Hunsicker-to-Gruber connection helps Bulldogs pass by Red Knights
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Sam Cavalieri — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Despite producing two NFL quarterbacks in Kerry Collins and Chad Henne, Wilson has typically been known for its smashmouth offense.
The 2023 version is less run, more run-and-gun.
Senior Tommy Hunsicker threw four touchdown passes, three to Madyx Gruber, slinging the ball all over John Gurski Stadium to lead Wilson over Reading High 38-14 in a Lancaster-Lebanon Section 1 victory on Friday night.
Hunsicker only put the ball in the air 13 times in a little over two quarters but the Bulldogs (2-2) needed little space and opportunity to put up points quickly against the Red Knights (1-3).
The first touchdown pass went to Edison Case, who lit up Cheltenham last week for 173 yards in his return to the lineup. Case had a 69-yard punt return touchdown called back Friday but he ended the series in the end zone anyway after a 27-yard pass from Hunsicker for a 17-0 lead.
“Tommy in his second year is doing a really nice job,” Wilson coach Doug Dahms said. “We have a real good core of receivers with (Austin) Valukevich, Case, Gruber and a couple others that are on the shelf dinged. It’s a nice crop there.”
Reading lost its third fumble of the first quarter on the next drive and gave Hunsicker and company the ball at the Reading 18. Gruber said offensive coordinator Jeremy Palm ad-libbed a play that they haven’t practiced and it produced what could be the catch of the season.
Hunsicker pump-faked a bubble screen to Gruber, who then took off down the sideline. The pass was a little behind Gruber and in one motion he reached back with his right hand and back-handed the ball for an 18-yard touchdown.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Hunsicker said of Gruber’s big night. “We always knew he had the ability to make plays like that and he showed it tonight. Three touchdowns and a couple of great catches.”
Gruber scored again on the last drive of the first half, a 21-yard reception, and on the first drive of the second half, a 38-yard reception, which put the game into a mercy clock at 38-0. That score signaled the end of the night for the Wilson first-string offense, but not before Hunsicker rolled up 241 yards and Gruber finished with 153 yards receiving.
Hunsicker threw for 262 yards in a 36-35 overtime loss to Central Dauphin and 291 yards in a 40-26 win over Cheltenham Monday.
The Bulldogs showed off some new weapons, as well. Hunsicker hit Monty Greer out of the backfield on a few swing passes in space and he finished with 53 yards on two receptions and was Wilson’s leading rusher with 22 yards.
“We’ve been able to spread the ball around a little more this year than last year,” Hunsicker said. “A lot different offense, a lot more spread out and it’s important that we are getting everyone involved.
“As we get towards the end of the season everyone you play is going to be good and you need a different player to step up each play and that’s what we are getting right now.”
A team with a strong tradition such as Wilson always is thinking about the postseason and it’s no different for this team. Dahms said he would like to get more going on the ground; on Friday night his team managed only 19 yards on 20 carries.
Some of that was due to young players taking large losses late in the game, but if they can figure out a little bit of the running game it could make this dynamic passing attack that much more difficult.
“I think this offense is going to be really good by the end of the year,” Gruber said. “(By the time playoffs come) I think we are going to be one of the better teams in the LL. I am just excited to see what we can do.”
The Red Knights were led by Alexis Alvarado with 88 yards rushing and quarterback Jason Plyaharn with 95 yards passing. Plyaharn played in place of Kayson Fritz who was ineligible after being ejected against Red Lion on Monday. Plyaharn connected on two late touchdown passes to Xavier Beatty and Cameron Small.
Friday was “Chad Henne Night.” Henne, the two-time Super Bowl champion as a backup quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs and current volunteer assistant with the Bulldogs, signed autographs before the game and was honored at halftime.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Reading High | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Wilson | 24 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 38 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Wilson | Rada, 26 FG | 9:15 |
| 1 | Wilson | Zullinger, 5 fumble return (Rada kick) | 8:56 |
| 1 | Wilson | Case, 27 pass from T. Hunsicker (Rada kick) | 2:32 |
| 1 | Wilson | Gruber, 18 pass from T. Hunsicker (Rada kick) | 1:30 |
| 2 | Wilson | Gruber, 21 pass from T. Hunsicker (Rada kick) | 1:55 |
| 3 | Wilson | Gruber, 38 pass from T. Hunsicker (Rada kick) | 10:22 |
| 4 | Reading | Beatty, 70 pass from Plyaharn (Murcia kick) | 6:30 |
| 4 | Reading | Small, 22 pass from Plyaharn (Murcia kick) | 2:10 |
Team statistics
| Reading High | Wilson | |
| First downs | 13 | 8 |
| Rushes-yards | 29-137 | 20-19 |
| Passing yards | 95 | 261 |
| Total yards | 232 | 280 |
| Passes | 4-9-0 | 13-18-0 |
| Fumbles-lost | 4-3 | 1-0 |
| Punts-average | 3-35 | 3-35.33 |
| Penalties-yards | 7-45 | 9-80 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Reading High: Alvarado 14-88, Small 12-56, Beatty 1-0, Plyaharn 2-(-7).
Wilson: Greer 6-22, Akings 3-11, Funk 2-8, T. Hunsicker 3-4, Team Rush 1-(-1), Brownback 1-(-4), Harding 1-(-4), Young 3-(-17).
PASSING
Reading High: Plyaharn 4-9-0–95.
Wilson: T. Hunsicker 10-13-0–241, Young 2-4-0–21, Peterson 1-1-0–(-2).
RECEIVING
Reading High: Beatty 1-70, Small 2-26, Drayton 1-(-1).Wilson: Gruber 6-153, Greer 2-53, Case 1-27, Carpenter 1-17, Akings 2-12, Kramer 1-(-2).
