Game of the Week: Wilson (2-0) at Nazareth (2-0)
2024 Berks football coverage
presented by UECU
Wilson (2-0) vs. Nazareth (2-0)
Kick: Friday, 7, at Leh Stadium, Nazareth.
Series: First meeting.
Bulldogs update: Off to first 2-0 start in five years after 21-7 win over Plymouth-Whitemarsh. . . First-year QB Madyx Gruber has been outstanding, completing 21-of-33 passes for 212 yards and rushing for 109 yards in two games. . . The converted WR has connected with 8 different receivers. . . Gruber, who starts at CB, had a Pick-Six last week. . . Junior RB Correll Akings leads team with 152 rushing yards and 3 TDs. . . Defense has yielded just 108 rushing yards over 2 games. . . Senior LB Christo Hunsicker leads defense with 18 tackles and has 4 TFL and 2 sacks. . . Soph LB EJ Brownback had 11 tackles, including 4 ½ for loss, against Plymouth-Whitemarsh. . . Team has 6 sacks and 18 TFL loss in two games. . . Graduated 6 all-league picks from team that finished 7-4 last season. . . Picked to finish second in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League behind Manheim Township, which is 2-0 and ranked No. 7 in the state in Class 6A. . . Listed as a Team To Watch in PennLive.com Class 6A state rankings. . . Open Section 1 play next week against Reading High at Shirk Stadium.
Did you know? Former Penn State and current Philadelphia Eagles WR Jahan Dotson played for Nazareth, setting program records for career receptions (187) and receiving yards (2,755), all over three seasons. He was an All-State pick in 2015 and 2017 and picked for the Big 33 Game in 2018.
Blue Eagles update: Ranked No. 5 in the state in Class 6A. . . Led by 6-5, 200-pound junior QB Peyton Falzone, who committed to Virginia Tech after throwing for more than 2,500 yards as a sophomore. . . He is the son of head coach Tom Falzone and the top-ranked junior QB prospect in the state. . . Also a dangerous runner with sprinter’s speed; he rushed for 440 yards and scored 11 TDs last year. . . In the spring he finished fifth in District 11 in the 100 in 11.1 and fourth in the 300 hurdles in 39.48. . . Falzone completed 17-of-24 passes for 191 yards and nine times for 66 yards and two TDs last week in 34-6 win at Whitehall. . . Junior RB Marquez Wimberly, who has offers from Syracuse and West Virginia, rushed for 89 yards and a TD on 11 carried and intercepted a pass in the end zone. . . Top target is Caleb Wilson, a Lafayette recruit who caught 30 passes for 550 yards and eight TDs last season. . . Just two return starters on defense. . . Opened with 42-7 win at Hazleton. . . Picked to finish second to Freedom in the East Penn Conference Northampton Division. . . Graduated 31 seniors from team that went 12-2 and won District 11 Class 6A championship. . . Lost to St. Joseph’s Prep 59-21 in PIAA quarterfinals.
Quotable: “It was the Peyton Falzone show in the first half and more of the same in the second half. He gave us a good lessons about knowing our responsibilities and doing our jobs.” — Hazleton Area head coach Dennis Buchman, to the Standard-Speaker, after Week 1 loss to Nazareth.
