Bulldogs pound Bearcats, turn thoughts to top-seeded Central York
By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
YORK – It can’t be much fun facing Wilson’s running game in the fourth quarter. All of those bruising carries take their toll.
If opposing linemen and linebackers aren’t barreling into 215-pound quarterback Brad Hoffman, they’re colliding with 210-pound halfback Jadyn Jones.
By the time the Bulldogs approach 50 running plays, defenses are ready to call it a night. It’s hard to blame them.
Hoffman and Jones are a tandem like no other. They led fifth-seeded Wilson over No. 4 York High 50-32 in the District 3 Class 6A quarterfinals at Smalls Field Friday night.
Wilson (8-3) advances to face No. 1 Central York on the road in the semifinals. The defending district champion Panthers defeated Manheim Township 26-14.
This performance by Wilson has become the team’s M.O. Hoffman collected 178 yards rushing. Jones delivered 155 yards. They combined for five touchdowns.
“That two-headed monster is tough,” coach Doug Dahms said. “You can’t overload, you can’t slant, you can’t go to one because the other takes the ball. As long as they do a good job reading it.”
The GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week was the fourth consecutive game in which both Hoffman and Jones surpassed 100 yards. There are many great rushing duos around. Is there one more punishing than these two?
Most of Jones’ production came on the next-to-last drive. There was no slowing him down at that point. He went 11 yards, 40 yards, then 15 yards to the end zone. If the game had been closer and Wilson needed more points, Jones and Hoffman would have kept piling up stats.
“It starts up front with the line obviously,” Jones said. “They finish stronger than they start.”
It didn’t take long to realize this was going to be a shootout. Wilson’s 1-2 punch was countered by Jaheim White and a dynamic collection of York skill players.
Wilson built a 22-6 lead early in the second quarter and York (7-3) couldn’t get it back within one score. The Bearcats tried. They delivered some eye-popping plays and emptied their bag of tricks.
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White rushed 26 times for 227 yards and three touchdowns. The junior also threw a 78-yard TD pass to Ja’Nas Simms on a halfback option. The performance was so impressive Dahms compared White to Gov. Mifflin tailback Nick Singleton.
“Their kid was amazing,” Dahms said. “So quick. So fast. I think he might be better than Singleton. Singleton is a power runner. This kid cuts and breaks on a dime.”
When Hoffman and Jones weren’t tormenting York, it was Cameron Jones’ turn. The junior touched the ball five times Friday. He produced an 81-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, a 70-yard kickoff return and a 28-yard rushing TD.
Maybe Wilson has a three-headed monster.
“It makes the defense think a lot more when we’ve got three guys who can contribute like that,” Jadyn Jones said. “We can make plays whenever somebody’s number is called. It’s great to have two other guys who can score whenever they can.”
Two factors crushed York’s hopes of a comeback. The Bearcats don’t have a kicker and failed on four of their five 2-point attempts. They went 0-for-6 on fourth-down conversions.
Wilson has won six in a row since a 2-3 start had everyone wondering if this was a down year at West Lawn. The Bulldogs ran the table in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League and are one of four Class 6A teams in the district still standing.
They’ve found their identity down the stretch. They’re a hard-nosed running team.
“I think the kids are bought in now,” Dahms said. “I think they know how good they can be. We’ve just got to keep the ball rolling.”
Wilson knew it was going to return to York County next week before it walked off the Smalls Field turf. The next opponent is the district favorite.
Dahms told his players what they were facing in Central York. He told them where the Panthers are ranked. Then he added two words: so what. Being intimidated doesn’t help.
“The point is don’t read the press,” Dahms said. “They’ve got to play the game just like we’ve got to play the game. They’re No. 3 in the state. That shouldn’t scare us. You’ve just got to go out and execute the game plan.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Wilson | 15 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 50 |
| York High | 6 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 32 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | York High | White, 11 run (pass failed) | 6:53 |
| 1 | Wilson | C. Jones, 81 kickoff return (J. Jones run) | 6:41 |
| 1 | Wilson | Hoffman, 20 run (Rada kick) | 2:08 |
| 2 | Wilson | J. Jones, 3 run (Rada kick) | 10:03 |
| 2 | York High | Stoner, 2 run (run failed) | 7:00 |
| 2 | Wilson | C. Jones, 28 run (Rada kick) | 1:08 |
| 2 | York High | Simms, 78 pass from White (White run) | 0:54 |
| 3 | Wilson | Hoffman, 1 run (Rada kick) | 7:19 |
| 3 | York High | White, 1 run (run failed) | 4:56 |
| 3 | Wilson | Hoffman, 24 run (Rada kick) | 4:40 |
| 4 | Wilson | J. Jones, 15 run (Rada kick) | 8:36 |
| 4 | York High | White, 61 run (pass failed) | 7:26 |
Team statistics
| Wilson | York High | |
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Rushes-yards | 48-356 | 30-235 |
| Passing yards | 45 | 179 |
| Total yards | 401 | 414 |
| Passes | 3-6-1 | 18-31-1 |
| Fumbles-lost | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| Punts-average | 2-12.5 | 1-35 |
| Penalties-yards | 10-92 | 11-62 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Wilson: Hoffman 17-178, J. Jones 22-155, C. Jones 1-28, Beckford 2-0, Flite 2-(-1), Team 4-(-4).
York High: White 26-227, Stoner 4-8.
PASSING
Wilson: Hoffman 3-6-1–45.
York High: Stoner 17-29-1–101, White 1-2-0–78.
RECEIVING
Wilson: J. Jones 1-23, Flite 1-18, C. Jones 1-4.
York High: Simms 8-105, Price 3-19, Cheshire 3-10, Simmons 2-25, White 2-20.
INTERCEPTIONS
Wilson: Brubaker.
York High: Cheshire.
