Berks Sports Report Paul Roberts
Berks Catholic was averaging 35.7 points and 335 rushing yards per game going into Friday’s matchup with Trinity. The Shamrocks’ defense was more than up to the challenge in the District 3-3A Championship at ELCO. Third-seeded Trinity held top-seeded Berks Catholic to 62 total yards and (-3) yards through the air. The Shamrocks prevailed 17-0 to earn their fourth District 3 title and second in four years. “We didn’t make plays when they were there. We’re not built to come from behind so that was hard for us,” explained Saints’ head coach Dave Stahler. Berks Catholic had attempted just 75 passes in its first eleven contests. The Saints rely on their Wing-T ground attack, but Trinity controlled the line of scrimmage. The Shamrocks’ defensive line includes Richmond commit Marcus Yeager (6’4, 225), Sam Maulbah (6’3, 275), and Dameon Reese (6’4, 300). Maddox Jarzynski and Brandon Harris, a 230-pound sophomore, are standouts at linebacker. Berks Catholic could only muster 13 yards in the first half.
The (10-3) Shamrocks went up 3-0 on Logan Amatucci’s 30-yard field goal with 8:30 left in the second quarter. After struggling early, senior quarterback Mason Boyer came alive late in the first half. He engineered a 90-yard drive in just two minutes. Boyer connected with Jarzynski for 18 and 23 yard gains. They hooked up again for a 15-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline with 24 seconds on the clock. Boyer was 6-for-7 on that series. He finished 17-of-30 for 177 yards and 2 TD. Boyer has thrown for just over 1,900 yards with 23 touchdowns this season.
The Saints trailed 10-0 at halftime. Berks Catholic had some momentum in the third quarter after a 16-yard run by Jeremiah Camara. On third-and-21, Johnny Sauppee scrambled and took a late hit. That personal foul set up a fourth-and-2 at Trinity’s 26-yard line. Sophomore Coy Koller went up the middle for four yards to move the chains. However, the drive stalled from there and ended with no points when Alex Reali barely missed a 40-yard field goal with 1:09 remaining in the quarter. The Shamrocks responded by marching 80 yards over seven minutes and twenty seconds. Harris ripped off a 24-yard run and Boyer found Yeager for 24 more yards. Jarzynski sealed it with a 8-yard touchdown grab in the left corner of the end zone. He and Yeager entered the night with 101 combined receptions for 1,361 yards. “They’re big, strong kids. I thought we had people on them all night. I don’t think it was a scheme flaw. I thought our kids did everything they could and there were just physical mismatches we couldn’t quite overcome…Even when they were covered, they could make the play,” replied Stahler. Gavin Mann intercepted Sauppee with 2:27 to go at Trinity’s 45-yard line. It was the Saints’ second turnover of the game. They fumbled on their opening possession which was recovered by Caleb Klepeiss. Berks Catholic ended up with just 65 rushing yards. Camara had a dozen carries for 40 yards. Sauppee was 3-of-5 for (-3) yards.
The (9-3) Saints saw their eight-game winning streak come to a close, but Stahler remained positive. “I’m so proud of this group of kids. They heard from everybody how bad they were gonna be and they worked their tails off all year. I love those kids. I wish we had more time together; that’s my only disappointment tonight,” he said. Berks Catholic was denied its fifth District 3 championship, but the Saints did capture the Section 5 title in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Faith Zudie and Eric Bennethum played very well at defensive end against the Shamrocks, and Josiah Turman came up with an interception. They will all be returning along with Camara, Koller, Damoni Daglis, Ryan Spatz, Mason Mace, Wyatt Burkman, and others. “I think this is a motivated group. I think these kids really care about each other. I think they like being at Berks Catholic. We have a good thing going for next year,” emphasized Stahler.