After an exciting Week 1, Berks County football is back in full swing, this time with the action starting early, as four games are set for Thursday night.
Thursday night’s slate is highlighted by Fleetwood hosting Upper Perkiomen in a non-league matchup. The Tigers are coming off a dominant 54-34 victory over Kutztown and will look to carry that momentum into Week 2.
Holding a narrow 21-14 lead at halftime, Fleetwood came out strong in the second half, quickly pulling away with a 14-yard touchdown run by Beau Fegely and a 6-yard touchdown pass from Chase McMonagle to Damian McKinney.
“We went into halftime with some momentum and just stressed that in the second half that every possession has to be a score,” Tigers head coach Steve Pangburn said.
Fegely led the way on the ground, racking up 213 yards and four touchdowns on just nine carries. His backfield partner, Nathan Kummerer, added 84 yards and a touchdown of his own.
“We slowly started to see Beau as a potential running back over the summer. Happy we made the switch,” Pangburn said. “We really like what we have in the backfield (with Fegely and Kummerer).”
Upper Perkiomen edged Fleetwood 28-21 in last year’s matchup, but the Indians are coming off a tight 20-17 loss to Boyertown in their season opener.
Pangburn emphasized the importance of execution in close games, stressing the need to make winning plays, match Upper Perkiomen’s physicality, and perform cleanly in all phases.
With the game moved up a day because of referee shortages and the upcoming holiday weekend, Fleetwood will miss a key practice day this week.
As a result, the Tigers are adjusting their schedule, cutting back on individual periods and focusing more on install work to prepare for the short week.
This week’s Friday night game of the week features Gov. Mifflin (1-0) hosting Perkiomen Valley. The Mustangs are looking for redemption after falling to the Vikings 31-14 last season and are aiming to start 2-0 for the first time since 2021.
In Week 1, Gov. Mifflin secured a 35-20 victory over Pleasant Valley, scoring in every quarter, all on the ground, and featuring an electrifying 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Patrick Steuer.
Quarterback LeBron Leaf made an immediate impact in 2025, rushing for 68 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. The senior looks poised for a big season in Section 2.
For their first home game of the season, Wyomissing hosts The Haverford School. The Spartans made a statement in Week 1 with a 49-27 win over Southern Columbia.
After holding a 14-7 lead at halftime, Wyomissing exploded in the third quarter, putting up 28 points and partying in the end zone.
Marcus Armistead opened the scoring with a 55-yard pick-six as the Tigers were driving on their first possession, followed by a 62-yard touchdown run from Justice Hardy.
“I thought they had us on the ropes at halftime,” Spartans coach Bob Wolfrum said. “We sort of were dead towards the end of the first half, and they were starting to drive in the third quarter, and then we had that pick-six by Marcus Armstead, and that changed the game around completely.”
Brady Eisenhower connected with Andrew DiFabrizio on a 25-yard touchdown pass, while Tyler Niedrowski added a 58-yard rushing score during the Spartans’ third-quarter surge.
Wyomissing racked up 434 yards of total offense, relying heavily on their ground game with just 27 passing yards. Justice Hardy led the charge with 197 yards and two touchdowns on only eight carries.
“It’s nice to have kids that can go the distance if the linemen give them the chance to break the line of scrimmage,” Wolfrum said,
The Spartans have a young offensive line, with none of the starters returning from last season. After a frustrating start to the summer due to inconsistencies, Week 1 showcased the squad’s potential.
Wolfrum singled out junior tight end Diamante Strong for his phenomenal play at the point of attack, noting that he’ll be a key factor in the team’s offensive success this season.
It’s a unit that will be tested in Week 2 against The Haverford School, a private Philadelphia school, that has the ability to recruit outside talent.
“We’re going to have to block them because we couldn’t last year,” Wolfrum said on the key to winning. “They’re extremely talented. It’ll be a great test for us.”
The Spartans will be looking to avenge their 2024 loss to the Fords, who shut them down 20-3 last season. That defeat served as a turning point for Wolfrum’s squad; they responded with a seven-game winning streak, averaging a 31-point margin of victory.
Other Thursday night games include Berks Catholic (0-1) hosting Executive Education, Elco visiting Conrad Weiser (1-0), and a Berks County showdown between Schuylkill Valley (0-1) and Daniel Boone (0-1).
The Saints fell 45-19 to Twin Valley in Week 1, getting outgained 308 yards to 208.
The Scouts, despite losing a lot of key talent, came away with a surprising 29-22 victory over Abington. Brayden Sweitzer led the ground attack with 133 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
Meanwhile, the Panthers and Blazers both suffered blowout losses against tough Section 2 opponents in Week 1. Both teams will be eager to bounce back and earn their first wins of the 2025 season after early struggles.
The Battle of the Border Trophy returns this week as Muhlenberg (1-0) travels to Reading High (0-1). The Red Knights have claimed the trophy three years in a row, but the Muhls come in confident after a dominant all-around performance against Schuylkill Valley.
Quarterback Adriel Baez and wide receiver Michael Miller led the charge, connecting four times for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the Muhls’ win.
Reading struggled in its season opener against Phoenixville, falling 28-6 and managing just 112 yards of offense over four quarters.
Teams aiming to secure their second win of the 2025 season include Exeter (1-0) at Boyertown, Twin Valley (1-0) at Selinsgrove, and Wilson (1-0) at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
The Eagles dominated Daniel Boone 64-7, with Leo Brown rushing for 151 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries.
The Raiders were led by Drew Engle, who tallied 152 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while fellow back Lucas Myers added 58 yards and three scores on six carries.
The Bulldogs secured a 35-24 victory over Cheltenham behind first-year starting quarterback Mason Young, who completed 17 of 22 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns.
Seeking their first wins of the season, Hamburg hosts Midd-West while Kutztown welcomes York County Tech.
The Hawks struggled in their opener under first-year head coach Tyler Hartranft, falling 34-6 to Octorara and gaining just 129 total yards.
Meanwhile, the Cougars put up a strong fight against Fleetwood, taking some positives into Week 2. They totaled 479 yards of offense, with the trio of Mason Sherry, Ian Bahr, and Ryan Walters combining for 368 yards and four touchdowns on 50 carries on the ground.
The week’s schedule
Thursday
Executive Education at Berks Catholic, 6 p.m.
Upper Perkiomen at Fleetwood, 7 p.m.
Schuylkill Valley at Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.
Elco at Conrad Weiser, 7 p.m.
Friday
Perkiomen Valley at Gov. Mifflin, 7 p.m.
Reading at Muhlenberg, 7 p.m.
Exeter at Boyertown, 7 p.m.
Midd-West at Hamburg, 7 p.m.
York County Tech at Kutztown, 7 p.m.
Twin Valley at Selinsgrove, 7 p.m.
Wilson at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 7 p.m.
Saturday
The Haverford School at Wyomissing, 1:30 p.m.
Source: Berkshire mont
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