Raiders see season ended by top-seeded Indians
2025 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Christian Eby — LNP/Lancasteronline
HARRISBURG — Elco’s Riley McDonald was enveloped by hugs, high-fives and helmet slaps when he reached the sideline. The Raiders senior had stuffed a Susquehanna Township run at the 1-yard line, driving the Indians’ ballcarrier back a handful of stripes.
| Final | |
| Susquehanna Twp. | 50 |
| Elco | 13 |
The score no longer mattered. The Raiders were soaking in the last eight minutes of football together. Enthusiasm, pep and pride coursed through the Raiders outfit.
All three qualities stuck with No. 9 Elco Friday despite a 50-13 District 3 Class 4A quarterfinal loss to top-seeded Susquehanna Township at Roscoe Warner Field. There was no feeling sorry for themselves or somber faces. Elco’s players beamed with fulfillment and satisfaction.
“They were not watching the scoreboard, and they were playing for the love of the man next to them and the love of the game,” Elco coach Bob Miller said. “And that’s what really matters. It also says that when life hits them hard, they’re never going to give up.”
Susquehanna Township (11-0), which awaits the winner of Lampeter-Strasburg and Wyomissing on Saturday, had soared to a 50-6 lead at intermission. The Raiders (6-6) could’ve thrown in the towel and sauntered through the second half.
But the first-half drubbing wasn’t all negative. Miller and his squad had positives to build off and had the blueprint for what to rachet up.
Elco’s main gripe was four turnovers. The Raiders lost their handle on three fumbles, and quarterback Brinley Donmoyer tossed an interception. All four hiccups resulted in scores by the Indians, including fumble and interception returns for touchdowns by Jarrett Kern.
“That’s been the story of our big-game atmosphere,” Miller said. “We’re able to move the ball. We’re able to drive. We’re able to get some stops. But you go back to games like the L-S game, and it’s the turnover battle. With Wyomissing and Twin Valley, the same thing. So it comes down to these guys taking care of the key fundamental thing of ball control.”
The Raiders focused on the fundamentals in the second half and scored in the final four minutes of regulation. They constructed a masterful possession, covering 89 yards with four players gaining first downs.
Donmoyer capped the lengthy march with a 3-yard option run. On defense, McDonald had three sticks for loss on Township’s second-to-last drive, and Gavin Gilbert collapsed on a final-possession sweep that had the potential to break big.
The score was trivial, but Elco kept humming.
“Heart and leadership and a true caring for each other, that is something that has been really ingrained in them,” Miller said. “And I credit the kids, their parents, the booster club, and the assistant coaches for that. They may get coached pretty hard, but they’re always loved, and I think they know that no matter what. I think that’s really something where they can feel that throughout the program, from every level.”
Even with Township firing on all cylinders on in the first half, the across-the-board care was crystal clear. The Raiders didn’t point fingers or scream at teammates.
The Indians’ skill was also to credit. Signal-caller Torin Evans unloaded on three TD strikes and galloped to a 19-yard score. The trio of passes were to different targets, and the hosts had two rushers punch in TD bursts.
“Their athleticism is really impressive,” Miller said of Township. “Their ability to throw the ball around kind of reminds me a little bit of Twin Valley, of L-S last year. They’re just so big and so fast, and we had to show up. We were one step away on defense from a couple of stops.”
From when the score was a factor to when it wasn’t, Elco never sanctioned its enthusiasm, pep and pride.
The Raiders kept moving as if it was a scoreless lock. They soaked in every last bit of football together.
