Capsule preview: Wilson vs. Cedar Crest
Wilson (4-3) vs. Cedar Crest (3-3)
Kick: Friday, 7, at Earl Boltz Stadium, Lebanon.
Berks Section 1 records: Bulldogs 2-0, Falcons 1-1.
Series: Bulldogs lead 47-4-1.
Last season: Jadyn Jones scored three first-half touchdowns, one on a fumble return, as the Bulldogs built a 41-point lead en route to a 41-6 win at Gurski Stadium. Kaleb Brown rushed for 90 yards and a TD, threw for 113 yards and intercepted a pass for the Bulldogs.
Series flashback: Cedar Crest pulled off one of the biggest upsets in District 3 playoff history, knocking off Wilson 25-6 in a Class AAAA semifinal. That came two weeks after the Bulldogs beat Cedar Crest 20-6 and a week after they completed a 10-0 regular season. Wilson was the top seed in the tournament. The Falcons were the No. 4 seed after an 8-2 finish.
Did you know? The Bulldogs are 13-0 vs. the Falcons under Doug Dahms and have won 17 straight in the series. Cedar Crest’s last win came in 2001, Chad Henne’s sophomore season.
Bulldogs update: Have opened league play with a pair of one-sided victories, 40-6 over Penn Manor and 59-12 over McCaskey… Jadyn Jones had two touchdown runs and a TD catch in last week’s romp, which included six second-quarter TDs… Jones leads team in rushing, with 470 yards in five games… He has scored nine TDs… Cam Jones is second with six TDs… LB Gavin Lenart leads team with 23 tackles, and has three tackles for loss… Ryan McMillan has 21 tackles, Landon Farrell has 20… TJ Flite leads team with six tackles for loss… Nick Weitzel leads team with four sacks… Close out regular-season schedule at Hempfield next week and with Section 1 showdown against Manheim Township at Gurski Stadium in Week 10… Ranked No. 9 in District 3 Class 6A playoffs; top eight qualify.
Falcons update: One week after a 42-7 loss at Manheim Township, Falcons shook up the Section 1 standings with 20-13 upset of Hempfield, which had shared first place… Aadyn Richards let the way with 121 rushing yards and two TDs, one on a 38-yard INT return… He was also in on seven tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks… He is averaging 8.1 yards per carry this season… Game-winner came with 2:28 left when QB Jay Huber threw 27-yard TD pass to Ethan Heisy to snap 13-13 tie… Huber has thrown for 797 yards and eight TDs, with seven INTs… Forced four turnovers against Black Knights… Had lost three straight, including 45-0 defeat at Carlisle, before beating Hempfield… Finished 2-5 last season, 2-3 in Section 1… Head coach Rob Wildasin is in his eighth season (39-37)… Last district playoff win came in 1997; it’s last Section 1 title came in 2001.
Fast fact: Wilson’s Cam Jones has Berks-leading three punt returns for TDs, plus a kickoff return for a score. He is averaging 42.3 yards per kickoff return.
Did you know? In a series that lasted from 1956-64, Wilson beat Cornwall High seven times in nine seasons. Cedar Crest High School opened in 1965, after the Cornwall-Lebanon School District was formed by a merger between Cornwall High and South Lebanon High. Cornwall was known as the Miners; South Lebanon’s teams were the Ionians. Earl Boltz was Cedar Crest’s school’s first principal; the stadium was named in his honor.
