Week 14 Preview-Football

Only two Berks County football teams are still standing.  Exeter and Wyomissing will be in action at 7pm on Friday.  Here’s a preview of their matchups.  I’ll be at Don Thomas Stadium in Reiffton to cover the Eagles.

#12 Cocalico at #2 Exeter-District 3-5A Championship:

It’s the Eagles vs. the Eagles for District 3 gold!  Exeter reaching the District 3 Final is no surprise.  The (12-0) Eagles are ranked second in the state in Class 5A by PennLive.  They’re the defending champs after knocking off Gov. Mifflin a season ago.  Exeter features a balanced offense that’s putting up 39 points a night.  Richie Karstien handles things on the ground.  The 6’1, 215-pound senior has 1,541 rushing yards (7.2 per carry) and 19 TD.  Mason Rotelli has thrown for 1,513 yards with 22 TD and 6 INT.  The first-year starter is completing 67% of his passes.  Rotelli can use his feet as well.  The 6’1, 170-pound senior is three yards shy of 500 with eight scores.  He has some big targets in the passing attack.  Penn State commit Joey Schlaffer (6’6, 215), Zach Zandier (6’5, 220), and Jovan Hollis (6’2, 205) are matchup nightmares.  Schlaffer has a team-high 39 receptions for 888 yards and 11 TD.  Zandier, a promising junior tight end, has chipped in with 22 grabs and four scores.  Lucas Palange anchors a defense that has allowed just 19 total points in two playoff victories over #7 Dover and #11 Northern York.  The 235-pound senior linebacker leads Exeter with 74 tackles.  Anthony Caccese is a force at defensive tackle with 21 TFL and 7 sacks.  The 6’6, 280-pound senior is header to the University of Delaware.  He’s also part of an experienced and physical offensive line.  Exeter is (10-11) all-time in the District 3 tournament.  Cocalico is making its 24th appearance in the District 3 field.  The (9-4) Eagles are searching for their fourth title.  Cocalico finished third in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League behind Wyomissing and Lampeter-Strasburg.  The Eagles have turned their season around since falling at Wyomissing 38-7 in early October.  They’ve outscored their opponents 216-47 over a six-game winning streak.  Fullback Sam Steffey has been a workhorse in Cocalico’s flexbone offense.  The 5’9, 185-pound junior averages 21 carries per contest.  He turned 42 touches into 234 yards and 3 TD in a critical Week 9 win at Berks Catholic.  Steffey has grinded out 1,728 yards to go along with 22 TD.  He ran the ball 31 times for 251 yards and three scores in the District 3 semifinals at Solanco.  Cocalico stunned the top-seeded Golden Mules 32-8.  Sophomore quarterback Josh Myer provided 67 yards on 18 carries with 2 TD.  He’s only attempted 38 passes all season (2 TD-3 INT).  The Eagles limited Solanco to 143 yards and five first downs.  Chucky Drain is a four-year starter up front for Cocalico.  The 5’11, 215-pound DL can create havoc at the line of scrimmage.  The Eagles are averaging 31 points and giving up nearly 16 per game.  They’re #7 in the PennLive state rankings.  A #12 seed has never won a District 3 football championship.

(12-0) Wyomissing at (12-0) Danville-PIAA-3A Quarterfinals:

The Spartans and Ironmen are #1-#2 respectively in this week’s Class 3A state rankings, according to PennLive.  This matchup includes a pair of outstanding coaches.  Bob Wolfrum became the winningest coach in District 3 history after Wyomissing crushed West Perry 63-7 in the most lopsided District 3 Final ever.  It was career victory #349 for Wolfrum who has spent 36 seasons as the skipper of the Spartans (349-86-1).  He has captured eleven District 3 titles and a state championship in 2012.  Mike Brennan won two PIAA-2A crowns with Mount Carmel in 2000 and 2002.  He went (86-24) over nine years there.  After stops at Blue Mountain (4 seasons) and Hazleton (six seasons), Brennan found his way to Danville.  He has compiled a record of (28-7) over three years with the Ironmen.  They’ve won three straight District 4 titles.  This is Brennan’s 24th season as a head coach.  The Nativity High School and Temple University graduate has a career mark of (164-111).  Danville took care of Loyalsock 41-20 in the District 4 Final.  The Lancers gave the Ironmen their only close contest during the regular season.  Danville held off Loyalsock 17-14 in mid-September.  The Ironmen are putting up 50 points a night while allowing less than 5.  Zach Gordon has posted eye-popping numbers during his senior campaign.  The 6′, 185-pound quarterback has thrown for 2,103 yards (75%) with 32 TD and just 3 INT.  Gordon tossed 5 TD a week ago.  His 32 scores through the air ties the single-season school record.  Speaking of incredible statistics, take a look at what Carson Persing has accomplished over the past four years (221 receptions, 4,225 yards, 59 TD)!  The 5’9, 170-pound wide receiver owns the District 4 record for touchdown catches in a season with 23.  Persing has 49 grabs for 1,101 yards this year.  Danville can also do damage on the ground with Ty Stauffer.  The 5’10, 205-pound senior is averaging 7.3 yards per carry.  He has rumbled for 1,140 yards and 19 TD.  Stauffer’s 3,107 career rushing yards are the third-most in school history.  Wyomissing is certainly no slouch when it comes to running the rock.  The Spartans grind out 326 yards per game in their Wing-T attack.  The “Law Firm” of Eisenhower, Kramer, and McIntyre has compiled 2,589 rushing yards this season.  Drew Eisenhower (734 yards, 10 TD), Matthew Kramer (909 yards, 24 TD), and Charlie McIntyre (946 yards, 12 TD) are three of the 17 seniors on the roster.  Wyomissing averages 44 points while only attempting 5.4 passes.  The Spartans hit pay dirt on nine of their eleven drives versus West Perry.  That was their fourth consecutive District 3 championship.  Their defense is equally as impressive.  Wyomissing is holding opponents to 7.5 points per game and 165 total yards.  Caleb Brewer was out last week due to an injury, but the junior is expected to play at Danville.  The 6’5, 290-pound TE/NG has picked up numerous Division I offers in recent weeks including Pittsburgh, Illinois, Syracuse, West Virginia, Rutgers, and Duke.  Brewer is part of an imposing front that features Jven Williams, the top-rated player in Pennsylvania, and Pacen Ziegler.  Williams, a 6’5, 295-pound senior, is committed to Penn State.  The Spartans and Ironmen met in the state semifinals in 2020.  Wyomissing cruised to a 44-14 victory.  The Spartans have been known to bring pressure against spread offenses.  Pass protection could be a big key for the Ironmen.