designed runs as part of the Scouts’ offense; of course, when the pocket breaks down or he can’t find an open receiver he takes off.
“We make sure we get the ball in his hands,” Moyer said. “He’s got so much going for him and can do so much.”
Klitsch scored a team-high 10 TDs in seven games last season. He has 29 career touchdowns and a chance to crack Weiser’s top-five all-time list.
“He’s the real deal,” said one rival Berks 2 coach recently after watching Klitsch make big plays in the passing and running game.
Klitsch is averaging over 300 yards of total offense per game and is on pace finish with over 3,000 total yards in 10 regular season games. Only two Berks quarterbacks with at least 1,000 yards rushing and at least 1,000 yards passing have topped 3,000 total yards in a season.
Bodolus has the Berks record, with 3,152. Conrad Weiser’s Mike Oliveto had 3,117 yards in 2010.
Ugly incident at Spring Grove
The PIAA designated the week of Oct. 4 as “officials appreciation week” but it didn’t end well for a York official who was assaulted moments following an Oct. 8 game at Spring Grove.
Rockets senior running back Tyree Brooks, who had been ejected earlier in the game, rushed onto the field following the 34-14 victory and allegedly attacked Richard Delaughter, a PIAA official for 17 years.
Brooks, 18, has been charged with one felony of aggravated assault and two misdemeanors of simple assault and assault on a sports official.
PennLive.com, citing a report on CBS21, reported that Spring Grove coach Kyle Sprenkle told police that after being ejected Brooks had been emotional on the sidelines, then calmed down. The station’s report said the coach told police he saw Brooks head for the official who had penalized him as soon as the game ended.
According to court documents, Brooks “did forcefully tackle and punch the victim on his head causing injury.”
As police escorted Brooks to a secure room, the player, according to the police report “stated several times that he ‘knew what he was doing’ and ‘had thought it through before rushing out onto the field.’ ”
A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 5.
Police reports indicated Delaughter was “bleeding from a head wound from a laceration about two inches in length.”
The police described Brooks’ assault as being similar to a tackle, as he wrapped up the official’s upper body and drove him to the ground.
Brooks threw a punch, then was pulled away by adult members of the Spring Grove team.
Spring Grove won its first five games before losing last week to top-rated Central York 48-17.
New classifications
The PIAA is in the process of reclassifying schools for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
Schools have until Friday to submit enrollment numbers.
Once numbers from across the state are gathered the PIAA will re-sort schools into its six classifications for football and basketball (and for a varying number of classifications in other sports). The new parameters will be released early next month.
Schools will have about a month to challenge the results.
The new classifications will not affect sports for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year.
Also, the new numbers will not affect the Lancaster-Lebanon League football divisional set-up for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Those are locked in for a two-year cycle.
Thirteen Berks schools are set to join the L-L for football for next season.
Out of this world
Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Moon’s Ben Bladel has blocked 15 kicks in his career, the most recent in the Tigers’ 29-26 win over Peters Township.
The 6-foot, 230-pound Bladel told White he isn’t sure how he’s come up with so many blocks.
“I guess it’s just me running full speed and hitting the punter, kicker or whoever is kicking it,” he said. “It’s weird.”
Bladel also is tough on quarterbacks. He has 41 1/2 sacks in his career, including 10 in seven games this season.
Moon is 7-0 and ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 5A.