Cocalico – Berks Sports Report

Bryan Strohl-Cocalico

Paul Roberts — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 10:27:00 +0000

Aaryn Longenecker’s evening turned out a lot more enjoyable than his afternoon. Cocalico’s standout running back and safety cut his right thumb while trying to eat an avocado on Friday. After a trip to urgent care and plenty of tape, Longenecker was ready for kickoff against Wyomissing. The 5’10, 175-pound senior scored four touchdowns in a 34-14 victory over the (6-1) Spartans. “They don’t come along like that every day. When you have them, you gotta make the most of them. He’s a competitor,” said head coach Bryan Strohl. Longenecker ran for 139 yards and 3 TD on twelve carries. He returned an interception 54 yards for another score with 2:19 remaining. It’s his second pick-six in as many weeks. Longenecker took a toss down the left sideline 28 yards for the game’s first touchdown midway through the second quarter. That 30-yard drive was set up by his first interception of the night on a tipped pass. He added a 15-yard TD run with 33 seconds left before halftime. The football was recovered in the end zone by Wyomissing, but the officials ruled that Longenecker crossed the goal line before the ball came out. Jeremiah Diaz returned the second half kickoff 73 yards to the Eagles’ 17-yard line. A 6-yard score by sophomore fullback Chase Eisenhower pulled the Spartans within 14-7. Cocalico responded eight minutes later with a 42-yard drive. All-State fullback Sam Steffey powered his way into the end zone on fourth-and-inches from the 2-yard line. The (6-1) Eagles then grinded out a six and a-half minute scoring drive that covered 82 yards. Longenecker took a toss and raced 30 yards down the right sideline for a 27-7 advantage. “The key to us is always control the line of scrimmage and, both sides of the ball, we were able to do that,” stated Strohl. Wyomissing entered the night averaging 343 rushing yards. The Spartans were held to 168 yards on the ground, and 57 of those came on Marvin Armistead’s touchdown run with 42 seconds to play. Cocalico, ranked #8 in the state in Class 5A by PennLive, allowed just six first downs. The Eagles ran for 267 yards. They’ve won six straight since dropping their opener to Warwick. Wyomissing’s 41-game regular season winning streak came to a halt. Senior quarterback Logan Hyde left the game in the fourth quarter after taking a hit to the ribs. He was replaced by freshman Teddy White. Meanwhile, Cocalico sits alone atop the Section 4 standings with a (4-0) league record. “I couldn’t be prouder of this group. They’re a team. It’s not one guy. They’re not asking for the ball,” emphasized Strohl.

Matt Bauer-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 00:45:00 +0000

Cocalico left Wyomissing on October 8th with a (3-4) record. The Eagles committed four turnovers and were dominated by the Spartans 38-7. My how things have changed for this scrappy group from Denver, Pennsylvania. The Eagles were the last team to qualify for the District 3-5A playoffs as the #12 seed. They made history on Friday at Don Thomas Stadium by beating second-seeded Exeter 34-14 in the District 3 Final. Cocalico extended its winning streak to seven games and claimed the program’s fourth District 3 title. Exeter suffered its first loss after rattling off twelve consecutive victories. “It’s heartbreaking. There’s no question about it. For this senior class, what they’ve given us, the dedication and the leadership they provided; it just doesn’t seem fair. But nobody said life had to be fair,” said head coach Matt Bauer. The Eagles turned the ball over three times and were held to 96 rushing yards. “If you don’t show up and play your best on any night, your season can go down the drain,” noted Bauer. Cocalico started the night with a 16-play, 65-yard drive that lasted eight and a-half minutes. Sam Steffey ended the possession with a 2-yard score. The 5’9, 185-pound junior fullback entered the contest with 1,728 yards and 22 TD. After Exeter went three-and-out, Brayden Eppinette took a toss 46 yards down the right sideline for a 13-0 advantage with one minute remaining in the opening quarter. The speedy 155-pound sophomore only got 19 carries in Cocalico’s first 13 games. Exeter took advantage of great field position to get on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter. After a 13-yard punt, the Eagles drove 36 yards and converted on 4th down from the 1-yard line. Richie Karstien crashed into the end zone for his 20th rushing touchdown. Exeter took over at its 47-yard line with 39 seconds to go before halftime. Mason Rotelli was picked off by senior linebacker Carter Getz. On the next play, Josh Myer hit an uncovered Aaryn Longenecker for a 42-yard TD with 22 seconds on the clock. Cocalico was up 20-7 at the break. It was just the third touchdown pass for Myer this year. “That was definitely a huge momentum swing. I should’ve been satisfied going in 13-7 at half. I’m sure I’ll be second-guessing it for a long time to come, but at the time I thought it was the right call,” admitted Bauer. Exeter turned to Joey Schlaffer at quarterback in the third quarter. “We needed a spark and he provided us a spark all year. I wanted to give him every opportunity to turn the tide,” explained Bauer. His second pass attempt was intercepted by Longenecker. Schlaffer, a 6’6 senior who’s headed to Penn State to play tight end, connected with Zach Zandier on a 37-yard strike over the middle on Exeter’s next series. Karstien capped that possession with another 1-yard score and Exeter was within 20-14 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Cocalico responded with a clutch 75-yard drive. Myer went up top to Longenecker for 45 yards. The 170-pound sophomore quarterback hit pay dirt on a 14-yard run with eleven minutes to play. Longenecker ran in the 2-point conversion for a 28-14 edge. Exeter turned the ball over on downs on its next two possessions. Myer sealed it with a 5-yard run that put Cocalico on top 34-14 with 3:47 to go. The (10-4) Eagles are the first #12 seed to earn a District 3 football championship. They outgained Exeter 274-188. Myer ran for a team-high 71 yards and 2 TD on 16 touches. He was 2-of-2 for 87 yards through the air. Both of his completions were to Longenecker. Steffey was limited to 45 yards on 17 carries. He piled up 251 yards and 3 TD last week in the semifinals when Cocalico stunned top-seeded Solanco 32-8. Karstien led Exeter with 83 yards on 21 touches. Rotelli wound up 5-of-16 for just 32 yards and 2 INT. The 6’1, 170-pound senior had only thrown six picks all season. Zandier, a 6’5 junior tight end, had three grabs for 73 yards. Schlaffer was held without a catch. He had 11 TD receptions this season. Exeter came in averaging 39 points per game. They were trying to repeat as District 3 champs. The Eagles are (10-12) all-time in the District 3 playoffs. There are 17 seniors on this year’s roster. “It was the most physical senior class we’ve had so far. Last year was definitely special and this year is just as special. These kids work so hard. Winning twelve games is definitely something to be proud of,” emphasized Bauer.

Week 14 Preview-Football

Paul Roberts — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 15:42:56 +0000

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.

Rick Keeley-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 01:05:00 +0000

Berks Catholic knew what was coming, but the Saints couldn’t stop it. Cocalico fullback Sam Steffey got a whopping 42 carries in a 31-10 victory over the Saints. The 5’9, 185-pound junior rumbled for 234 yards and three touchdowns. “I don’t think I’ve been this tired playing football in my life,” said Steffey with a smile. He’s up to 1,034 rushing yards this season. The (5-4, 4-2) Eagles only average five pass attempts per game. When you execute the Flexbone offense as well as they do, there’s no need to throw the football. Sophomore quarterback Josh Myer was just 1-of-3 for six yards and an interception, yet Cocalico came out on top. The Eagles piled up 309 yards on the ground. Their first possession took 14 plays and nearly eight minutes off the clock. Steffey’s 1-yard plunge ended a 71-yard drive. Cocalico’s next series took 13 plays and resulted in a 25-yard field goal by sophomore Talen Popolis. “They’re disciplined. They ran that offense pretty much to perfection. We struggled to stop it,” lamented Berks Catholic head coach Rick Keeley. The Eagles outscored the (3-6, 3-3) Saints 21-0 in the second half. Steffey’s 30th carry of the night was a 9-yard score with 2:12 remaining in the third period. After forcing a three-and-out, Cocalico ran more than five minutes off the clock. Steffey capped that 60-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown which gave the Eagles a 24-10 advantage. On the ensuing possession, William Hess was sacked and fumbled on fourth down. Cocalico took over at Berks Catholic’s 24-yard-line midway through the final quarter. Backup fullback Owen Weaver, a 210-pound junior, powered his way into the end zone from 1-yard out with 1:17 left. “We couldn’t get the ball back…They controlled the line of scrimmage and they didn’t fumble,” stated Keeley. Steffey takes pride in the Eagles’ physical style of play. “They know what we’re doing, we just give it to them. A lot of teams try to trick them, but we just go straight at them and show how tough we are,” he replied. Steffey broke off a 50-yard run in the second quarter. He had 119 yards at the break. “[He’s] very durable. He must spend a lot of time in the weight room to take that team and carry them on his back. His linemen were moving us off the ball. My hat’s off to them,” acknowledged Keeley. JayJay Jordan was a bright spot for the Saints on senior night. The 170-pound running back had a team-high 73 yards on 13 carries. His 23-yard touchdown knotted things up at 7-7 with 32 seconds to go in the opening quarter. Jordan started to the right and then cut back to the middle. The cornerback also came up with an interception and returned it 25 yards to Cocalico’s 40-yard line with one minute remaining in the first half. “JayJay always gives a great effort. I have nothing but good things to say about him. I wish this team could’ve got more wins for him,” said Keeley. After a pretty 23-yard pass down the left sideline from Hess to Jaxon Geddio, Andrew Kurtas drilled a 22-yard field goal to even the score with 15 seconds left. However, the second half belonged to the Eagles. They were looking for revenge after losing to Berks Catholic 21-7 in the District 3 quarterfinals a season ago. Cocalico allowed just 129 total yards this time around. Saints’ fullbacks Devin Garcia and Nafis Blythe were held to 35 yards on eight combined touches. The Saints managed just 25 yards in the second half. “I didn’t see any quit out there. I thought our kids played to the end and that’s all you can ask for. Sometimes the other team is just better,” noted Keeley.