Elco extends season with opening-round win over Kennard-Dale
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 David Schurter — LNP/Lancasteronline
FAWN GROVE — Despite playing on the road in the opening round of the District 3 Class 4A football playoffs Elco was determined to add another game to extend its season.
The Raiders did just that with a 28-21 victory over Kennard-Dale.
| Final | |
| Elco | 28 |
| K-Dale | 21 |
“The heart that they showed with the mental toughness and consistency was impressive,” said Raiders coach Bob Miller. “I’m really proud of their effort and for never blinking no matter what the score or situation was.”
Despite giving up an opening drive touchdown to Kennard-Dale quarterback Noah Hoffer, the ninth-seeded Raiders (6-5) locked in and put their best foot forward. It wasn’t until the second quarter when the Raiders found their footing, but they never looked back once they did.
Running back Ellis Gensamer set the tone on offense for the Raiders, scoring his first of two touchdowns on the night in the second quarter. Gensamer broke away for 24 yards to trim the Rams’ lead to 7-6 — the last time eighth-seeded Kennard-Dale held the lead.
After another stop on defense, Brinley Donmoyer inked his name on the scoring sheet just four minutes later. Donmoyer punched it in at the 1-yard line to give Elco a 14-7 lead going into halftime.
Miller said Gensamer stepped up with his elevated play when Elco’s other options on offense were shut down by the Rams (6-5).
“Ellis was carrying the load for us,” Miller said. “For him to step up in the interior line, he was unbelievable.”
Gensamer kept it simple: Running the ball was the key to victory.
“We just kept running the Veer,” Gensamer said. “We came here to run it, and that’s what we did.”
Leading by a touchdown going into the second half, Elco kept its foot on the gas. On their opening possession, the Raiders marched 65 yards down the field, capped by Gensamer’s second touchdown of the night. His 22-yard burst put Elco up 22-7, with Donmoyer adding the two-point conversion.
Later in the second half, however, the Rams turned up the pressure, putting together two impressive drives. A highlight of the Rams’ game was Hoffer’s connection with tight end Logan Tarbert. The first of their two connections was a 9-yard strike that saw Tarbert open in the back of the end zone, cutting the Elco lead to 22-14.
Elco remained calm, though, and marched right down the field again, a drive culminating in Chandler Gass’ 36-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-14 with 8:29 left. While that ended up being the dagger, the Rams kept things interesting.
With the ball on the Elco 38, Hoffer found Tarper again with a 38-yard dart to the right corner of the end zone. The score made it 28-21 Raiders with just under six minutes to play. Despite having their chances, the Rams could not get any closer. The Raiders’ defense, led by two interceptions from Darryl Legrande, iced the game to send Elco to the next Friday’s quarterfinal against top-seeded Susquehanna Township (10-0), which had a bye.
Miller said it’s not about the matchup, however, but about how much the Raiders want to continue to play.
“I’m super-excited that they get this opportunity to play again,” Miller said. “It’s about believing. It’s not about playing Susquehanna Township, it’s about us doing our job, communicating and executing.”
