Southern Got It Done Against Wyomissing

Tagged under: District 4, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

Dave Fegley | August 29, 2026

Tigers hold on for 34-27 win

The Tigers wanted to beat the Spartans in their fourth attempt over the course of this decade. That finally came to fruition. Against a Wyomissing defense that had plenty of familiarity with Southern Columbia, the Tigers eventually found footing on the ground, after momentum started through the air by both teams, and the victors donning the black and gold uniforms used a tactical second half ground game to pull off a 34-27 victory in the season opener.

“Southern was a couple of plays better than us in the end. Come out tomorrow and push forward is the mentality for the start of the season. This game is a great gauge for both programs moving forward. Credit to Southern for earning the win,” said Wyomissing head coach Bob Wolfrum after the loss.

Back in 2021, Wyomissing ended Southern’s 65-game winning streak which was the longest in all of America at the time. After a couple years off, the Spartans defeated the Tigers in each of the past two seasons prior to Friday’s season opener.

“There was definitely motivation there for us to instill in our team during the preseason work,” said Southern head coach Jim Roth who picked up his absurd, but accurate, 522nd win which moves him a step closer to potentially becoming the United States’ winningest coach ever as long as his health allows him to continue his craving for a while.

The general for the Tigers has nothing more to prove within the state in terms of wins and championships but is on pace to make national history at some point in the future.

“I will continue doing it for as long as I can. I enjoy coaching and working with the players and my coaching staff,” Roth said earlier in the month during his team’s media day.

The Tigers finished with 277 rushing yards and produced an abundance of first downs at prime times during the clash of passionate programs as they mixed in the air and ground game at the opportune times throughout.

“Their defense was disruptive in the early going. They have a great coaching staff, so we had to figure things out because they are always a physical team that gets to the football,” said Roth who has the second most wins of active coaches in the USA.

That running game became particularly important after the teams’ entered halftime, tied at 14, in what was hyped for months to be the most popular opener in high school football across Pennsylvania. In the end, the battle lived up to the hype.

“You never know going in what to expect in the first game of the season,” said Roth. “We both have similar styles of play. Executing the run game is the foundation, and you build upon it with the pass. Wyomissing beat us in the past, and I think that was motivation for our guys entering this season.”

For much of the first half, the two teams traded punches through the air.

Jace Malakoski showed just a couple of days after committing to Stonehill College why he will be a nightmare for opponents all season. Both of his receptions resulted in touchdowns for the host Tigers.

“Jace is the kind of kid you want to coach. He is always giving you everything he has to give. He’s a unique talent with the combination of his blocking and ability to make plays as a receiver,” said Roth.

Brady Eisenhower, who got the scoring started with a 69-yard connection to Andrew DiFabrizio for the visitors from the outskirts of Reading, added another long touchdown pass in the second quarter, this one covering 61 yards, but Tiger QB Ayden Hockenbroch and Malakoski connected a second time before the half to send the teams into the break tied.

“It was a back-and-forth type of game where it seemed like when one team got momentum, the other team answered back,” Hockenbroch said.

After an offseason filled with high temperatures and anticipation, everyone involved was eager to get to this point. In a very long opener that was stopped on 11 occasions due to players cramping, it was a display that proved both teams were deserving of being highly ranked in the PA Football News preseason rankings.

“It was great to be playing in a game. You put a lot of work in during the offseason, so to get on the field for when it counts is always exciting,” said Malakoski.

After halftime, however, Southern began leaning heavily on its ground attack.

Junior Grady Garcia put the Tigers ahead early in the third quarter, breaking loose for a seven-yard touchdown run.

“He’s not a big physical back in his stature like his older brothers who all had a lot of success in our program, but he is definitely shifty and can make a big play when he is in the clear,” Roth said.

Wyomissing answered late in the quarter when Eisenhower found DiFabrizio for his second touchdown of the night, giving the Spartans a 21-20 advantage with 1:02 remaining in the third.

Southern’s response was immediate.

“Getting the momentum back on our side was definitely big,” Roth said.

Joey Williams took the ensuing opportunity and turned it into the game’s biggest play from scrimmage.

The senior fullback burst through the line and raced 66 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the drive, putting Southern back in front 28-21 as Malakoski caught Hockenbroch’s two-point conversion pigskin flick.

Williams finished with 106 yards on 10 carries and added another touchdown on an 11-yard run early in the fourth quarter for a two-score cushion.

Nearly all of his success came after halftime

“The blocking on both of my touchdowns was great,” said Williams. “I trust Coach Roth’s adjustments at halftime when the coaches talk over what will work after looking over the plays. He always finds ways that lead to success.”

The Tigers’ ability to continue running the football allowed them to control the game late.

“At halftime, we talked about executing our blocks, and the coaching staff talked about some things that we needed to do differently for success. It all worked out in the end,” SCA lineman Cam Traugh said.

Wyomissing refused to go quietly.

“It was a game of momentum. I was happy to see that in the second half we got in a pressure situation at times and found a way to win in the end,” Roth said.

Zander Westwood, who led the Spartans on the ground, scored on a 27-yard run with 7:10 remaining to cut Southern’s lead to 34-27.

But the Tigers’ didn’t allow the visitors to get the ball back inside of Tiger Stadium for the remainder of the game on Jim Roth Field.

“The focus was to move the chains and eat up the clock at that point,” said Malakoski.

Hockenbroch picked up the final first down on a keeper to allow for the Tiger faithful to stand in applause as there weren’t many if any seats available in the home bleachers at Southern.

For a Southern team coming off a 15-1 state championship season, there will undoubtedly be plenty to correct following the opener because that’s how it is and has always been when as close as possible to near perfection is the standard.

“There is always room to improve. This is just a start to the season,” Tiger defensive end Chase Williams said.

For a program that has won 15 state titles, with St. Joe’s Prep the next closest at nine, near perfection is what Southern is always shooting towards reaching.

Throughout the game, Southern’s defense made things uncomfortable for Eisenhower as he tried to scan the field for receivers.

“Pressure makes diamonds at the end of the day,” said two-way lineman Jaden Carter who had one of the team’s four sacks.

Wyomissing will look to get a win a week from now when they travel to Philadelphia to play Frankford.

“It’s time to move forward and get better,” Wolfrum said.

Now, Southern turns its attention to its next challenge. The Tigers are travelling to Williams Valley next Saturday afternoon.

“As a player, you just look to do what you can in whatever it is that helps the team out,” SCA halfback Gavin Brown said.

Southern Columbia 34, Wyomissing 27

WYO —  SCA

First Downs: 14 — 22

Rushes-yds: 29-135 — 52-277

Passing yds: 190 — 147

Total yds: 325 — 424

Passing (C-A-I): 8-13-1 — 8-11-0

Penalties: 5-35 — 5-50

Fumbles-lost: 2-1 — 0-0

Wyomissing (0-1): 6-8-7-6 — 27

Southern Col. (1-0): 0-14-14-6 — 34

1st Quarter

W– Andrew DiFabrizio 69 pass from Brady Eisenhower (kick failed)

2nd Quarter

W– Ethan Betances 61 pass from Eisenhower (Eisenhower run)

S– Jace Malakoski 17 pass from Ayden Hockenbroch (Lincoln Billig kick)

S–Malakoski 14 pass from Hockenbroch (Billig kick)

3rd Quarter

W–DiFabrizio 15 pass from Eisenhower (Moxley Carroll kick)

S– Grady Garcia 7 run (kick failed)

S– Joey Williams 66 run (Malakoski pass from Hockenbroch)

4th Quarter

W– Zander Westwood 27 run (run failed)

S– Williams 11 run (run failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Southern: Joey Williams 10-106, 2 TDs; Grady Garcia 19-90, TD; Gavin Brown 8-56; Ayden Hockenbroch 11-51; Kane Cecco 2-4. Wyomissing: Zander Westwood 12-96, TD; Brady Eisenhower 7-18; Curran Cirulli 2-8; Rylan Overley 4-7; Ethan Betances 4-6.

PASSING — Southern: Ayden Hockenbroch 8-11-0, 147 yards, 2 TDs. Wyomissing: Brady Eisenhower 8-13-1, 190 yards, 3 TDs.

RECEIVING — Southern: Grady Garcia 2-65; Blaise Kissinger 4-51; Jace Malakoski 2-31, 2 TDs. Wyomissing: Andrew DiFabrizio 4-91, 2 TDs; Ethan Betances 2-66, TD; Curran Cirulli 2-33.