Defense paves the way for Saints’ return to district title game
2025 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Mike Gross — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
As the National Anthem ended at Forino Sports Complex Friday, a Berks Catholic fan punctuated it with, “Now kick their stinkin’ teeth in!”
| Final | |
| Berks Catholic | 37 |
| Bermudian | 6 |
The Saints, being Saints, didn’t take that literally, but they had the general idea.
Berks Catholic simply played defense about as well as it can be played in smothering Bermudian Springs 37-6 in a semifinal of the District 3 Class 3A playoffs.
“The kids executed about everything we asked them to do tonight,’’ said Berks Catholic coach Dave Stahler.
Bermudian won this tournament a year ago, beating Berks Catholic 42-35 in the semis. It was a fierce, emotional game, and the Saints didn’t forget.
“We definitely talked about (last year) with the kids,’’ Stahler said. “I thought we kept our composure, but our kids were really, really physical tonight.’’
The Eagles came in averaging 25 points a game. Their dual threat quarterback, Lane Hubbard, had run or thrown for 25 touchdowns and just a hair under 2,000 yards.
Not counting a 95-yard kickoff return for Bermudian’s only points in the final minutes, Hubbard ran 13 times Friday for 8 yards. He threw for 22. Bermudian Springs managed 41 yards from scrimmage and two first downs.
Again, that’s two first downs.
“Our defensive line is physical,’’ Stahler understated. “That’s an advantage we have that can make things easier. Then, the coaches came in with a really good plan Sunday, and things kinda worked out the way we thought (they would).”
With the exception of four lost fumbles, that is, two of them deep in Bermudian territory. Take those away and this might have gotten really ugly.
On offense the Saints did it all on the ground — they passed just three times, none of them complete.
They simply kept at their work — grinding away in the Wing-T offense for 288 yards. Xavier Gerald got 126 of those, in 12 carries, including a 54-yard, third-quarter touchdown that ended what little suspense remained.
Owen Schalk added 82 yards in just eight carries, including the night’s wildest play — a 37-yard TD run in which Schalk seemed hemmed in on a left end sweep, reversed field, broke several tackles and danced the final few yards along the sideline.
Schalk had two TDs. Josiah Turman had a third-quarter interception that set up Coy Koller’s 4-yard TD run. Jayden Wright scooped up a fumble — Bermudian Springs’ only turnover — and sprinted 57 yards for a TD. Alex Reali, the Saints’ fine kicker, booted a 25-yard field goal.
It was an emotional week for the Saints. Tom Curley, a longtime coach in the program and father of senior Aiden Curley, died last week after suffering a heart attack.
The players wore shamrock patches on their uniforms in honor of Curley, a Notre Dame fan.
“We had a death in our football family this week,’’ Stahler said. “The funeral was Monday, and we didn’t have great practices Monday or Tuesday. Wednesday, I thought we had a pretty good focus, and we had a good practice yesterday.
“I didn’t expect it to be like this, though. That was a great defensive performance.’’
The Saints will play for the gold next week opposite Trinity, which beat Annville-Cleona 42-21 in its semifinal.
The Shamrocks also made last year’s final, and lost to Bermudian, 34-30.
The championship game will be played at a neutral site Friday. The Saints will be going for their fifth district title, having won championships in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Bermudian Springs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Berks Catholic | 0 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 37 |
Team statistics
| BERMUDIAN | BERKS CATHOLIC | |
| First downs | 2 | 11 |
| Rushes-yards | 21-19 | 50-288 |
| Passing yards | 22 | 0 |
| Total yards | 41 | 288 |
| Passes | 6-17-1 | 0-3-0 |
| Fumbles-lost | 2-1 | 4-4 |
| Punts-average | 7-27.5 | 1-50 |
| Penalties-yards | 4-20 | 4-35 |
Scoring summary
| 2 | Berks Catholic | Schalk, 3 run (Reali kick) | 7:33 |
| 2 | Berks Catholic | Schalk, 37 run (Reali kick) | 1:44 |
| 3 | Berks Catholic | Gerald, 54 run (Reali kick) | 6:45 |
| 3 | Berks Catholic | Reali, 25 FG | 0:48 |
| 4 | Berks Catholic | Koller, 4 run (Reali kick) | 5:53 |
| 4 | Berks Catholic | Wright, 57 fumble return (kick failed) | 1:53 |
| 4 | Bermudian Springs | Hubbard, 95 kickoff return (run failed) | 1:37 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Bermudian Springs: Cruz 5-12, Hubbard 13-8, Weiser 2-2, Heller 1-(-3).
Berks Catholic: Gerald 12-126, Schalk 8-82, Keller 9-44, Curley 8-24, Camara 9-16, Caper 4-(-4).
PASSING
Bermudian Springs: Hubbard 6-17-1-22.
Berks Catholic: Sauppee 0-3-0–0.
RECEIVING
Bermudian Springs: Cruz 1-6, Heller 1-2, Ayers 2-8, Lilley 1-9, Weiser 1-(-3).
INTERCEPTIONS
Berks Catholic: Turman.
