Nothing pretty about Manheim Township’s win over Cumberland Valley
2025 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
| Final | |
| Manheim Township | 7 |
| Cumberland Valley | 0 |
NEFFSVILLE — The next-to-last play, the one that sealed the outcome, ended with Zach Bomberger waving his arms. He told everyone the pass was incomplete.
That image captured the struggle that existed over the previous four quarters. Manheim Township vs. Cumberland Valley was decided mostly by what didn’t happen. Or, more accurately, what wasn’t allowed to happen.
Bomberger broke up a potential tying touchdown in the final seconds. The senior called the sequence “a little too close for comfort.”
Township outlasted CV 7-0 in a less-than-artistic non-league football opener at Neffsville Friday night. Mark Evans told his players this might be “the ugliest win he’s had as a coach.”
That didn’t matter. What mattered was Township’s record: 1-0.
“I’d rather win ugly than lose pretty,” Evans said. “We made a lot of self-inflicted mistakes. A lot of missed assignments. Stuff’s that’s correctable.”
Township was called for 13 penalties. The Blue Streaks punted seven times. A program that has been known for its offensive firepower in recent years managed just one score.
This result was a tribute to resilience more than performance.
At the heart of the victory was Township’s defense. The Blue Streaks intercepted four passes. Simon Dumser had two of those picks. Bomberger had one. Daryus Dixon had the other.
Dumser and Bomberger represent what Township is counting on most in the coming weeks. Players who waited their turn to see the varsity field must become key contributors for the Blue Streaks to remain a contender.
“All of us seniors have waited for this moment,” Dumser said. “We’re ready for it. We’re seizing our opportunity.”
When Township wasn’t taking the ball away, it was limiting CV to short passes for minimal gains and delivering timely sacks to stall drives. Jake Ruch had one of those. So did Dehvyn Lauano.
The points came from one extraordinary connection. A pass and catch that matched the lightning bolt on Township’s helmets. Quarterback Jack Kenneff found Dixon for a 36-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Dixon said in the preseason he’d catch anything within a three-yard radius. He proved it on this play. The receiver was covered closely and still came down with the ball while facing third-and-25.
“We kind of knew that was gonna happen,” Dumser said. “Jack to Daryus is pretty regular around here.”
Bomberger added, “They’re gonna be an elite duo.”
Kenneff, a soon-to-be Division I college baseball shortstop making his first varsity football start, completed 13-of-23 passes for 136 yards and that magical TD.
“If you stay, you play,” Evans said earlier this month. That applied to several of Township’s Week 1 standouts.
Bomberger and Dumser were told they had to get bigger and stronger in order to crack the lineup. That’s what they did.
“The senior year does wonders for kids,” Evans said. “It’s that growth process that makes coaching all the more worthwhile. They earned those things out there tonight.”
Friday night lights can be intimidating. Scary even. Dumser admitted as much.
“I was so nervous coming out here,” he said. “But now all the jitterbugs are gone.”
The final play was CV quarterback Colton Stamy scrambling for dear life. He twisted and turned as he went backward until he lost his balance and fell near midfield.
The last few seconds ticked away. Township defeated one of its District Three rivals for the sixth time in four seasons. The Blue Streaks were ready to enjoy it.
“The amount of work I’ve put in with this team, the amount of hours we put in, it was just a great moment,” Bomberger said. “To get that W. It’s not gonna be the last one.”
Yes, it was ugly. Yes, it was too close for comfort. Those were concerns for tomorrow.
Today, when the band was playing and the boys were celebrating, all that mattered was 1-0.
