Collin Niedrowski, Spartans defense, throw Braves for a big loss
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Mike Drago — MikeDragoSports.com Managing Editor
Most people know of Collin Niedrowski because of his prowess in track and field, not from what he does as a linebacker at Wyomissing. He’s a three-time county champ in the javelin and brought home gold at districts in the spring.
The jav is part of the Niedrowski family legacy. His father Jeff was a county champ at Wilson. Brothers Hunter and Evan, who preceded him at Wyomissing, were also javelin champs.
They were all pretty good in football, too. So is Collin. He reminded people about that Saturday when he blocked a punt and recorded three tackles for loss in the first half as the Spartans steamrolled Octorara 41-6 in a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 game at Wolfrum Field.
Most of the guys he’ll compete against in the javelin next spring are spending their fall working to refine technique or getting stronger in the weight room. Collin Niedrowski spends his autumn afternoons driving ballcarriers into the turf and chasing quarterbacks out of the pocket.
The same explosion and power he uses to propel that spear deep into the sky comes in handy on a football field, too.
“He’s really athletic,” said Spartans coach Bob Wolfrum. “He makes plays.”
Niedrowski wouldn’t think of not making those plays on a Saturday afternoon. He’ll could earn a scholarship to throw the javelin but it never crossed his mind to give up football to further that pursuit.
“Never, no,” he said. “I’ve been playing since flag. Obviously, track is very important to me, because my whole family does it. And that’s what I want to do in college.
“We started (training for) football in June, and if we make it deep in the playoffs that goes through December. That’s a long time giving up working out for track. It’s definitely a commitment. It’s definitely (training time) I’m giving up.”
Niedrowski and the Spartans (5-1, 8-1) spent the past several days preparing for Octorara’s hybrid Wing/Option offense, which can be tricky to stop. The Spartans defensive unit obviously did its homework because it shut the Braves (0-6, 2-7) down cold.
The starting unit held them to 11 total yards and two first downs in the first half. The Braves got zero yards or less on 16 of their 26 first-half plays. Nine of them went for losses.
“It’s a mix of everything,” Niedrowski said of the Octorara offense. “We were trying to prepare for everything and anything and we were just ready for it come game-time. We did a good job stopping them.”
Niedrowski was hit with a roughing the punter call a couple minutes into the game, which extended Octorara’s first possession. He got even a few minutes later when he stormed in from the left edge and smothered the next punt attempt, giving Wyomissing the ball at the 25.
That set up the first of six first-half touchdowns, a 6-yard run by Ryker Jones.
Niedrowski comes off the edge on punt-blocks. He’s fast enough off the snap that he’ll get to the punter about the same time as the ball if someone doesn’t throw a shoulder pad into his 6-foot, 195-pound frame. That was the case a few weeks back against Donegal when he scored his first punt block.
“The guys on the wall are supposed to block down and get me,” he said, “but most of the time I’m free and I go right at the punter and if I get lucky I always make it home. Getting to run full speed at the punter, it’s awesome. Yeah.”
Freshman Justice Hardy, picking up more time at halfback after Drew Forrey’s season-ending injury last week, scored a pair of first-half touchdowns, on runs of 26 and 35 yards. Chase Eisenhower busted off a 38-yard TD run. Logan Hyde threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a pretty ball on a deep post to Ethan Brower that went for 50 yards.
The Spartans churned out 312 first-half yards in 22 plays.
“You can’t do anything about (the level of) your competition,” Wolfrum said, “but while we (had our starters) in we blocked well today. We had a lot of other games where we were sloppy. Today, I thought we were sharp.”
None of the starters saw time in the second half. They spent it on the sideline, watching their younger teammates take it home.
It was Senior Day, the Spartans’ last regular season home game; they’ll get at least one more in the district playoffs.
While he appreciated being out on the field with his family and classmates for some pregame recognition, Niedrowski said Senior Day wasn’t something he was particularly looking forward to.
“The main thing we look forward to is playoffs,” he said. “Obviously, this (ceremony) celebrates us and all the seniors. We’re looking way beyond that.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Octorara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Wyomissing | 14 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 41 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Wyomissing | Jones, 6 run (Maher kick) | 5:35 |
| 1 | Wyomissing | Hardy, 6 run (Maher kick) | 1:38 |
| 2 | Wyomissing | Eisenhower, 38 run (kick failed) | 10:11 |
| 2 | Wyomissing | Brower, 50 pass from Hyde (Maher kick) | 7:22 |
| 2 | Wyomissing | Macrina, 9 pass from Hyde (Plaggenborg kick) | 3:40 |
| 2 | Wyomissing | Hardy, 35 run (Plaggenborg kick) | 1:43 |
| 4 | Octorara | Wood, 1 run (kick failed) | 7:25 |
Team statistics
| Octorara | Wyomissing | |
| First downs | 5 | 17 |
| Rushes-yards | 39-88 | 34-289 |
| Passing yards | 0 | 86 |
| Total yards | 88 | 365 |
| Passes | 0-1-0–0 | 4-7-0 |
| Fumbles-lost | 2-0 | 2-1 |
| Punts-average | 7-21.1 | 0-0 |
| Penalties-yards | 3-20 | 5-70 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Octorara: Focht 18-65, Teufert 5-13, Kurtz 10-7, Wood 5-4, Prokay 1-(-1).
Wyomissing: Hardy 4-93, Eisenhower 3-57, Marv. Armistead 2-23, C. Niedrowski 3-21, Diaz 1-17, Arguelles 1-17, T. Niedrowski 5-15, Sierra 2-15, Jones 2-7, Huertas 2-7, Reason 5-6, Marc. Armistead 2-4, Lopez-Sanchez 1-1, Team 2-(-2).
PASSING
Octorara: Prokay 0-1-0–0.
Wyomissing: Hyde 4-7-0–86.
RECEIVING
Wyomissing: Brower 1-50, Jones 1-16, Hardy 1-11, Macrina 1-9.
