Winning games, not setting records, is on Mason Young’s mind
2025 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Mason Young had several goals in mind when he became Wilson’s starting quarterback this season but throwing for 2,000 yards or challenging program records for touchdowns or completion percentage weren’t among them.
“I wasn’t focused on my statistics,” he said. “I wanted to go out and have a good season with the team and go into the playoffs. I was more focused on how much I could do for the team and how well I could follow what (my coaches) needed from me.”
The 6-2, 167-pound senior has checked all the boxes. He has quarterbacked the Bulldogs to the District 3 Class 6A semifinals Friday at Central York, executed the offense well, and piled up big passing numbers.
He needs just 2 yards to become the eighth passer in program history to throw for 2,000 yards in a season, and just 91 to pass the best season by his quarterbacks coach, Chad Henne. Not shabby.
He’s completing 67.4 percent of his passes, just off the program record, and to date has recorded the highest passing efficiency mark ever by a Wilson quarterback.
Young passes along any of the credit for his success.
“I have really great receivers and a really great line out there,” he said. “They really make my job easy. The play-calling is also great.”
He credits Henne for helping him prepare and for keeping him on track when things sometimes go sideways on a Friday night.
“He makes it (seem) so easy, and he makes it easy for you,” Young said. “When I go to the sidelines after I make a questionable play, or we go three-and-out, he talks me through it: What I did wrong and what I can do better. He’ll tell you how to fix it.
“His experience, being in the (NFL) for that long, helps me. He’s seen these things before. He can definitely pick apart a defense in the film room.”
Young’s been doing it on the field most Fridays. He clicked on 17-of-22 passes and threw three touchdowns in his first start, in a season-opening 35-24 win over Cheltenham.
He threw four touchdowns in back-to-back starts at midseason, against Cedar Crest and Governor Mifflin, and threw for a career-high 270 yards in an early showdown against Nazareth – more than Blue Eagles quarterback Peyton Falzone, an Auburn recruit.
| Year | Games | Yards | |
| Zach Zweizig | 2009 | 13 | 2,326 |
| Tommy Hunsicker | 2023 | 11 | 2,180 |
| Seth Klein | 2011 | 14 | 2,128 |
| Chad Henne | 2002 | 12 | 2,088 |
| Connor Uhrig | 2016 | 14 | 2,050 |
| Kerry Collins | 1989 | 15 | 2,043 |
| Madyx Gruber | 2024 | 13 | 2,018 |
| Mason Young | 2025 | 11 | 1,998 |
Of course, Falzone’s team won that game. And he wasn’t intercepted in 27 throws.
Young was picked off twice that night and three times in the Bulldogs’ only other loss, to Manheim Township.
| Single-season completion pct. | ||
| Tony Cipolla | 1999 | .684 |
| Mason Young | 2025 | .674 |
| Madyx Gruber | 2024 | .645 |
| Chad Henne | 2002 | .644 |
| Tommy Hunsicker | 2023 | .643 |
Not winning those games are Young’s two biggest disappointments this season; he wanted payback for last year’s loss at Nazareth and wanted another Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 title for the Bulldogs.
He didn’t get either.
“I could’ve played a better game (against Township),” he said of the 20-13 loss. “I should’ve played a better game.”
The maturity he has shown in sharing the credit and shouldering the blame has impressed Henne and highlighted Young’s development.
He battled for the starting job a year ago but lost out to Madyx Gruber, who proved to be a Godsend for the Bulldogs.
| Single-season TD leaders | ||
| Jake Templin | 2014 | 30 |
| Mason Young | 2025 | 26 |
| Madyx Gruber | 2024 | 24 |
| Tommy Hunsicker | 2023 | 24 |
| Kaleb Brown | 2019 | 23 |
| Chad Henne | 2002 | 23 |
Being the No. 2 quarterback for a second straight year – he was Tommy Hunsicker’s understudy as a sophomore – was difficult for Young but he made the most of it.
He observed the way Gruber went about leading the team and added pieces of Gruber’s game to his own tool chest. He did the same the year before watching Hunsicker lead the team.
“Madyx is a good thrower and he’s a good runner,” Young said. “He was all-around a good quarterback for us. (I was) just taking his abilities and putting it into my game. (It was the same) when I was behind Tommy. (This kind of success) is what comes when you sit behind two great quarterbacks like that.”
There was little doubt Young would be No. 1 this season. He has a strong arm and knows where to put the ball. He’s fast and elusive and can make plays with his feet, too. The mental side of his game has grown, also.
| Single-season passing efficiency | ||
| Mason Young | 2025 | 187.4 |
| Tony Cipolla | 1999 | 185.2 |
| Eric Hetrich | 2004 | 175.8 |
| Tommy Hunsicker | 2023 | 170.3 |
| Seth Klein | 2011 | 168.4 |
“He’s a smart football player,” Henne said. “He understands space and the opportunity to get the ball into playmakers’ hands.
“He’s done a great job with (adjusting) protections (at the line of scrimmage). He understands the reads and when to create (with his feet), to get outside the pocket.”
Young heads to Central York second in the league with 1,998 passing yards and 26 TDs. His 67.4 completion percentage is third-best.
His 187.4 passing efficiency rating, also third-best in the league, would be a Wilson record.
“We felt very confident in Mason (coming into the season),” Henne said. “We had a bunch of (good) wideouts and knew Mason had the arm talent to help us.”
