GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week: Wilson vs. Exeter
GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week
Wilson (1-1) vs. Exeter (1-1)
Kick: Friday, 7, at Don Thomas Stadium.
Series: Bulldogs lead 6-0. (The first meeting was in 1958.)
Last meeting: Wilson won 38-0, in 2007.
About the Bulldogs: Trailed 35-0 in the third quarter en route to 42-14 loss at Gov. Mifflin last week. Jadyn Jones scored a pair of late touchdowns but the offense struggled at the outset and managed just five first downs in the first half. Quarterback Brad Hoffman was pressured and often forced out of the pocket and completed just 10-of-28 passes, with two interceptions.
The lone bright spot on offense was Cam Jones, who returned a kickoff 69 yards to the Mifflin 24; a week earlier, in a 27-21 win over Central Dauphin, he returned a punt 70 yards for a TD.
Opened with a strong performance against the Rams, with Jadyn Jones rushing for 110 yards and a TD. The offensive line, led by senior guard Jon Ramsey, paved the way for 284 yards rushing.
Defense, despite last week’s one-sided loss, should again prove to be a strong point. Cam Jones is a standout at corner, and the linebacking corps, led by Gavin Lenart, is strong.
Entered season as a co-favorite with Manheim Township in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League.
About the Eagles: Bounced back from heartbreaking season-opening loss with a 56-8 walkover at Boyertown last week as senior QB Colin Payne threw for 224 yards. Played without lead back Eric Nangle, who was held out due to injury concerns, and got big performances from Cabraun Woody (12 carries, 113 yards, 2 TDs) and Messiah Robinson (13 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD).
Payne ran for a TD threw for two in building a 49-0 halftime lead. He has been superb in two games, completing 71 percent of his passes for 517 yards and five TDs. Top target has been TE J.R. Strauss, who has 10 receptions for 249 yards and four TDs. Joey Schlaffer has seven catches for 154 yards.
Ranked No. 1 in Berks in total offense at 473 yards per game.
Gave up late TD in falling to state-ranked Central York 35-28 in Week 1.
Quotable: “I’m very pleased with the way our kids came out and played. They were very disheartened with the way things turned out (against Central York). We challenged them, and they took their frustration out on somebody else. They came out and met the challenge, for sure.” — Eagles coach Matt Bauer.
Did you know? Neither team made the District 3 Tournament last season, in large part because the fields were reduced due to COVID. Wilson had qualified 15 straight seasons; Exeter had made nine straight tournaments.
Fast fact: Head coaches Doug Dahms (.838) of Wilson and Matt Bauer (.633) of Exeter each have the highest winning percentage in their respective program’s history. Dahms’ winning percentage is the highest in Berks history.
GoBigRecruiting.com key to the game: The turnover battle is always key, and Wilson hasn’t done well in that department so far. The Bulldogs are minus-3. The Eagles plus-1. Playoff teams are usually plus-1 or better per game.