The Mustangs have picked up right where they left off. After winning the PIAA-5A championship for the first time last spring, Gov. Mifflin is off to a perfect (10-0) start. The Mustangs returned three first team All-State selections. Bryce Detwiler (UConn), Ethan Grim (Virginia Tech), and Travis Jenkins (Canisius) are all committed to Division I colleges. Gov. Mifflin already has quality wins over Wilson, Exeter, Muhlenberg, Fleetwood, Ephrata, and Elizabethtown. Detwiler tossed a complete game shutout against the Bulldogs. Evan Glucksnis, a junior, threw 6.1 scoreless frames at Fleetwood on Friday.

Wilson has a very challenging non-league schedule. The Bulldogs fell to North Penn 8-1 and still have upcoming matchups with Parkland and Liberty. They will battle the Hurricanes on April 26th at FirstEnergy Stadium. Christo Hunsicker (2-1, 2.05) and Ben Kulp (1-1, 0.98) give Wilson two experienced starting pitchers. Kulp is a 6’2, 215-pound junior with a fastball in the low-90s. Hunsicker is a great all-around athlete who will continue his baseball career at Millersville.

Twin Valley has shown that it can compete with some of the top ball clubs in District 3. The Raiders came up short at Ephrata 5-4 and lost to Mechanicsburg 7-5. The Mounts were the District 3-6A runner-up in 2024, and the Wildcats won the District 3-5A crown for the second straight year. Kooper Zdimal (3-0, 0.81) is staying in Berks County to play college baseball. The Kutztown University commit has allowed ten hits over 17.1 innings.

Exeter’s only losses this season have come against Gov. Mifflin and Wilson. Jake Hafer (2-0, 0.88) is red hot on the mound and at the plate. The junior is batting .440 with two doubles and a pair of triples. Kamren Martin, another junior, has won both of his decisions with a 0.93 ERA. Martin has given up just six hits over 15 innings with 15 strikeouts. Carter Redding, who also plays football and basketball, is 10-for-17 so far. Keep in mind, the Eagles only had two seniors in the starting lineup last year.

Muhlenberg and Exeter were scheduled to meet on Friday, but the weather didn’t cooperate. They will try again on Tuesday in Reiffton. The Muhls have a date with Wilson tomorrow, if the rain holds off. After getting thumped by Gov. Mifflin 11-1, Muhlenberg bounced back with a 4-3 victory over Ephrata. Junior Cole Moody has limited opponents to one run in nine frames with 15 strikeouts. Aaden Lopez (1-0, 1.62) is a big key to the Muhls’ rotation. The hard-throwing senior has 15 strikeouts and 13 walks over 8.2 innings. Head coach Brian Kopetsky has 358 career wins. This is his 26th season as the skipper in Laureldale.

Fleetwood lost a very talented group to graduation, but don’t sleep on the Tigers this spring. Wylie Loy opened eyes as a sophomore last year. Nick Noll fired six shutout innings against Gov. Mifflin on Friday. The senior will change speeds and his delivery which makes things tricky for hitters. Fleetwood knocked off Berks Catholic 4-3 in eight innings late last month.

The Saints earned the Division 3 championship and qualified for the BCIAA playoffs in 2024. It was their first appearance in the Berks County tournament since 2018. Trey Stricker is the ace of Berks Catholic’s rotation. The West Chester commit hasn’t allowed an earned run in a dozen innings. Stricker is (1-0) with 18 strikeouts. He’s also doing damage at the dish with a .542 batting average. The Saints are hitting .385 as a team. Since dropping their opener to Twin Valley 3-1 in Myrtle Beach, Berks Catholic has won six of its past seven contests. They defeated rival Wyomissing 7-1 on Friday with Stricker on the hill.

Seth Brizek is back at Oley Valley. The 1992 graduate took over as head coach after Jeff Pinder stepped down following three seasons. Brizek is the school’s all-time leader in hits, home runs, RBI, wins, and ERA. He went on to become an All-American at Clemson. Brizek was inducted into the Berks County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame two years ago. The Lynx already have wins over Fleetwood and Kutztown on their resume. They outlasted the Tigers 4-3 in eight innings, and got by the Cougars 3-1. Gryffin Cappellano, Chase Kegerise, Tim Fries, and Wyatt McCluskey all started as sophomores a season ago. Fries (3-0, 0.88) has 29 strikeouts and five walks in 24 innings. Cappellano has a lofty .481 batting average.

Kutztown is once again a team to keep an eye on. The Cougars reached the District 3-2A championship game last spring with only two seniors in the lineup. Tim Mertz’s squad is always fundamentally sound and willing to play small ball. Mertz, a Kutztown graduate, is in his 25th year as the Cougars’ head coach. He has the most victories in school history, including four District 3 titles.

Without further ado, here are my high school baseball rankings for the Berks League. The records that you see below are from last year. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Gov. Mifflin (24-5)

2.Wilson (19-8)

3.Twin Valley (15-7)

4.Exeter (11-9)

5.Muhlenberg (14-9)

6.Fleetwood (17-10)

7.Berks Catholic (16-5)

8.Oley Valley (11-10)

Berks Catholic won six of its first seven contests. The only blemish on the Saints’ resume is a 54-49 setback to Gov. Mifflin. Kingston McKoy has lived up to the hype. The 6’2 junior guard is averaging 22 points per game. Wilson’s only losses have been against Berks Catholic and Chambersburg. JJ Kelly and the Trojans are one of the top squads in the Mid-Penn Conference, along with Central Dauphin and Cumberland Valley. The Bulldogs have an experienced lineup, quality guards, and a veteran head coach. That combination will make them tough to beat when the BCIAA playoffs arrive.

Coaches across Berks County told me to look out for Gov. Mifflin this winter and they were spot on. The Mustangs are only two wins shy of their total from a season ago. They have already knocked off Berks Catholic and Muhlenberg. Gov. Mifflin took Cumberland Valley to overtime and only fell to Wilson by three points. Muhlenberg has three quality losses to Central Dauphin, Berks Catholic, and Gov. Mifflin. The Muhls showed how dangerous they can be versus Reading. After trailing by 15 points, Muhlenberg rallied to defeat the Red Knights 70-58.

Speaking of Reading, we have never seen this kind of start at the “Castle on the Hill.” The Red Knights have dropped six of their first seven games. Keep in mind, however, that Reading has played a brutal schedule. The Red Knights have battled Father Judge, Coatesville, Wilson, and Berks Catholic. Father Judge is one of the elite teams in the entire state this year. Exeter has reeled off three consecutive victories. The Eagles snuck past Conrad Weiser 55-53 on Monday. Carter Redding provided the game-winning shot. Aidan Dauble is putting up 18 points a night for Exeter.

Conrad Weiser had an opportunity to beat the Eagles earlier this week. The Scouts can’t be overlooked in Division 2. They started (3-0) before getting blown out by Antietam. The Mounts suffered a recent 63-54 loss to Brandywine Heights. The Division 4 standings are jam-packed right now. Wyomissing and Schuylkill Valley are two teams to watch in Division 3. The Spartans and Panthers have balanced scoring.

As you can see, a lot is still up in the air when it comes to the Berks Conference. The top programs are evenly matched which makes ranking them very difficult. Without further ado, here is my new poll for Berks County boys basketball.

“The Great 8”

1.Berks Catholic (6-1)

2.Wilson (6-2)

3.Gov. Mifflin (6-2)

4.Muhlenberg (6-3)

5.Exeter (4-3)

6.Reading (1-6)

7.Wyomissing (5-2)

8.Conrad Weiser (6-4)

Wilson is the defending BCIAA champion and the consensus favorite in the county this season. The Bulldogs have cut the nets down three times over the past five years at Santander Arena. They return four starters and several key reserve players. Wilson pushed back its opener against Central Dauphin due to another lengthy football season. Madyx Gruber, Correll Akings, Mike Glover, Cam Zullinger, and Christo Hunsicker will all be making a quick transition from the gridiron. The Bulldogs had a great summer on the court. They didn’t lose a single game in the West Reading and Cedar Beach Leagues.

Reading is searching for its 26th Berks County title since 1980. It will be difficult to replace All-State selection Yadiel Cruz and his 22 points per game. Jeremiah Camara, the son of head coach Francis Camara, and Weshly Rosario return in the backcourt. The big question is when will 6’10 junior Blake Adams be able to play for the Red Knights. Nativity still hasn’t signed off on his transfer. Adams averaged nearly nine points, eight rebounds, and three blocks there a season ago. The good news is Kahlil Samuel has returned to Reading from New York, and there are a couple of young players to keep an eye on. Freshman Cameron “Bron Bron” Jones and sophomore Jostin DeCastro are names to remember.

Berks Catholic has the top player in the county and a coach with 815 career wins. Snip Esterly is preparing for his 36th year as a head coach. He will rely on 6’2 junior guard Kingston McKoy. The All-State pick has made a full recovery from a fractured tibia that occurred on January 23rd versus Reading. McKoy is an elite defender who can score at all three levels. The Saints will have some newcomers in the mix. Freshman guard Carmelo Harper opened eyes this summer and 6’2 junior forward Gavin Welker transferred from Daniel Boone. In addition, football standout Bryce Gumby has decided to play basketball again.

A nice collection of talent has assembled in Laureldale over the past few years. Freddy Lacey, a transfer from Daniel Boone, is the most recent to join the Muhls. All-County guard Shermar Killen is poised for a big senior season. Eli Hemmings is one of the top sophomores in the area. Jayden Kantner and L.J. Armstrong will help Muhlenberg to push the tempo, while Mike Miller provides a physical presence. The Muhls are always a dangerous opponent, especially in their gym.

Exeter has won 46 games over the past two seasons. The Eagles, however, lost three significant pieces to graduation in Kevin Saenz, Reece Garvin, and Alex Kelsey. Saenz was arguably the most versatile player in the county last year. Exeter will have a strong football flavor on its roster. Aidan Dauble, Carter Redding, Jayden Ware, and Braylon Reinert could all be in the starting lineup. They’re joined by a terrific long range shooter in Brady Murray.

There’s optimism in Shillington this winter. The Mustangs expect to improve upon a (8-14) record. They had ten juniors on the team last season. They’re all back with the exception of UConn baseball commit Bryce Detwiler. Former All-County guard Garrett Etzel returned to Gov. Mifflin as its head coach. Etzel was at the helm in Wyomissing last year. Matt Koehler, Andrew Galantuomo, Stephen Mayo, and Jahmair Johnson form an experienced nucleus for the Mustangs.

Speaking of experience, Conrad Weiser has seven seniors on its squad this year. Donovan Gingrich and Brady McKee have become household names in Robesonia. Gingrich holds the school record for 3-pointers in a career. McKee is a point guard with the ability to score. Evan Miller is back after not playing last season. He had shoulder surgery following the 2023 football season. All-State soccer player Gavin Rapp will also give the Scouts some size. Once again, Conrad Weiser has a new head coach. Joey Negron is in charge after being an assistant to Mike Dooley a season ago. Marquis Marshall, the son of longtime NBA player Donyell Marshall, has joined the Scouts’ staff.

Wyomissing has a new head coach as well. Konlan Krick is now leading the Spartans into battle. He was an assistant at Exeter for the previous seven years. Danny Fleischood is Wyomissing’s #1 scoring option. The 6’1 guard averaged a dozen points as a sophomore. The Spartans also have an outstanding all-around athlete in Justice Hardy (Football/Track), and a 3-point threat in Dylan Latourelle.

Schuylkill Valley, Oley Valley, and Antietam are other teams to watch. The Panthers went (15-7) last season and return three starters in Luke Spotts, Kowen Gerner, and Cooper Hohenadel. That trio helped Schuylkill Valley capture the Section 5 football championship in the Lancaster-Lebanon League this fall. Ben DeBalko knocked down 63 treys for the (12-11) Lynx a season ago. He led the county in that department. Antietam only had one senior on its roster last year when the Mounts finished (12-12). They qualified for the BCIAA and District 3 playoffs. Fleetwood won 20 games last season, but the Tigers must replace all five starters.

Without further ado, here is my preseason poll for the Berks Conference. The records listed below are from 2023-24. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (17-9)

2.Reading (22-11)

3.Berks Catholic (23-5)

4.Muhlenberg (16-12)

5.Exeter (19-10)

6.Gov. Mifflin (8-14)

7.Conrad Weiser (8-14)

8.Wyomissing (11-11)

Wilson earned its 29th Section 1 championship in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The Bulldogs completed their 49th consecutive winning season, a state record. Exeter made its third appearance in the District 3 Final in the past four years. The Eagles’ twelve wins were the most in Berks County this fall.

Two of Wyomissing’s three losses came against Lampeter-Strasburg, including a 30-27 overtime defeat in the District 3-4A championship. The Spartans are a staggering (71-9) over the last six years. Conrad Weiser had its best campaign since 1996. The Scouts captured the Section 3 title after going (2-8) a season ago.

Twin Valley reached the District 3 semifinals for the third straight year. Schuylkill Valley brought the Section 5 championship to Leesport. Berks Catholic returned to the District 3 playoffs in Dave Stahler’s first season as head coach.

Without further ado, here is my final Berks County high school football poll for 2024. Thanks to all of the coaches and athletic directors who helped with my coverage this year. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (11-2)

2.Exeter (12-2)

3.Wyomissing (10-3)

4.Conrad Weiser (10-1)

5.Twin Valley (9-3)

6.Schuylkill Valley (9-3)

7.Berks Catholic (7-5)

8.Gov. Mifflin (5-6)

Twin Valley’s season came to an end after a 31-13 loss at top-seeded Lampeter-Strasburg. Two of the Raiders’ three losses this year came at the hands of the (12-0) Pioneers. Twin Valley reached the District 3 semifinals for the third straight season. The 14 seniors on the Raiders’ roster helped to raise the bar in Elverson.

Wilson’s winning streak is up to nine. The Bulldogs have a tough test awaiting in the District 3-6A Championship. Harrisburg is trying to pull off a 4-peat. The (10-2) Cougars eliminated #1 seed Manheim Township 35-14 last week. Wilson and Harrisburg will square off on Saturday at 1pm at Exeter. I’ll have updates from Don Thomas Stadium.

Speaking of Exeter, the Eagles face another perennial powerhouse in the District 3-5A Final. Bishop McDevitt is looking for its 18th District title and fourth in a row. The (11-2) Crusaders battle Exeter on Friday at 7pm at ELCO. You could throw out the seeds in the Class 5A tournament this fall. Bishop McDevitt is the #6 seed and Exeter is a deceptive #8 seed with just one loss. I’ll have updates from Myerstown.

Wyomissing gets another shot at Lampeter-Strasburg on Friday. That’s a 7pm kickoff at Warwick. This time the District 3-4A crown is up for grabs. The second-seeded Spartans have claimed a dozen District 3 championships including five straight. The Pioneers are searching for their fourth District 3 title.

Without further ado, here is my Berks County high school football poll. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (11-1)

2.Exeter (12-1)

3.Wyomissing (10-2)

4.Conrad Weiser (10-1)

5.Twin Valley (9-3)

6.Schuylkill Valley (9-3)

7.Berks Catholic (7-5)

8.Gov. Mifflin (5-6)

The Bulldogs are riding an 8-game winning streak. They’ve allowed 20 points or less in every game since a Week 3 loss at Nazareth. Cedar Crest managed just a field goal last Friday in West Lawn. Wilson hosts third-seeded Central York this week in the District 3-6A semifinals. The (9-2) Panthers blew out CD East 47-14 in the quarterfinals. Brooklyn Nace, a 6’2 junior, has thrown for more than 2,000 yards this season. His top target is junior Brendyn Smith (5’10, 150). If you’re into comparing scores, Central York fell to Manheim Township 28-10 in Week 2. The Bulldogs defeated the Blue Streaks 34-16 in their regular season finale.

Exeter travels to #4 seed Conestoga Valley on Friday in the District 3-5A semifinals. These squads are very familiar with each other. The (11-0) Buckskins knocked off the Eagles 28-27 one month ago at Don Thomas Stadium. Jayden Zandier was ruled short of the goal line on a two-point conversion with eight seconds remaining. Exeter received some good news this week. Starting quarterback Riley Martinez was cleared to play after suffering a fracture in his right leg against Muhlenberg. Conestoga Valley junior QB Sawyer Esbenshade has passed for 1,934 yards and 24 touchdowns this fall.

Twin Valley also gets a shot at redemption this Friday. The fifth-seeded Raiders visit top-seeded Lampeter-Strasburg in the District 3-4A semifinals. The (11-0) Pioneers blasted Twin Valley 62-14 in Week 9. Caileb Howse has accounted for 31 offensive touchdowns this season. He has 1,312 yards through the air and another 1,183 on the ground. The Raiders got speedy running back Drew Engle back last week. He ran for 122 yards on 18 carries in a 47-19 victory at Susquehanna Township. Engle provided three scores. He had been out since suffering an injury in the season opener at Berks Catholic. Engle has 2,000 career rushing yards.

Wyomissing meets third-seeded West York on Saturday in the other District 3-4A semifinal. That’s a 1pm kickoff at Bob Wolfrum Field. The Spartans are (21-0) all-time in home playoff games! They dismantled East Pennsboro 31-0 last week. West York got past Eastern York 5-3 in the quarterfinals. Yes, that was the final score. The (9-2) Bulldogs dropped back-to-back contests in early October. They lost to South Western by 20 points and then got tripped up by New Oxford 41-14.

Without further ado, here is my Berks County high school football poll. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (10-1)

2.Exeter (11-1)

3.Wyomissing (9-2)

4.Conrad Weiser (10-1)

5.Twin Valley (9-2)

6.Schuylkill Valley (9-3)

7.Berks Catholic (7-5)

8.Gov. Mifflin (5-6)

Wilson meets #7 seed Cedar Crest in West Lawn on Friday. The winner advances to the District 3-6A semifinals. These schools met on September 20th with the Bulldogs prevailing 14-7. Wilson had a goal line stand in that one. The Falcons soared past #10 Hempfield 49-29 in the opening round.

Exeter travels to top-seeded New Oxford in the District 3-5A quarterfinals on Friday. The (10-0) Colonials are making their 11th appearance in the tournament. They’ve scored at least 30 points in eight consecutive contests. New Oxford’s closest game was its opener versus Bermudian Springs. The Colonials won 28-13. Exeter is hoping that 6’3 junior quarterback Riley Martinez can return this week from a fractured right leg.

Conrad Weiser takes on #6 Bishop McDevitt in Robesonia on Friday. Don’t be fooled by that seed. The Crusaders are (66-9) all-time in District’s with 17 championships, including three in a row. Kentucky commit Stone Saunders has thrown for 2,473 yards and 34 touchdowns. Bishop McDevitt’s two losses were to Harrisburg 35-33 in overtime and at State College 58-55 in Week 10. The third-seeded Scouts are making their 18th trip to the District 3 playoffs. I’ll have live updates from this Class 5A quarterfinal.

Twin Valley visits fourth-seeded Susquehanna Township in the District 3-4A quarterfinals on Friday. The (8-2) Indians are riding a 6-game winning streak. They have an explosive offense which features South Carolina commit Lex Cyrus and junior quarterback Torin “TD” Evans. Cyrus, a sprinter on the track team, has 52 catches for 819 yards and 8 TD. Evans is completing 65% of his passes with 26 TD and just 3 INT. He has thrown for 2,367 yards. The fifth-seeded Raiders are making their fourth straight appearance in the District 3 playoffs. Senior Evan Myers is now second in Berks County history with 5,595 career passing yards.

Wyomissing entertains #7 East Pennsboro on Saturday at 1pm at Bob Wolfrum Field. The second-seeded Spartans are (20-0) all-time in home playoff games! The (8-3) Panthers have won eight of their last nine contests. Junior quarterback Turner Barlup is completing 69% of his attempts for 1,430 yards. He has 14 touchdown tosses and only one pick. East Pennsboro eliminated #10 Susquehannock 42-14 last week. This is the Panthers’ 12th appearance in District’s. Wyomissing had a bye after getting tripped up by Lampeter-Strasburg 20-7.

Schuylkill Valley is on the road at #2 Trinity on Friday. The Panthers’ winning streak has climbed to eight. They hammered #6 Littlestown 55-13 last week in the Class 3A quarterfinals. That was Schuylkill Valley’s third victory in the District 3 tournament. The (8-2) Shamrocks competed in Class 2A in 2023. This is their 12th trip to District’s. Trinity has claimed three championships.

Berks Catholic heads to top-seeded Bermudian Springs on Friday. The (9-1) Eagles haven’t lost since their opener against New Oxford. Senior fullback Eddie Sebright has a team-high 943 rushing yards and 14 TD. He’s averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Bermudian Springs is in the District 3 field for the 21st time. The Eagles own three titles. The fifth-seeded Saints have won five games in a row. They’re (20-5) all-time in the District 3 playoffs with four championships. Berks Catholic cruised by #4 Biglerville 48-7 last week in the Class 3A quarterfinals.

Without further ado, here are my Berks County high school football rankings. The only change this week is that Berks Catholic and Gov. Mifflin switched spots. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (9-1)

2.Exeter (10-1)

3.Wyomissing (8-2)

4.Conrad Weiser (10-0)

5.Twin Valley (8-2)

6.Schuylkill Valley (9-2)

7.Berks Catholic (7-4)

8.Gov. Mifflin (5-6)

There are only a few small changes in my rankings this week. Wilson remains on top. The Bulldogs are the #2 seed in the District 3-6A tournament. They will host either #7 Cedar Crest or #10 Hempfield on November 8th.

Exeter and Wyomissing switched spots in my poll. The Eagles soared past Elizabethtown 71-0, while the Spartans fell at home to unbeaten Lampeter-Strasburg 20-7. That outcome gave the Pioneers the Section 4 crown. Exeter meets #9 seed South Western this Friday night at Don Thomas Stadium. That’s a first round matchup in the District 3-5A bracket. Wyomissing is seeded second in the District 3-4A field. The Spartans will host #7 East Pennsboro or #10 Susquehannock at 1pm on Saturday, November 9th.

Conrad Weiser has a bye as the #3 seed in the District 3-5A tournament. The Scouts could face perennial powerhouse Bishop McDevitt in the quarterfinals. The Crusaders take on #11 Lower Dauphin this week. Twin Valley is on the road next Friday. The fifth-seeded Raiders square off with fourth-seeded Susquehanna Township in the District 3-4A quarterfinals.

Schuylkill Valley moved up one position in my rankings, while Gov. Mifflin fell one spot. The Panthers are riding a 7-game winning streak. They play sixth-seeded Littlestown this Friday in Leesport. That’s a District 3-3A quarterfinal. Gov. Mifflin is back in the District 3 tournament. The ninth-seeded Mustangs head to #8 Cumberland Valley on Friday night. The winner will get top-seeded Manheim Township in the Class 6A quarterfinals.

Berks Catholic also returns to the District 3 playoffs this season. The Saints qualified by taking down Annville-Cleona 49-14 last week. Berks Catholic is the #5 seed in the Class 3A field. The Saints travel to fourth-seeded Biglerville this Friday. Berks Catholic and Schuylkill Valley are on opposite sides of the bracket.

Without further ado, here is my new Berks County high school football poll. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (9-1)

2.Exeter (9-1)

3.Wyomissing (8-2)

4.Conrad Weiser (10-0)

5.Twin Valley (8-2)

6.Schuylkill Valley (8-2)

7.Gov. Mifflin (5-5)

8.Berks Catholic (6-4)

There are numerous changes in my rankings. Wilson takes over the top spot from Exeter. The Bulldogs visit undefeated Manheim Township on Friday. Wilson is seeking its 29th Section 1 crown in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The Bulldogs will have to deal with Declan Clancy and Carson Weisser. Clancy has rumbled for 1,472 yards and 17 touchdowns. Weisser has thrown for 1,562 yards in his first year as the starter. He has 22 TD passes and just one interception. I’ll have live updates from Neffsville.

On Saturday afternoon, I’ll be at Bob Wolfrum Field as Wyomissing and Lampeter-Strasburg battle for the Section 4 championship. I mentioned Caileb Howse last week and he finished with 323 rushing yards and 7 TD runs against Twin Valley. The (9-0) Pioneers hammered the Raiders 62-14 in a stunner. Howse has 1,148 yards through the air and a team-high 1,030 on the ground. The Spartans got bumped up one spot in my poll this week.

Exeter suffered an excruciating 28-27 loss to Conestoga Valley at Don Thomas Stadium. The Eagles are still in position to host a District 3 playoff game. They’re the #8 seed in Class 5A. Exeter travels to Elizabethtown on Friday. The (2-7) Bears fell to Gov. Mifflin 48-14 last week.

Conrad Weiser jumps up one position in my new rankings. The Scouts meet Unionville in Robesonia this Friday. Conrad Weiser is going for its first (10-0) start since 1996!

Twin Valley drops one spot in my poll. The Raiders have allowed 96 points in their last two contests. They try to get back on track this week in Birdsboro. Daniel Boone is sitting at (1-8).

Gov. Mifflin heads south on Route 222 to Ephrata this Friday. Both teams are (5-4). Meanwhile, Schuylkill Valley takes on Lancaster Catholic in Leesport. The Panthers are riding a 6-game winning streak. The (6-3, 5-1) Crusaders trail Schuylkill Valley by one game in the Section 5 standings.

Berks Catholic returns to my rankings after a 48-14 victory over Hamburg. The Hawks were without injured quarterback Tyler Shuey. The Saints are on the bubble in the District 3-3A playoff race. They travel to (4-5) Annville-Cleona this week.

Fleetwood fell out of my poll following a 55-10 defeat at Solanco. The (3-6) Tigers host (6-3) Cocalico on Friday. All three of the Eagles’ losses have come against undefeated teams.

Without further ado, here are my Berks County high school football rankings. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (8-1)

2.Wyomissing (8-1)

3.Exeter (8-1)

4.Conrad Weiser (9-0)

5.Twin Valley (7-2)

6.Gov. Mifflin (5-4)

7.Schuylkill Valley (7-2)

8.Berks Catholic (5-4)

The Eagles entertain unbeaten Conestoga Valley at Don Thomas Stadium. The winner will be on top of Section 2. The Buckskins have outscored their opponents 302-61. Sawyer Esbenshade has thrown for 1,338 yards and 17 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Exeter moved All-State running back Jayden Zandier to quarterback after Riley Martinez suffered a leg injury. Zandier ran for two scores, threw for another, and returned a kickoff 95 yards to the house against Hempfield last week.

Wilson meets McCaskey in West Lawn. The (2-6) Red Tornado are winless in league play. After knocking off Twin Valley 34-24, Wyomissing moves up one spot in my rankings. The Spartans travel to Octorara on Friday. The Braves have split their eight contests.

Twin Valley got right back to work with another tough opponent on tap. The Raiders visit undefeated Lampeter-Strasburg on Friday. Senior quarterback Caileb Howse has completed 68% of his passes with 10 TD and no interceptions. He has also rushed for 707 yards and eleven touchdowns.

Conrad Weiser makes the short trip to Cocalico this week. The (6-2) Eagles are riding a 5-game winning streak, while the Scouts are banged up. Top receiver Evan Rittle broke his collarbone against Warwick last Friday. Rittle had nine touchdown catches this season. Javien Rivera, Conrad Weiser’s leading rusher, suffered a foot injury last week. He was averaging 5.6 yards per carry with 10 TD.

Gov. Mifflin squares off with Elizabethtown in Shillington. The Bears are sitting at (2-6). Schuylkill Valley battles Annville-Cleona in Leesport on Friday. The Panthers have won five straight. The Dutchmen are (4-4).

After almost rallying to beat Manheim Central, Fleetwood enters my poll at #8. That spot has been a revolving door this fall. The Tigers head to Solanco this week. Muhlenberg drops out of my rankings following a 32-0 loss at Ephrata. The (3-5) Muhls travel to Academy Park on Saturday. That’s a 1pm kickoff.

Without further ado, here is my Berks County high school football poll. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Exeter (8-0)

2.Wilson (7-1)

3.Wyomissing (7-1)

4.Twin Valley (7-1)

5.Conrad Weiser (8-0)

6.Gov. Mifflin (4-4)

7.Schuylkill Valley (6-2)

8.Fleetwood (3-5)