RECAP: Shorthanded Wilson overpowers Penn Manor

Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub

Joe Mays | September 21, 2018

All week long Wilson head coach Doug Dahms was concerned with his team’s depth – or lack thereof – entering Friday night’s Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 opener against Penn Manor in West Lawn. Those thoughts were unfounded as Dahms’ squad blanked the visiting Comets, 44-0, rebounding from their 4th Quarter collapse against Manheim Central last week.

Wilson football head coach Doug Dahms speaks to his team prior to their win over Penn Manor on Friday, September 21st, 2018, at John Gurski Stadium.

Bulldogs senior RB Elijah Morales rushed 15 times for 169 yards and 2 scores, all in the 1st Half. Sophomore QB Kaleb Brown earned a series as the Wilson field general in place of senior Anthony Futrick and took a QB option to the endzone from 47-yards out. All in all six different Bulldogs quarterbacks took snaps: Futrick, Brown, senior Cameron Heckman, junior Nick Williams, sophomore Ryan Moseman, and sophomore Corey Powers. Heckman got involved in the 1st Half scoring avalanche when he connected with sophomore WR Troy Corson on a 22-yard TD pass just before halftime to give Wilson a 31-0 advantage.

It wasn’t just the Bulldogs offense that was clicking against Penn Manor. The defense picked up right where they left off in Manheim, shutting out the Comets and holding them to just eight first downs, 22 yards rushing, a total of 146 yards, and surrendering just one third down conversion. It’s Wilson’s first shutout since they blanked J.P. McCaskey on September 30th, 2016. Better yet, they kept the Comets out of the endzone without the services of LBs Nick Johnson, Avanti Lockhart, and Cameron Magalotti, and CB Connor Cooke, all in street clothes on the sidelines due to injuries. Starting LT Ryan Silvious also missed the game and was replaced admirably by senior Carter Henry.

Offense? Check! Defense? Check! Special teams? Yes, Wilson saw some strong performances in the third phase of the game too. When the Bulldogs needed to punt, QB/CB Kaleb Brown handled the duties, booming it 44 yards. Sophomore PK Jack Wagner hit on a 26-yard FG to give Wilson a 24-0 lead with 6:34 left in the 2nd Quarter. He also missed a PAT. Corson continued his inconsistent play as punt returner, returning one 58-yards for a TD near the beginning of the 3rd Quarter but also muffing one in the 2nd Quarter.

In the end Wilson played a complete game, perhaps their first this season. They improve to 3-2 (1-0 in LL League Section 1) while Penn Manor drops to 0-5 (0-1). The Comets were shut out for the third time this season. They’ll try to regroup and earn their first win in Lancaster next Friday against McCaskey. The Bulldogs head back to Manheim to play the Manheim Township Blue Streaks, who are a perfect 5-0 this season.

KEY STAT: 411. No, the Bulldogs didn’t need any extra assistance on the ground in this one as Morales and Co. steamrolled their way to over 400 yards in the running game. Hat tip to that o-line: Henry, Nate Keller, Adam Vanino, Anthony Koper, and Mike Kline.

PAFootballNews.com Contributor/Reporter Joe Mays is a 2003 Wilson High School alum and has been covering the Bulldogs football program since 2010. He rebooted the old WilsonTV program, The Bulldog Hour, prior to the 2015 football season and maintains a volunteer position with the team as Social Media Strategist/Outreach Coordinator/Historical Preservation Officer. Want to talk more about Wilson football or the Lancaster-Lebanon League? Find him on Twitter @CoachJoeMays or the podcast @BulldogHour.

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