Conestoga Valley celebrates 1st playoff win in 14 years
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Jason Guarente — LNP/Lancasteronline
WITMER — There were 12 seconds left. The outcome was long decided. It didn’t look like the night could get any better for Conestoga Valley.
That’s when Zach Dickson raced onto the field. The Buckskins’ bench went crazy. The sophomore defensive lineman is new this season. He doesn’t play much.
“We just love him,” senior captain Soren Stoltzfus said. “He’s a great guy off the field. A great guy in the locker room. It was awesome seeing him get out there for one of his first varsity reps ever.”
Football hasn’t been this fun at Witmer for a long time. No. 6 Conestoga Valley defeated 11th-seeded Dover 40-9 in the first round of the District 3 Class 5A playoffs Friday night.
Conestoga Valley (9-2) celebrated its first district win since 2009. It earned the chance to take on No. 3 Cocalico in the quarterfinals next week.
Coach Jon Scepanski, in his second season, took an informal poll of his players a few days earlier. He asked how old they were the last time the Bucks reached districts. That was 2010.
Some said five. Some said four. In other words, it had been awhile.
“They didn’t even know what high school football was at that point,” Scepanski said. “I’m just thrilled for these kids. They’ve worked so hard. They certainly deserve it. To come out here with a win tonight, puts an exclamation point on it.”
Conestoga Valley was in control from the start. Literally the first play. Jayden Johnson took the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown.
It was 7-0 after 12 seconds and it felt like that score was worth more than seven points. It gave Conestoga Valley a jolt and it rattled Dover (7-4).
Johnson added two rushing touchdowns. One was a 4-yard burst on CV’s second possession. The junior caught a 36-yard pass to set up Achilles Mobley’s TD run in the second quarter. The Buckskins were ahead 21-0 at halftime.
CV’s defense took care of the rest. The front four, Shymier Hernandez and Justin Corson on the ends and Soren and Tal Stoltzfus inside, relentlessly harassed Dover quarterback Aric Campbell.
Campbell led the York-Adams league in passing yards. The 6-2, 210-pound senior can run and has a big arm. Conestoga Valley forced Campbell into 20 incompletions.
“He’s very elusive,” Hernandez said. “He’s definitely a good quarterback. He could go places honestly. To keep him in the pocket is the best way to shut him down. You’ve got to keep pressure on him.”
Conestoga Valley created four turnovers. Brett Schnader and Sawyer Esbenshade intercepted passes. Andrew Stoltzfoos and Seth Frankford recovered fumbles.
Kyle Jankowski caught a 29-yard TD from Liam Cheek and Josiah Garcia raced 38 yards for the Buckskins’ final score.
Hernandez, a 6-4, 210-pound wrecking ball as an edge rusher, was thrilled to advance. It meant the senior had more football ahead of him. Another week to chase the quarterback.
Soren Stoltzfus has watched Conestoga Valley grow over the past two seasons. The Buckskins were 3-7 when the two-way lineman was a sophomore.
“Everyone was fighting on the field,” Stoltzfus said. “You’d see players yelling at coaches. We transformed it to where we’re at now. I’m so proud of every one of my teammates and every one of my coaches. It was a total program shift.”
Dickson lined up for two plays. On the final run as time expired, he recorded a tackle. The Buckskins’ bench went crazy again.
“The best way to end the game,” Stoltzfus said.
The perfect ending to Conestoga Valley’s perfect night.
