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District 3-AAAA Championship Game Preview Capsule
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Article RatingDistrict 3 Class AAAA championship
Cumberland Valley Eagles (2, 12-1) vs.
Wilson Bulldogs (1, 13-0)
Saturday, 6 p.m.
Site: Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey
What’s next: Winner advances to PIAA Class AAAA semifinals opposite District 7 champion Bethel Park (14-0), a 17-14 winner over State College, next Friday or Saturday at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona.
Coaches: Cumberland Valley — Tim Rimpfel (20th year, 264-87-3); Wilson — Doug Dahms (3rd year, 33-6).
Common opponents: Warwick. Cumberland Valley beat the Warriors, 49-13, in the first round of the 3-AAAA playoffs; Wilson beat Warwick, 24-0, in a Lancaster-Lebanon Section I game Oct. 31.
Penn Manor. Cumberland Valley beat the Comets, 42-10, in the 3-AAAA quarterfinals Nov. 14; Wilson beat Penn Manor, 42-0, in an L-L Section I game Oct. 24.
Governor Mifflin. Cumberland Valley beat the Mustangs, 44-0, in the 3-AAAA semifinals last week; Wilson beat Gov. Mifflin, 35-14, in a non-conference season-opener Aug. 29.
All-time series: Cumberland Valley, 5-3. First met in 1984; last met in 2000.
Average points for-against: Cumberland Valley — 35.0-11.4; Wilson — 40.3-7.0.
Key players: Cumberland Valley — Nate Rhodes, sr., QB-OLB; Mike Frenette, sr., RB-OLB; Travis Friend, jr., FB-ILB; Matt Lengel, sr., TE-DE; Landon Van Dell, sr., SE-FS; Nate Hinkle, sr., TE-DE; Brandon Morris, sr., G-DT; Andrew Reiersen, sr., PK-P. Wilson — Steve Huber, sr., QB; Zacc Groff, sr., RB-LB; Dylan Stopper, sr., RB-LB; Alex Fegley, sr., WR-DB; Nick Greth, jr., RB-LB; Tyler Beck, jr., TE-DE; Colton Weaver, sr., ILB; Rodney Hill, sr., G-DT; Pat Zerbe, sr., G-ILB; Jordan Holbert, sr., RB-OLB.
Cumberland Valley facts: Owns eight District 3-AAAA titles but hasn’t played for one since 2003 when it beat Reading, 32-14. ... Compiled an 8-4 record in 3-AAAA title games. ... Placed second in Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division to unbeaten State College, another PIAA quarterfinalist. ... Currently on an 11-game winning streak. ... Last met Wilson on Nov. 10, 2000 in 3-AAAA semifinals. CV won, 21-7. ... Won four games decided by one possession and lost one. ... Outscored its first three playoff foes 135-23. ... Accumulated 1,166 offensive yards and yielded 633 in the playoffs. ... A lost fumble in the third quarter of semifinal was first postseason turnover. ... Turnover ratio is plus-20; forced four fumbles in a game four times this year. ... Met Wilson in tow other 3-AAA finals and lost both . ... Rhodes has completed 71 of 127 passes for 1,455 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. ... Frenette, the area’s leading rusher, has 1,643 yards on 206 attempts and 23 touchdowns. ... Lengel leads the team in receiving yards with 444 and three scores.
Wilson facts: Only school not affiliated with the Mid-Penn Conference to win a 3-AAAA title. Program won championships in 1989, ‘90 and ‘99. Beat Cedar Cliff for first title and CV for other two. ... As the No. 12 seed last November, beat Altoona and York William Penn on the road before taking eventual district champion Harrisburg to overtime before losing, 17-14. ... First-team defense, which has allowed one touchdown in its last 11 games, limited Bishop McDevitt to one first down through three-plus quarters in the semifinals Friday. ... Also advanced to semifinals in 2006 before losing to rival Governor Mifflin. ...Vaunted defense has forced 33 turnovers and averages 154.1 yards against. ... The offense, which averages 349.3 yards per game, has totaled at least 151 points in every quarter but the fourth. ... 7-0 record in Section I of the Lancaster-Lebanon League was good for a two-game advantage over Penn Manor. ... 18 of 22 starters are seniors. ... Weaver broke school career tackles record in first round with 320. ... Huber has completed 74 of 136 passes for 1,115 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. ... Groff is leading rusher with 1,488 yards on 166 attempts. Stopper is second at 527. ... Fegley leads receivers with 668 yards on 36 catches for an 18.5 average.
Breakdown: What do Rhodes, Frenette, Friend, Lengel, Huber, Groff and Stopper all have in common? They’re household names who get their fair share of attention. Something tells us this game will be decided by a player who isn’t such a known commodity. These are obviously the top two teams in the district as the playoff results have shown. Wilson scores a tad more and gives up a little less than the Eagles, who arguably played the tougher of the two schedules. Wilson hasn’t been in a close game since its 21-15 win over 3-AAA finalist Manheim Central on Sept. 5. and that lack of competition could have a negative effect on the top-seeded ‘Dawgs. Now, back to our opening comment about an unlikely figure sending one of these two powers to the state semifinals. That would be CV place-kicker Andrew Reiersen, who hasn’t missed an extra point since Week 3 at Altoona. The senior has seven field goals, including a tough 26-yarder on a frozen field in frigid conditions last week, and lifted the Eagles over Harrisburg with two field goals in Week 8 when the Cougars scored one more touchdown than CV and lost. The same fate could befall Wilson if Reiersen is asked to deliver most of the points against a relentless defense.
Prediction: Cumberland Valley, 16-14.
Cumberland Valley schedule and results
(12-1 overall, 4-1 Mid-Penn Commonwealth)
Aug. 29 at Red Lion W 31-12
Sept. 5 State College* L 14-17
Sept. 12 at Altoona* W 15-8
Sept. 19 at CD East W 45-0
Sept. 26 at Chambersburg* W 55-3
Oct. 3 at Lower Dauphin W 31-28
Oct. 10 Carlisle W 42-13
Oct. 17 Harrisburg* W 27-25
Oct. 24 Cedar Cliff W 34-0
Oct. 31 Central Dauphin* W 27-20 (OT)
District 3-AAAA playoffs
Nov. 7 Warwick W 49-13
Nov. 14 Penn Manor W 42-10
Nov. 21 Governor Mifflin W 44-0
*-denotes Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division game
Cumberland Valley history in District 3
Class AAAA championship games
(8-4 record)
1985: Carlisle 27, Cumberland Valley 3
1987: Cedar Cliff 2, Cumberland Valley 0
1990: Wilson 34, Cumberland Valley 32
1991: Cumberland Valley 14, Lancaster McCaskey 6
1992: Cumberland Valley 10, Harrisburg 7
1993: Cumberland Valley 19, Chambersburg 14
1994: Cumberland Valley 21, Gettysburg 13
1998: Cumberland Valley 14, Central Dauphin 10
1999: Wilson 47, Cumberland Valley 0
2000: Cumberland Valley 49, South Western 14
2001: Cumberland Valley 28, Lancaster McCaskey 18
2003: Cumberland Valley 32, Reading 14
Wilson schedule and results
(13-0 overall, 7-0 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section I)
Aug. 29 Governor Mifflin W 35-14
Sept. 5 Manheim Central W 20-15
Sept. 12 at Downingtown East W 34-0
Sept. 19 Lancaster McCaskey* W 44-7
Sept. 26 at Cedar Crest* W 55-14
Oct. 3 Hempfield* W 45-13
Oct. 10 at Reading* W 46-6
Oct. 17 Manheim Twp.* W 51-3
Oct. 24 at Penn Manor* W 42-0
Oct. 31 at Warwick* W 24-0
District 3-AAAA playoffs
Nov. 7 Elizabethtown W 35-14
Nov. 14 Muhlenberg W 46-0
Nov. 21 Bishop McDevitt W 48-6
*-denotes Lancaster-Lebanon Section I game
Wilson history in District 3
Class AAAA championship games
(3-2 record)
1989: Wilson 17, Cedar Cliff 7
1990: Wilson 34, Cumberland Valley 32
1996: Cedar Cliff 38, Wilson 13
1999: Wilson 47, Cumberland Valley 0
2002: Central Dauphin 35, Wilson 33
Starting
lineups
Cumberland Valley
OFFENSE
SE — Landon Van Dell, sr., 6-0, 165
OT — Caleb Boyer, sr., 6-0, 255
G — Tyler Pierce, sr., 6-2, 215
C — Ethan Mengle, sr., 6-3, 230
G — Brandon Morris, sr., 6-2, 255
OT — Charlie Livick, sr., 6-3, 300
TE — Matt Lengel, sr., 6-7, 220
HB — Mike Frenette, sr., 5-9, 175
FB — Travis Friend, jr., 6-2, 235
HB — Kevin Snyder, soph., 6-1, 190
QB — Nate Rhodes, sr., 5-10, 180
DEFENSE
DE — Matt Lengel, sr., 6-7, 200
DT — Corey Salmon, jr., 6-0, 255
DT — Brandon Morris, sr., 6-2, 255
DE — Nate Hinkle, sr., 6-2, 215
OLB — Nate Rhodes, sr., 5-10, 180
ILB — Jared Mizak, sr., 5-11, 195
ILB — Travis Friend, jr., 6-2, 235
OLB — Mike Frenette, sr., 5-9, 175
CB — Jon Anzur, sr., 5-8, 155
FS — Landon Van Dell, sr., 6-0, 165
CB — Trevor Harman, jr., 6-0, 175
Wilson
OFFENSE
LT — Josh Forry, sr., 6-2, 190
LG — Rodney Hill, sr., 6-0, 275
C — Zach Gorddard, sr., 5-11, 195
RG — Pat Zerbe, sr., 6-2, 246
RT — Jon Wagner, sr., 6-2, 235
TE — Tyler Beck, jr., 6-3, 210
WR — Alex Fegley, sr., 6-0, 160
WR — Connor Snyder, sr., 6-1, 170
FB — Dylan Stopper, sr., 5-11, 215
TB — Zacc Groff, sr., 5-10, 190
QB — Steve Huber, sr., 6-1, 175
DEFENSE
DE — Tyler Beck, jr., 6-3, 210
DT — Rodney Hill, sr., 6-0, 275
DT — Chris Spayd, sr., 5-10, 200
DE — Jon Wagner, sr., 6-2, 235
OLB — Jordan Holbert, sr., 5-7, 165
ILB — Colton Weaver, sr., 6-0, 215
ILB — Pat Zerbe, sr., 6-2, 246
OLB — Andy Capozello, sr., 6-1, 180
CB — Alex Fegley, sr., 6-0, 160
S — Connor Snyder, sr., 6-1, 170
CB — Patrick O’Brien, jr., 5-10, 160
