Barons get defensive in win over Speedboys
2024 Berks football coverage
presented by UECU
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Matt Pawlikowski — LNP/Lancasteronline
The offense always gets the glory, and the defense wins games.
Friday night in a 24-8 non-league win over West Philadelphia, Manheim Central held the Speedboys to just over 100 yards total offense. More important, by the second half, they wore them down.
“Our defense is pretty stout,” Manheim Central coach Dave Hahn said. “Offensively, we had some good things going but have a lot to work on. That team was a big, physical team that brought a lot of pressure, and they were fast. It was just a matter of wearing them down.”
The Barons’ offense eventually came alive, but its first points came on a wild snap, resulting in a safety early in the game. Then it was Noah Templin’s turn to add another two-pointer with just over six minutes remaining until halftime.
West Philadelphia racked up its only touchdown via a forced fumble late in the second quarter. Zahfir Cleveland ran for the two-point conversion, and it was 8-4 Speedsters at the half. Up to that point, other than one big pass play, Manheim held West Philly to negative yardage on each of its first-half possessions.
The Barons came out in the third quarter and wasted no time getting on the board, with Brodie Daugherty scoring from 5 yards out. Caleb Moyer added to the score with six minutes remaining and his 20-yard run, then Daugherty closed things out with 1:33 left and a 13-yard score.
With 6:38 left in the third, Cleveland unleashed a bomb downfield. Kyle Mylin read it perfectly, stepped in front of the receiver, and promptly brought it down, ending a scoring threat.
With 8:38 left in the fourth, Mylin did it again with a huge return to the 36-yard line. Kudos to Ryan Wissler, who, with 1:33 left, recovered a fumble on the kickoff for the Barons, ending any hopes West Philadelphia had.
“You know what they say, defense wins games, and that is what we came out here and did,” Mylin said. “It wasn’t one guy out there making plays, as the game went on, we got stronger and got stronger together. And that is the coaching staff.”