Four Downs: Four big takeaways from Week 7 in Berks football
Four takeaways from Week 7 of the high school football season:
FIRST DOWN: It’s (usually) better to give than receive, but not this season
Three Berks wide receivers are having history-making seasons.
At Conrad Weiser, Aanjay Feliciano set the program record Friday for career touchdown receptions (16) and needs just 27 yards to break the career record for receiving yards (1,615). He needs 16 catches to break the program career receptions record.
At Twin Valley, Trey Freeman has already set program records for career receptions (92), career receiving yards (1,758) and career touchdown catches (16). He’s within range of records for catches in a season and receiving yards in a season.
At Daniel Boone, Alex Vassallo Friday topped 100 career catches and 1,000 receiving yards. He ranks third in program history in receptions (104) and sixth in receiving yards (1,154).
Both Freeman and Feliciano have a shot at the Berks career receiving record of 2,110 yards.
SECOND DOWN: It’s not easy being a defensive coordinator these days
In nine games involving Berks teams Friday the winning team averaged 45.5 points.
And no, basketball season did start early.
In the days when John Gurski and Vince Shemanski prowled the sidelines, games ended up 14-7 or 7-6 all the time. Now it’s like Madden football out there every Friday night; every team seems to have Pat Mahomes and Tyreek Hill in their lineup.
Gov. Mifflin is averaging 50.8 points per game. Wyomissing, 44.3. Exeter, 40.
Nine of 15 Berks teams are averaging 29.8 points or more. A decade ago, only four teams did that.
THIRD DOWN: Apparently, there’s no stopping Nick Singleton
Actually, Exeter did stop Nick Singleton Friday night. Nine times on his 18 carries the Eagles defense held him to 3 yards on or less. That’s an accomplishment.
Problem is, with a home-run hitter such as Singleton … when he connects, it’s outta here.
The Penn State recruit added four more touchdowns and 248 yards to his resume in the 54-21 win.
He has rushed for over 700 yards in his career — against Exeter.
Singleton averaged 7.5 yards per carry as a freshman, 9.4 as a sophomore, 12.5 as a junior and now 13.2.
His career average now stands at 10.0.
He averages a first down per carry.
FOURTH DOWN: Battle royale shaping up for final Class 5A playoff spots
Exeter (No. 11), Daniel Boone (12), Twin Valley (14) and Fleetwood (15) are slammed together at the bottom of the District 3 Class 5A power ratings, all fighting for one of 14 spots. Likely, two will be left out.
They’re each 4-3, as are No. 13 Mechanicsburg and No. 16 Gettysburg. Two wins, and a 6-4 finish, should get you in.
The Eagles are in the best position. They can breath easily if they beat Berks Catholic (the top-ranked team in Class 4A) this week. They close with Reading High and Daniel Boone.
The Blazers are in the toughest spot; they have Gov. Mifflin in Week 9. They may need to knock off rival Exeter to make it.
The biggest game left? Could be the season finale between Twin Valley and Gettysburg. That could prove to be an elimination game.