Spartans vs. Warriors: a battle of opposites

by Mike Drago , Reading Eagle

Posted on November 29, 2006

Montoursville is more physical than Wyomissing, but Wyomissing may be able to exploit Montoursville's pass defense.

Montoursville coach Jim Bergen admits he'll be happy to see Wyomissing walk into Hersheypark Stadium Saturday for a PIAA Class AA quarterfinal. After tangling with Lancaster Catholic last year, he didn't want any part of the pass-happy Crusaders.
“We don't match up real well with their throwing game,” Bergen said.

If he had his way, Spartans coach Bob Wolfrum would pick someone other than Montoursville to play. The Warriors (12-1) are the kind of big, physically punishing team that has troubled Wyomissing.

“These guys are relentless,” Wolfrum said of the District 4-AA champs. “They just keep coming at you. They're really big, and they have a big fullback to pound the ball.”

The Spartans (13-0) have a wealth of riches, particularly among their skill position players. As Lancaster Catholic found out last week Wyomissing can strike from anywhere at any time, and with any one of several swift ballcarriers or receivers.

What the Spartans don't particularly have in excess are 250-pound linemen who can slug it out. Just like on offense, their defense relies on speed and precision.

The teams that gave Wyomissing the most trouble this season were physical, pound-it-out clubs such as Muhlenberg and Central Catholic. The Muhls, remember, took the Spartans to overtime.

“We have to adjust to some things to account for the size difference,” Wolfrum said. “We're just gonna have to use run blitzes, which we normally don't bother with, just got to make sure it's not 5 yards at a crack.”

The Warriors' big offensive line is young they start a freshman, a pair of sophomores, a junior and a first-year senior. The development of that front line is one reason, Bergen said, his team has come on so well late in the season.

They stopped Hughesville 34-0 in a playoff opener after winning only 21-7 in Week 3. They whipped Mifflinburg 45-18 two weeks ago after winning by just 26-18 in Week 8.

“At this point,” said Bergen, asked if his team was peaking, “we're playing well.”

All-league running back Luke Trick has rushed for 1,433 yards and 18 TDs, spearheading an offense that averages 33.5 points and 362 total yards per game.

The Warriors defense has been solid eight teams have been held to a TD or less but it has been vulnerable at times to the pass. The Warriors have given up an average of 118 yards per game through the air.

After seeing Mike Mancias complete 15-of-18 for 231 yards a week ago, the Spartans are fully capable of testing that.

“That's something we've taken notice of and we're gonna try to exploit that,” Wolfrum said.

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