Football notebook: Updates on Ross Tucker, Cam Jones, Ty Yocum and more
The Berks County Football Coaches Association has been trying to line up Ross Tucker as its banquet speaker for years.
The former Wyomissing and NFL lineman hasn’t been able to commit because of his weekend broadcasting schedule. Now, with the banquet scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 1, Tucker is available and anxious to address this year’s all-stars.
“It’s never worked out before since the banquet has typically been on a Sunday,” said Tucker, who broadcasts college and NFL games every weekend. “Since it is on a Wednesday this year, I was excited to be able to say yes.”
Tucker was an All-Ivy League pick at Princeton and played seven seasons in the NFL, with the Redskins, Cowboys, Bills, Patriots and Browns.
His post-playing career has included writing and commentating on college and pro football. He hosts the “Ross Tucker Football Podcast,” “Fantasy Feast,” “The College Draft,” and “Even Money” podcasts.
He has stayed close to the high school game through another business, GoBigRecruiting.com, which helps high school players connect with college coaches.
“I love Berks County football, still follow it very closely, and am aware of all of the things (BCFCA president) Alan (Moyer and the other coaches) do for the kids. I am happy to help in this small way.”
Tucker regularly speaks to business groups and teams. In recent months he has addressed the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association, the University of Maryland football team and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association.
First-team selections for the Berks League Section 1 and Section 2 all-league teams and first-team All-Berks picks will be honored at the banquet.
The All-Berks team will be released Monday.
The Berks Football League Section 1 and 2 all-league teams were released earlier this month.
Bulldogs need a return by Jones
Wilson could be without Cam Jones, its top cornerback and kick returner, for Saturday’s District 3 Class 6A championship at Harrisburg.
Jones was injured in the first half and didn’t finish the Bulldogs’ 14-11 win over Central York last week. Wilson coach Doug Dahms said Jones didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday but gives him about a 70 percent chance of playing Saturday.
“That’s a huge chunk out for us, defensively and on special teams,” Dahms said.
Jones is a good bet to earn all-league honors on defense and has a chance to earn All-State recognition as a kick returner. He has returned four punts and three kickoffs for touchdowns; he’s taken four other kick returns back inside the 10.
He averaged 47.5 yards on 10 kickoff returns during the regular season.
Ty Yocum excited for opportunity
Ty Yocum made it official this week, committing to Merrimack University, which plays at the FCS Division I level.
The Berks Football League Section 1 Linebacker of the Year was offered by the school when he attended a camp there in July.
“I love the coaching staff there, love the atmosphere around there and thought it was the right fit for me,” said the 6-foot, 220-pound Yocum. “They’re hard workers there, and that’s my style.”
Yocum will be reunited with former Exeter quarterback Gavin McCusker, a freshman with the Warriors, who play in the Northeast Conference.
Yocum closely followed his brothers’ careers, at Exeter and in college — Kyle played at Delaware, Chase played at Shippensburg.
“This means a lot to me,” Ty Yocum said. “I’ve always wanted to play at the next level, ever since I saw my brothers player in college. It’s always been a dream of mine to do that, too.”
Yocum was recruited to play H-back, a position he’s familiar with at Exeter.
Falling stars
There was a major shakeup in the Class 6A state rankings this week after the No. 1, 3 and 4 teams were knocked out in district play.
Unbeaten North Penn, ranked No. 1, was taken out by Ridley 56-55 in overtime in a District 1 quarterfinal. Ridley (11-1), the No. 7 seed, used a blocked PAT to win it.
Third-ranked Central York was beaten by Wilson, 14-11. Fourth-ranked La Salle lost to St. Joseph’s Prep 35-7; the Explorers beat the Hawks 28-21 in early October.
Prep, the defending state champ, and a PIAA champ four times in the last five years, plays Northeast (5-3) for the District 12 championship Saturday.
No. 5 Manheim Central was the only ranked Class 5A team knocked out; the Barons lost to Exeter, 43-26.
In Class 4A fifth-ranked and unbeaten Northwestern Lehigh lost to Allentown Central Catholic in the District 11 championship.
Passing marks
Colin Payne is within 239 yard of becoming just the second Exeter passer to reach 2,000 yards in a season and within 274 yards of the record.
Payne, the top-rated passer in Berks, has thrown for 1,761 yards. The program record is 2,035, by Gavin McCusker in 2019.
Closing with a rush
Diohnny Ruiz finished his Hamburg career as the leading rusher in program history and with the single-season rushing record.
He went for 1,313 yards this season, topping the mark of 1,200 by Shaheed Warren in 2019. His career total of 2,652 topped the record of 2,571, set by Vreeland Wood in 2003.
Ruiz is second to Nick Singleton in Berks rushing; his 11.0 yards-per-carry is also second-best in Berks, behind Singleton’s 13.5.
Did Pine-Richland coach win re-election?
Changes on the Pine-Richland school board could lead to the return of Rams coach Eric Kasperowicz, according to Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Kasperowicz was fired a few months after he coached Pine-Richland to the PIAA Class 5A championship last season. Now, after several board changes due to the recent election, there might be support to bring Kasperowicz back.
Without him the Rams started 0-3 this year, though the team bounced back and remains alive in the District 7 tournament.
Pine-Richland knocked out Gov. Mifflin in the state semifinals.
