Daniel Boone to face Berks Catholic
2-0 Daniel Boone starts heavy part of schedule by visiting newcomer Berks Catholic
With all the happenings around the 2020 offseason, the realignment of the Berks Football League could have fallen to the back of themind.
As league play takes full hold this weekend, the realignment – and who it brings to the table – will be right in the forefront, especially for Daniel Boone.
That’s because Daniel Boone on Friday night visits Section I newcomer Berks Catholic, a perennial District 3 Class 4A power, who joins an already strong division led by Gov. Mifflin and Exeter.
It’s been an inspiring start to the 2020 campaign for Boone, with a thrilling last-second win over Twin Valley in Week 1 followed by a resilient 21-7 defeat of Muhlenberg in their home opener last Friday. This week, it’s back on the road for their sternest test yet – a visit to storied Berks Catholic.
A relatively young Blazers squad, with numerous juniors and sophomores in starring roles, has a chance to crash the party, so to speak, and announce themselves as bona fide contenders in the early going.
Junior quarterback/strong safety Carter Speyerer has enjoyed a mini breakout in the season’s first two games, currently leading the Mercury Area in passing yards, touchdowns, and interceptions (the good kind, on defense, not interceptions thrown). Speyerer got five games’ worth of experience under center last year due to injury.
“That experience has helped him a lot, and it allowed us to change some things around for him on offense going into this year,” said Daniel Boone head coach Rob Flowers. “But just the in-game experience he got all year on defense, that helped him as well. When he started playing quarterback, we took him off defense (last year), and those different experiences have been powerful early this season.”
He’s joined at the skill positions by a pair of junior classmates: thumping running back AJ Hofer, averaging close to six yards per carry as the Blazers’ workhorse in the backfield, and Alex Vassallo, who’s brought in 235 of Speyerer’s 287 passing yards thus far along with three of his four touchdown passes.
“Alex came on as a freshman, got a couple catches, and got a little more of a role last year,” added Flowers. “He’s a hard worker, and he really understands the game, which allows us tomove him around in different spots. AJ’s just a tough guy, a hard runner who’s working diligently to get better every week.”
Up front, the Boone offense is powered by senior Jake Dwinchik, a two-time All-League performer playing right guard, and another junior at left tackle in Colin Leahy. “We’re able to run plays (to both sides) with the strength on our line,” said Flowers.
fter an opening 43-42 shootoutwith Twin Valley, the Blazers’ defense stepped up last week, holding Muhlenberg scoreless after halftime last week.
“Our defensive line held up strong, we got contributions all over the field,” said Flowers. “It was a great team effort, and it’s great to see these guys working together.”
The Saints’ reputation speaks for itself, as Berks Catholic has competed in a county-record seven consecutive District 3 title games. Coach Rick Keeley’s squad comes inwith something to prove this week, after a 3534 loss to Cedar Cliff last Friday.
Does it give Flowers added confidence to see his squad back up a 43-42 game by grinding out a tough, defensive-oriented victory?
“What gives me confidence was to see the way we responded during that game,” he said. “It was 7-7 at halftime, andwe challenged them at halftime – then they came out really strong in the second half. That gives me confidence that we’re getting to a point where we can put together a full-game effort.”
The Saints’ Wing-T offense is humming along at its customary pace, averaging nearly 350 yards per game thus far on the ground as Colby Newton, Justin Small, and Christian Cacchione make for a formidable triumvirate in the Saints backfield. Their lessfrequent forays through the air have yielded about 20 yards per completion on the arm of junior quarterback Brad Hoffman, who’s added three rushing scores of his own.
But coach Flowers isn’t treating the contest as anything more than, as hismantra states, a chance to go 1-0 this week.
“What they do offensively is different thanwhatwe see – they run that Wing-T very well,” he said. “For us, it’s a great opportunity to put together a strong week of practice and turn that intowinning a football game on Friday night.”
Owen J. Roberts (1-0) at Methacton (1-0)
Not much was stopping the Wildcats in their opening win over Boyertown last week – not even a last-second change in starting quarterbacks, as sophomore Michael Reed stepped in for projected starter Matt Cutrone (shoulder injury, but played on defense and got a couple carries on offense). The ‘Cats still put up nearly 400 yards