Football Notes: Season finales, many happy returns, three grand, and more
The Lancaster-Lebanon League isn’t big on setting up Week 10 rivalry games; those match-ups are spread throughout the regular season schedule.
That said, Week 10 this season — the first under the new five-section format — is jam-packed with huge finales.
This Friday’s card? Well, not so much. But next week there should be championship showdowns in three of the five sections, as well as Wilson vs. Manheim Township — the preseason favorites in Section 1 — meeting in their annual classic clash.
- Section 2 features Exeter at Manheim Central in a what should be a battle of unbeaten, state-ranked teams.
- Section 5 figures to be decided when Lancaster Catholic plays at Schuylkill Valley.
- Section 4 will be determined on the final day of the regular season when Lampeter-Strasburg plays at Wyomissing Saturday afternoon.
That final game presents a lot of intrigue if only because no team other than Berks Catholic has been able to hang with the Spartans, who are winning their games by an average of more than 35 points. Wyomissing has outscored its opponents 77-0 in the first quarter and 175-20 in the first half.
Berks Catholic led the Week 4 “Backyard Brawl” 10-7 at the half; it’s the only team able to push the Spartans that far. Saints coach Rick Keeley thinks Lampeter-Strasburg may be able to do likewise.
“Their line is physical and matches up pretty well (with Wyomissing),” Keeley said of the Pioneers, who are 7-1 and unbeaten in Section 4. “They’re good football players and that’s a good football team, and they’re well-coached.”
Berks Catholic lost to Lampeter-Strasburg 30-7 three weeks after losing to Wyomissing 41-21. Certainly the Saints were extremely fired up for their rivalry game and played at their highest level. They couldn’t match that against the Pioneers.
The battle for the Section 4 championship will come down to defense, Keeley said. No one’s been able to slow Wyomissing’s ground game.
The Spartans have a unique — possibly unprecedented for Berks football — offensive line, with three of the six guys (including the tight end) getting Division I offers. Not many teams can match that. If the Pioneers can . . .
“If they can stop ’em, they can beat ’em,” Keeley said. “Wyomissing can control the ball on you like crazy, but Lampeter’s line is very, very good.”
Many happy returns
Cam Jones’ 94-yard punt return last week in Wilson’s 56-7 win at Penn Manor ranks as fourth-longest in modern Berks history.
Conrad Weiser’s Luke Stopper has the record, with a 98-yarder in 1996. Holy Name’s Jared Heins took one back 95 yards in 2002 as did Wyomissing’s Kent Scott in 1997.
Generally, punt returners are told not to field a ball inside the 10, but there are exceptions.
Jones has returned five punts for touchdowns this season, believed to be a Berks record. He had four last season, which tied the Wilson record set by Jimmy Brooks in 2012.
Jones’ nine career punt return TDs is also believed to be a Berks record.
Sharing the ball
Exeter has intercepted a Berks-leading 11 passes in eight games — by nine different players. Only Jovan Hollis and Alex Pineiro have two picks for the Eagles.
Interesting to note Exeter passers have been intercepted just once in 85 throws.
That’s how you win all your games and get ranked No. 2 in the state.
Three grand?
Can Wyomissing produce three 1,000-yard rushers in the same season?
It would be an incredible feat, and one never before accomplished by a Berks football team, but it’s not out of the question.
Through eight games Charlie McIntyre has 600 rushing yards, Matt Kramer 566 and Drew Eisenhower 555. Double those figures over 16 games — which means the Spartans would need to reach the PIAA championship game again — and it could happen.
Granted, the competition should get more rigid in the later rounds and the yards figure to be a little more difficult to come by. Then again, if the games are closer the Spartans’ three starting running backs figure to stay in games longer and get more touches: McIntyre and Eisenhower are averaging fewer than six carries per game.
And don’t forget: The Spartans rushed for 348 yards in their state semifinal last year against Neumann-Goretti, with Amory Thompson and Tommy Grabowski each going over 100 yards. They rushed for 328 yards in a state quarterfinal against Scranton Prep, with Eisenhower going for 134 yards. They piled up 429 rushing yards in the District 3 championship game against Boiling Springs.
They weren’t stopped until a 7-0 loss to Central Valley in the Class 3A championship game, and there doesn’t appear to be another 3A team in the state this season, what with the Warriors now playing in 4A.
Above average
Even with head coach Bob Wolfrum trying to hold down scores Wyomissing’s average margin of victory this season has been 35.2. Only three teams in Berks history have finished a full regular season with a higher winning margin.
Berks Catholic set the record in 2017, when it won its first 10 games by an average of 41.3 points.
That broke the record established by Muhlenberg in 1992, of 35.3. Last year Wyomissing averaged winning by 37.0 points.
Those figures were topped by both Wyomissing and Gov. Mifflin during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Spartans won their five regular season games by an average of 48.0 points; the Mustangs won their six games by an average of 448.
Of the top six teams on the full-season list, Bob Wolfrum has coached four of them, including 2001 (35.1), 2011 (35.1) and 2014 (33.3).
They play defense, too?
Wyomissing is allowing an average of 7.7 points per game, fewer than any team in District 3.
The Spartans have three shutouts and have allowed only three first-half touchdowns in eight games.
Point parade
Jersey Shore is the highest-scoring team in the state, averaging 60.6 points per game.
The Bulldogs have scored 49 or more points in every game with a high of 70, in Week 2 against Lewisburg.
Manheim Central is No. 2 in the state, averaging 54.0 points. The Barons have been held below 44 just once, a 35-19 win over Cocalico, and put up 83 on Lebanon.