Berks Sports Report Paul Roberts
Thursday night’s matchup with Milton Hershey took Conrad Weiser head coach Alan Moyer back to last year’s season opener at Abington. “Personnel-wise, I don’t think we belonged on the field last year with them and we came away with a victory. Tonight, I think they’ve got some really talented kids. They’re certainly bigger all over the field and more athletic,” noted Moyer. The undersized Scouts, with a roster of just 33 players, managed to defeat the Spartans 13-12 in Robesonia. Conrad Weiser stopped a two-point conversion attempt by Milton Hershey with 47 seconds left. “I’m so proud of the kids for hanging in. They stepped up and found a way to win,” said Moyer.
The Scouts improved to (2-0) despite being limited to 130 total yards and 2 yards per carry. The (0-2) Spartans had three touchdowns called back and committed several encroachment penalties. “A lot of mistakes and miscues on their part, but we talked about that in the game plan. We thought we could take advantage of some of those things and we certainly did…Discipline is a big part of the game,” explained Moyer. Milton Hershey was without junior quarterback Kamari Cooper. He was injured by a questionable tackle in a 20-18 loss to rival Hershey last week.
The Spartans and Scouts both lost fumbles on their opening drives. On Milton Hershey’s second possession, a 26-yard touchdown run by Gomes Pedro was negated by a holding penalty. Conrad Weiser junior defensive end Lincoln Harting forced a fumble early in the second quarter. Luke Walter picked up the loose ball and returned it 45 yards for the first touchdown of his career. “I saw Lincoln come in and make that big tackle, punch the ball out. I scooped it up, saw my lane and went for the touchdown. It felt great,” replied Walter. Moyer added, “That’s our turnover drill. We do that twice a week, every week in spring ball up until now. One of the stations in the turnover circuit is the scoop and score. It’s nice to see it come to fruition.” Walter, a senior linebacker, is 5’8 and 175 pounds. “As long as you work your hardest and give your full effort, that’s all that matters. You don’t have to be the biggest, the strongest, or the fastest,” emphasized Walter. The extra point was missed which made it 6-0 with 11:28 to go in the first half.
The Scouts’ defense, which includes six returning starters, came up big again midway through the second quarter. On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, the Spartans put sophomore Halo Allen in the shotgun. He ran to his right, but Brennon Bond and Cam Colon combined on the tackle for a 1-yard loss. After forcing Conrad Weiser to punt, it looked like Milton Hershey got on the scoreboard. However, Calvin Gumbs-Jacobs had a punt return touchdown wiped out by a block in the back with 36 seconds on the clock. Moments later, a 50-yard TD pass from Blann Harris to Gumbs-Jacobs was erased by a holding penalty.
Elijah Gibbs, a junior defensive tackle, blocked a punt and recovered the ball at the Scouts’ 40-yard line midway through the third period. Pedro broke free up the middle for a 24-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked which kept the game even at 6-6. A punt by Conrad Weiser running back Kole Kupper pushed the Spartans back to the 8-yard line with 8:49 left to play. That kick shifted field position in favor of the Scouts. Sophomore Kellen Stoy returned a Milton Hershey punt from midfield to the 27-yard line with 7:12 remaining. On fourth-and-1 from the 19-yard line, Kupper picked up two yards to move the chains. Conrad Weiser then took a big loss back to the 30-yard line. On third-and-22, Connor Sellars stepped up in the pocket and found Tyler Keppley down the left sideline for a pivotal 27-yard pass. That led to a fourth-and-goal opportunity from inside the 1-yard line. Sellars kept it himself for a tiebreaking score with 1:20 to go.
The Spartans didn’t go away quietly. Will Davies took a short kickoff to the 49-yard line with 1:15 left. On fourth-and-four, Harris hit Whitehead-Walker on a wide receiver screen. The 150-pound sophomore slipped a tackle and went down the left sideline to the Scouts’ 34-yard line. Harris connected with Whitehead-Walker again moments later on a deep ball down the left sideline. The pass was right on the money and Whitehead-Walker made a sliding catch for a touchdown. Milton Hershey opted to go for two points and the lead with 47 seconds remaining. They put Allen in the shotgun and he tried to run up the middle, but Bond was the first to make contact for Conrad Weiser. Kupper and Harting combined on the hit. Allen tried to throw the ball as he was being driven backward, however, his pass bounced at the 1-yard line. The Scouts’ defense had answered the call one more time. “I think it shows our toughness, our grit, and the way we stay together throughout the entire game. We never let down,” stated Walter.
Kupper, who ran for 202 yards and 4 TD against Schuylkill Valley in Week 1, was held to 62 yards on 25 carries. Conrad Weiser ran the ball 40 times for only 80 yards. They faced a talented defensive line that included John Alicia (6’4, 275), Lawrence Delarosa (5’8, 291), Kobe Brown (6’3, 225), and Gibbs (6’1, 270). Sellars was 5-of-7 for 50 yards. The 5’9, 170-pound senior ran it nine times for 14 yards and a score. Keppley provided two receptions for 39 yards.
Harting (6’2, 235) made a big impact with four tackles, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble. Linebackers Donte Wilkins, Bond, and Walter had five tackles apiece. Walter had blood on his cheek and a cut near his eye. He finished with 52 tackles as a junior in 2025. “He’s a valuable kid all over the field. He’s a straight-A student, great character kid. He’s a team leader on and off the field. He plays so much bigger than he is. He gives you everything he’s got,” said Moyer.