Wilson vs Harrisburg: District 3 6A Championship Showdown

Tagged under: District 3, News, Playoffs

Dontrell Mitchell | November 21, 2024

FOR ALL THE DISTRICT 3 CLASS 6A MARBLES

It’s Week 13, and both of these powerhouse teams are still going strong. The Wilson Bulldogs will face the Harrisburg Cougars for the District 3 6A Championship in a highly anticipated matchup. The game kicks off Saturday at 1 PM at Exeter High School.

The legendary Doug Dahms leads Wilson, while the winningest coach in Harrisburg Cougar history, Calvin Everett, directs the Cougars. Combined, the two coaches have 13 district titles and 20 district title appearances between them. This marks the third time these teams have met in the district title game. Wilson won the first matchup in 2012, 39-14, while Harrisburg took the win in 2021, 14-10, making the series tied 1-1.

Wilson enters the game with an 11-1 record, the only loss coming back in September against Nazareth, 31-35. Since then, the Bulldogs have rattled off 9 straight wins, including a notable victory over Mannheim Township in the final game of the regular season.

The Bulldogs’ offense is led by senior quarterback Madyx Gruber, who has been stellar this season, throwing for 1,885 yards and 24 touchdowns. The rushing attack is anchored by junior Cornell Akings, who has 1,060 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

Defensively the Bulldogs play it close to the line. They just grind and keep the game close enough for their offense to take advantage.

However, Wilson faces a daunting challenge against the stifling Harrisburg defense. The Cougars are led by sophomore linebacker Rick Brown, who averages nearly 10 tackles per game, and junior Messiah Mickens, who has recorded 13.7 sacks this season. Senior Nehemiah Ewell and Junior safety Elias Coke also contribute to this formidable defense.

On the offensive side, Harrisburg is led by first-year quarterback Jaiyon Lewis, who has thrown for 1,646 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Cougars’ rushing game is spearheaded by junior running back Messiah Mickens, who has racked up 1,091 yards and 17 touchdowns. Lewis also has a top target in junior wide receiver Elias Coke, one of the most highly recruited players in the country, with over 30 Division I offers. Coke has 723 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns this season.

The Cougars will also benefit from the return of their star lineman, Penn State commit Kevin Brown, who has been dominant on both sides of the ball. His presence bolsters an already powerful Harrisburg offense.

Since 2021, Harrisburg has won 11 straight District 3 playoff games, including the last three district titles. The Cougars are aiming to make history by becoming the first team to win four consecutive District 3 6A titles since the PIAA expanded to six classifications.

The stage is set for an epic battle. One of these teams will emerge victorious and advance to face the winner of the Pittsburgh Central Catholic vs State College matchup, which will take place Friday night at Mansion Park.

**It’s all on the line for the District 3 6A Championship, and fans can expect a fierce, high-stakes game.

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