HERSHEY — Trailing by seven in the fourth quarter of the PIAA Class 3A championship game, Wyomissing faced a fourth-and-goal at the Central Valley 3-yard line.
The Spartans kept the offense on the field, but could not find the end zone. Quarterback Ben Zechman was stripped by defensive lineman Sean FitzSimmons, and defensive back Jayvin Thompson recovered the fumble to end the scoring threat.
“We were trying (to throw) a sprint pass to the corner of the end zone,” Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum said. “I guess we didn’t get that big guy blocked again. He got a hold of the ball and knocked it loose.”
Thanks to the goal-line stand, Central Valley completed the 7-0 victory over Wyomissing at Hersheypark Stadium, defeating the Spartans for the second straight season in the title game.
The Warriors have won 27 consecutive games.
“That’s what they’ve been doing all year,” Central Valley coach Mark Lyons said about his defense’s performance near the goal line. “The strength of our team all year has been our front six.”
The only score of the game came early in the fourth quarter, as Warriors running back Landon Alexander broke loose and ran for a 28-yard touchdown. The extra point from kicker Serafino DeSantis was good to make it 7-0 with under 10 minutes to play.
“We were trying to seal the outside,” Wyomissing cornerback Amory Thompson said. “Alexander did what great running backs do; he found the one little seam and hit the hole as hard as he could and scored.”
The score completed a 60-yard drive. Alexander finished with 231 yards rushing and the touchdown on 35 carries.
“He’s so driven,” Lyons said about Alexander. “He’s a special young man.”
Following the score, the Spartans were in desperate need of a momentum-shifting play.
“We needed a big play,” guard and linebacker Jack Miller said. “We needed something to get us going.”
Wyomissing showed some life immediately, as junior Drew Eisenhower returned the ensuing kickoff 63 yards and the Spartans began the drive at the Warriors 28-yard line.
Wyomissing powered its way to the 7-yard line, and initially decided to attempt a field goal on fourth down. However, the Warriors jumped offside and the ball was moved to the 3-yard line due to the penalty. Wolfrum then decided to send his offense back onto the field.
“We thought, ‘Well maybe we’re close enough, we can make a play,’ ” Wolfrum said.
After stopping Wyomissing (15-1) short of the end zone with just over six minutes remaining, Central Valley (15-0) kept the ball on the ground and consumed the clock. The Warriors converted on a fourth-and-short deep in their own territory to keep the drive alive before eventually punting the ball to the Spartans with 20 seconds remaining.
Wyomissing could not generate a miracle on its final possession. The Spartans struggled on offense, generating just 102 rushing yards and 13 passing yards.
“It’s just tough that we couldn’t even make a showing on offense,” Wolfrum said. “We could do nothing.”
Saturday marked the first time Wyomissing was held scoreless since a 49-0 loss to Middletown on Nov. 16, 2017, in the District 3 Class 3A championship game at Hersheypark Stadium.
On the other side of the ball, the Wyomissing defense was dominant. The Spartans held Central Valley scoreless on its two trips to the red zone.
“We made a lot of great stops on defense,” Wolfrum. “I’m really proud of the way we played that.”
On its opening possession of the game, the Warriors drove down the field before attempting a 24-yard field goal. The low kick was blocked by Wyomissing’s J.J. Jackson, who broke through the line and got a hand on the ball.
Late in the third quarter with the game still scoreless, Central Valley quarterback Matt Merritt attempted a jump pass from just inside the 10-yard line. Wyomissing linebacker Tommy Grabowski made a one-handed interception at the 1-yard line and returned it 20 yards.
Linebacker Matthew Kramer led all Spartans with nine tackles. Defensive back Charles McIntyre recorded 7.5 tackles.
Wolfrum said he will remember the 2021 Spartans for their willingness to work.
“A lot of heart, a lot of hard work,” he said. “It was a special group of kids.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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