Four Downs: Four big takeaways from Week 9 in Berks football

Four takeaways from Week 9 of the high school football season:

FIRST DOWN: A perfect run

No Berks football team has ever gone unbeaten in the regular season three straight years.

Wyomissing can become the first. The Spartans close the season Saturday against Conrad Weiser at the A-Field.

The Spartans have won 24 consecutive regular season games, tied for the third-longest streak in Berks history.

Wilson owns the record at 30, from 2012-15. The Bulldogs went 10-0 in 2013 and 2014.

Berks Catholic is next, with 29 straight from 2013-15. The Saints went 10-0 in 2013 and 2014 and entered the 2015 regular season finale 9-0 before losing to . . . Wyomissing.

The Spartans have recorded nine perfect regular seasons: 2020, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2006, 2003, 2001 and 1989.

SECOND DOWN: Long-standing record about to be topped

The Berks record for career receiving yards is about to broken. Twice, probably.

For 20 years Wyomissing’s Nolan McCready has been the only Berks receiver with 2,000 career receiving yards.

He got company Friday when Twin Valley’s Trey Freeman topped that milestone. Freeman is now at 2,093 career yards, just 17 away from McCready’s record.

Conrad Weiser’s Aanjay Feliciano could join that duo. He has 1,860 career yards and at least two more games. The Scouts are pretty certain to get at least one more game in districts. (The Raiders should, too.)

Records such as this usually don’t stay on the books for two decades, especially during an era that’s seen the high school passing game evolve rapidly.

Interesting to note that McCready, who went on to play defensive back at Penn State, played in a run-first Wing-T offense at Wyo.

It won’t be easy for Feliciano to pass him; he goes against Wyomissing and some of the best cover corners around in Week 10.

THIRD DOWN: Another section title for the Bulldogs

Wilson clinched at least a share of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 title Friday with a 28-21 win at Hempfield.

Of course the Bulldogs aren’t looking to share anything. They can claim the title outright by beating Manheim Township Friday at Gurski Stadium.

These two were pretty much co-favorites in the preseason and not much separates them now. The Blue Streaks have three losses, each by three points. The Bulldogs have won five of their last six, with a three-point loss to Manheim Central the lone setback.

Wilson has now won or shared a record 28 Section 1 titles (with 16 in the last 21 seasons). It has 21 outright titles, more than the rest of the league’s programs combined.

FOURTH DOWN: Playoff picture a little clearer

Eleven Berks teams entered Week 9 in District 3 playoff position; only two lost (Fleetwood and Schuylkill Valley). Each still have a chance to squeeze back into its respective district field, though they’ll each need some outside help.

Wilson is still not out of the woods. A loss to Manheim Township, combined with a Hempfield win over Penn Manor, could leave the Bulldogs out for the second straight season.

At this point three Berks teams are ranked No. 1 — Gov. Mifflin in 5A, Berks Catholic in 4A and Wyomissing in 3A. The Saints likely will have to pull off a major upset over the Mustangs in Week 10 to stay at the top.

Mifflin and Wyomissing have unofficially locked up top seeds and home field throughout districts.

Twin Valley looks like a good bet to make the 5A field. Daniel Boone’s Week 10 status remains up the air; the Blazers should make it in 5A with a win or by not playing. They could make it with a loss, too.