Week 8 glance: Streaking Spartans looking to make a little more history

There’s usually not a lot of drama or intrigue when Wyomissing plays Kutztown in football.

The Spartans hold a 44-1 series advantage and have won 36 straight meetings — both records for Berks rivalries.

The last time Kutztown won in the series no one pulled out their phone and took a picture of players gathered in front of the scoreboard … because there were no I-phones, and no Internet to download the photos to.

Friday will be different. If the Spartans win — and you have to like their chances, all things considered — they will make a little history.

Longest regular season win streaks

Wilson	30	2012-15
Berks Catholic	29	2013-15
Wilson	24	1994-96
Muhlenberg	23	1991-93
Wyomissing High	23	1958-61
Wyomissing	22	2019-21
Wilson	22	1980-81
Wilson	22	1977-79
Wyomissing	21	2011-13
Wilson	21	1988-90
Wyomissing	20	2000-02
Wyomissing	20	1988-89
Conrad Weiser	20	1981-82
Gov. Mifflin	19	2019-21

Wyomissing (3-0, 7-0) has won 22 consecutive regular season games, one short of the streak put together by the Wyomissing High Warriors in 1961. While they are considered separate programs, because of the merger between Wyomissing High and West Reading that former Wyomissing Area, this will still be a significant achievement.

A 23rd straight win by the Spartans will tie them for the fourth-longest streak in Berks history, behind two Wilson streaks and one by Berks Catholic.

There are more significant games on the Week 8 card, starting with Exeter (4-3) at Berks Catholic (5-2), the GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week and a key one when it comes to the Berks Football League Section 1 standings.

Wilson (2-0, 4-3) heads to Cedar Crest (1-1, 3-3) looking for its third straight win and to maintain its share of first place in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The Bulldogs have gained considerable momentum as they chug toward a season-ending clash with Manheim Township, their fiercest section rivals for much of the last decade.

All nine games involving Berks teams are scheduled for Friday at 7.

One of the best games, in Berks 2, pits Fleetwood (2-2, 4-3) at Hamburg (1-2, 5-2) in a battle of two teams on the cusp of a district playoff berths. With the season winding down every win is critical, especially for the Tigers, who are waged in a tight contest in Class 5A.

A key non-league game sees Conrad Weiser (5-2), fighting for a Class 4A spot, hosting New Oxford (5-2), a top contender in 2A. A win will give the Scouts a chance to earn an opening-round bye, or at the least host an opening-round game.

In Section 1 play Gov. Mifflin (1-0, 6-0) looks to extend its lengthy regular-season winning streak — now at 19 games — against Muhlenberg (0-2, 0-7), which is trying to snap the longest losing streak in program history (now 24 games).

The Mustangs haven’t dropped a regular-season game since Sept. 2019, when they lost at Cocalico 26-14, dropping to 0-3. They ended that season with seven straight victories, then went 6-0 in a COVID-shortened 2020 season.

The Muhls haven’t won since beating Reading High 23-13 in the 2018 season finale. They went 0-10 in each of the last two seasons.

Also in Berks 1, Reading High (0-1,1-4) plays at Daniel Boone (1-1, 4-3).

In Berks 2 Schuylkill Valley (1-2, 2-5) plays at Twin Valley (2-4, 4-3), another match-up of teams fighting to make districts. The Panthers, despite their losing record, are currently eighth in 3A, where the top eight qualify. The Raiders are sitting on the bubble in 5A, at No. 14.

Boyertown (1-1, 3-4) could reach .500 this late in a season for the first time since 2017 if it beats visiting Perkiomen Valley (3-0, 5-2) in PAC-10 play. The Vikings are the lone unbeaten in the Liberty.

The Bears are coming off a 42-11 win over Methacton.

Kutztown (0-3, 2-5) will have a hard time preventing history. The Spartans are ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 3A, No. 2 in Berks in total defense and have won every game by three touchdowns or more.