Starting Lineup: Stopping Bulldogs’ Edison Case has become a tall order
To recognize the top players in Berks football MikeDragoSports.com has selected the “Starting Lineup,” a preseason All-Berks team that includes the top linemen, backs, receivers, linebackers and specialists.
Players were selected based on past performance, expected performance this season and college potential. Two-way players were given special consideration. One player will be introduced each day, in random order (the players are not ranked).
Edison Case, Wilson
| 6-3 | 170 | Senior | WR/S/KR |
BACKSTORY: A couple weeks into his sophomore football season at Wilson Edison Case thought about joining the golf team.
“I didn’t know if I was built for football,” said the lanky wide receiver, who was 140 pounds at that point and getting knocked around pretty good each afternoon. “I was at the bottom of the barrel on JVs. I said: ‘I don’t know if I can do this for three more years.’ ”
Case stuck it out. Now he’s thinking about playing in college. He already has a pair of offers to play wide receiver, from Division III programs at Dickinson and Hamilton College.
Bulldogs coach Doug Dahms said he’s talented enough to play at a higher level but Case, a 4.0 student who plans to major in biology and then maybe head to dental school, will make his college choice based on academics, not the school’s football prospects.
He never imagined he’d have a chance to play at a higher level. He was ready to give up on the sport but said his coaches and teammates encouraged him to stick with it.
“Practice was hard,” he said. “They gave me no mercy. But I knew I wanted to be a part of it, then I just found my place.”
That came, initially, on defense. The Bulldogs were hit with a wave of injuries early in the 2021 season and Case got a start at safety. He stayed on the field most of the rest of the way.
Last season he got his chance at wide receiver and his game took off. He’s 6-3 and used that to his advantage to pull down a team-leading 25 receptions.
“He’s got deceptive speed, especially on the deep routes,” said Dahms. “He’s got that long stride, and he goes up for the ball really well. He’s an integral part of our offense.”
Case and quarterback Tommy Hunsicker, who have played football, baseball, and basketball together since early grade school, formed a bond; that connection helped the Bulldogs win eight games and reach the District 3 tournament.
Most of Case’s five touchdown receptions, including a pair of deep passes in the playoffs against Harrisburg, came on high balls that he was able to snare over smaller defensive backs.
“It’s real helpful,” Hunsicker said of throwing to big receivers such as Case and Austin Valukevich, who is 6-2. “You know they can go (up and) get it. That’s important to able to do, because sometimes that’s the best option. I know they can come down with it if I put it in the right spot.”
Case averaged 19.6 yards per reception as a junior; a lot of that came after the catch.
“He just makes people miss,” said Dahms. “That why we used him on punt returns. He’s pretty slippery.”
When teams started regularly punting out of bounds to avoid putting it in the dangerous hands of All-State pick man Cam Jones Dahms put Case on the field next to him, to give his team a chance to get some yardage on kick returns. It worked. Case averaged 21.4 yards on his five returns, taking one back 52 yards for a score against McCaskey.
He got ready for that difficult assignment by playing Madden Football.
“It helps with your runner vision,” he said of the video game.
Case, Hunsicker and the other Bulldogs receivers are working on their audibles, especially down by the goal line where they should be able to beat teams on fade routes to the corners.
“We’re working on that a lot,” said Case. “We’re trying to take our game to the next level.”
Case was second on the team last season with seven touchdowns. One came on a 45-yard fumble return against Penn Manor. People might not notice his work on the defensive side of the ball as much but he’s invaluable there, too. Even though he doesn’t carry a lot of bulk he’s not afraid to stick his head into a receiver or ballcarrier in the open field.
“He’s a smart defensive player who covers a lot of ground in coverage,” said Dahms.
ROLE: Starting wide receiver and safety and top punt returner.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Offers from Division III Dickinson and Hamilton College.
Starting Lineup
| Edison Case | Wilson | WR/S/KR |
| Dominic Giuffre | Schuylkill Valley | RB/OLB |
| Mason Semmel | Hamburg | HB/TE/DT |
| Ean Winchester | Twin Valley | HB/TE/DT |
| Zack Zandier | Exeter | TE/DE |
