Untested Spartans, Raiders about to find out just how good they are
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Brett Myers knows all about Wyomissing football and its reputation.
The Twin Valley coach lauds the Spartans’ decades of success and the string of outstanding players it has sent to Division I college programs and the NFL. He’s impressed with the fundamental soundness of their players and their ability to play hard all the time.
“(This is) a great opportunity to play against a program that’s been successful,” Myers said of the Raiders’ much-anticipated Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 showdown with the Spartans Friday at Twin Valley Stadium. “It’s a great challenge.”
The Spartans (4-0, 6-1) have been very good, winning their league games by an average of 40 points. They’ve won five straight, are ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 4A, and No. 2 in the District 3 power ratings.
Despite Wyomissing’s impressive resume long-time coach Bob Wolfrum enters this game uncertain how his team will respond to such a strong opponent.
“I don’t have any clue how good we are,” he said. “We haven’t been challenged, and they haven’t, either. I don’t think either of us know quite how good we are.”
Indeed, the Raiders (4-0, 7-0) and Spartans have enjoyed a smooth ride to this point.
Wyomissing couldn’t move the ball in a 20-3 Week 2 loss at The Haverford School, an independent Philadelphia-area school not bound by PIAA rules about recruiting and scholarships. Since then it has been typical Wyo football, grinding teams down with its methodical Wing-T ground attack.
It’s been a seamless ride for the Raiders, who haven’t trailed since giving up a first-quarter field goal to Selinsgrove. That was six weeks ago. Since then the Raiders have been on a scorched earth mission, laying waste to everything in their path. They have mercy-ruled five straight opponents, allowing two touchdowns in that span.
They have shut out their last two opponents. They cast such a ominous shadow over Donegal last week that the Indians packed up and left at halftime, trailing 49-0 and knowing they had no chance of denting the Raiders’ armour.
They’re averaging nearly 49 points per game, winning by an average of six touchdowns, and are ranked No. 1 in the league in scoring and scoring defense. No wonder they’re ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 4A.
“They’re good everywhere,” Wolfrum said. “They’ve got skill guys, they’ve got good linemen, and most importantly they’ve got a coach who really knows what he’s doing. Their offense is a pain (to defend).”
Wolfrum and Myers know each other all too well: They clashed five times in the district playoffs from 2016-20 when Myers was at Middletown. The Spartans got knocked around pretty good in the first several meetings.
“At the beginning we couldn’t get it figured out well enough,” Wolfrum said of Myers’ Spread offense, which incorporates Wing-T blocking schemes. “The biggest thing is to make sure you get lined up properly and don’t give them a big seam, which is what’s been happening against everybody they play.
“Nobody has been able to figure out how to get their kids where they need to be to stop what they’re doing. That, in combination with the fact that their kids are really good, leads to blowouts.”
Twin Valley’s offense starts with quarterback Evan Myers. He’s a four-year starter who has total command of the offense. He’s a strong passer, sharp decision-maker, and a threat as a runner. He’s averaging 10.4 yards per carry and has scored 11 touchdowns.
“You always hate (to defend) a quarterback who can throw and run,” Wolfrum said. “That causes problems.”
Evan Myers has run more this season because the Raiders have been without junior Drew Engle, who set the program rushing record last season. He hasn’t played since Week 1 due to an injury; he could return this week.
The Raiders haven’t missed him, in large part because of Evan Johnson, who has scored more TDs than anyone in program history. Johnson has rushed for over 3,000 career yards and is averaging 10.2 yards per carry this year, with 11 TDs.
The Spartans will counter with junior fullback Chase Eisenhower, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, and sophomore Justice Hardy, one of the most versatile and dangerous players in the league. He’s averaging 9.5 yards per carry and can score in all three phases of the game.
“He’s explosive and he seems to have instincts,” Brett Myers aid of Hardy, “and more importantly I like the way he plays hard. Wyomissing kids all play hard, and it’s fun to watch.”
Myers knows his team has yet to be challenged, but it’s about to be. Next week Twin Valley plays at Lampeter-Strasburg, which is also unbeaten and state-ranked.
“We’re improving every week, and that’s the goal,” Myers said. “Our guys have been playing well and they’re moving in the right direction. I think there’s still some room to improve. Hopefully we can get there.”
