Ryan McMillan-Wilson

A 46-15 loss to Roman Catholic didn’t sit well with the Wilson players. “We knew we needed to send a message to everyone. People were doubting us,” said junior Ryan McMillan. The 5’11, 215-pound linebacker racked up nine tackles and forced a fumble in a key 17-10 win at Central Dauphin last week. The (1-1) Bulldogs held the (0-2) Rams to 201 total yards including just 62 through the air. Central Dauphin was limited to 3.9 yards per carry. Nate Capitano, a senior safety, contributed six tackles and an interception. McMillan emphasized that getting fellow inside linebacker Landon Farrell back from injury was a big boost. The 220-pound senior was Wilson’s second-leading tackler a season ago. McMillan also gave a lot of credit to the coaching staff. Head coach Doug Dahms became an assistant coach for the Bulldogs in 1976. Defensive coordinator Ernie Wolber has been on the staff for 23 years. “It’s amazing. Just learning from them, asking them questions helped me so much from my freshman year. [They] taught me pretty much everything I know about playing linebacker,” stated McMillan. Dahms has won 83% of his games as head coach, a Berks County record. He holds the school record with 171 victories. McMillan made an impact as a sophomore. He had a touchdown catch and a 26-yard fumble return score at Exeter. He finished with ten tackles against Manheim Central. McMillan has also made a name for himself on the wrestling mat. He finished third in the Berks County and District 3 tournaments at 215 pounds. He went (35-7) while in tenth grade. In addition to playing linebacker, McMillan is starting at guard this season. The offensive line includes 280-pound tackle Jack Dendall and 270-pound center Logan Kurzweg. They’re both juniors. “The chemistry is coming together, just get 1% better every day on the O-line. Working together, getting reps in, that’s the most important thing,” said McMillan. Wilson averaged 5 yards per carry versus Central Dauphin. Cam Jones ripped off a 53-yard TD run in the third quarter. I asked McMillan what would happen if he had to tackle Jones in the open field. He replied, “Luckily, I don’t have to. I don’t know, probably not great for me.” Jones was an all-state selection in 2021 when he returned seven kicks for touchdowns! The Bulldogs meet Martin Luther King High School on Friday in West Lawn. Wilson cruised in this matchup last year 50-8. McMillan noted that MLK has speed at the skill positions. We also discussed his favorite teachers, music, food, and NFL teams. He’s hoping that the Bills and Saints advance all the way to the Super Bowl. Finally, McMillan revealed what type of car he would buy if he ever won the lottery.