HAMBURG — Like a well-oiled machine, undefeated Wyomissing methodically dismantled underdog Hamburg 42-7 in a Berks Football League Section II game Friday night on Hawk Hill.
The youthful Hawks kept chugging gamely, but their machine was missing on a few cylinders and then was further crippled by injury.
It was just a routine performance for the Spartans, who have been averaging more than 30 points a game while giving up just a little over eight. Wyomissing racked up 442 yards on the ground and held Hamburg to 114 total yards.
The Hawks gave Wyomissing its first scoring opportunity, when Hamburg running back Aaron Nelson’s fumble on the third play from scrimmage was recovered by Wyomissing’s Samuel Weaver on the Hamburg 40. The Spartans were patient, using 11 plays — nine of them runs — before Peter Geyer scored from 2 yards out.
It was the first of three scores by Geyer, who also had scoring runs of 1 and 68 yards, while leading all rushers with 107 yards.
Wyomissing made it 14-0 on a 9-yard TD pass from Scott Kuczala to Thomas Paolini. Geyer’s second score came after the Spartans blocked a 24-yard field goal by Nelson.
Hamburg lost the first of two starting running backs, Dariel Ruiz, who injured his right leg on a nifty 44-yard punt return in the first quarter. He never returned.
In the second quarter, fellow running back Ian Hamilton went out with a recurring ankle injury, putting even more of a crimp in the Hawks’ running game.
It was Paolini’s second score, which came with just 27 seconds left in the first half, that really took the wind out of Hamburg’s sails. Wyomissing calmly went 55 yards on six plays in just 1:17 after a Hamburg punt, with Paolini capping the drive with an 11-yard run to make it 28-0 at the half. Paolini ended the night with 95 yards and two scores on 12 carries.
The mercy rule came into effect on Geyer’s 68-yard scamper with 10:29 left in the third quarter. Brandon Workman put the icing on the cake, scoring on a 9-yard run with 2:28 left in the third quarter.
The Hawks’ determined effort finally paid off with 3:38 left in the game when senior Robby Henne snatched up a Colin Smith fumble and sped 82 yards for a touchdown.
First-year Hamburg coach Damian Buggy praised his team’s effort and refused to use his team’s youth as an excuse.
“We just got to fix a lot of little things, but that’s been pretty much the MO this entire year and that’s why it’s a little frustrating,” Buggy said .
“We still have to execute, no matter how old we are,” he added. “The thing is you can’t build a program if you don’t win and we’re just not producing.”
Game Summary
Wyo. (8-0, 4-0) 14 14 14 0 — 42 Ham (1-7, 1-4) 0 0 0 7 — 7
W —Geyer 2 run (Mendel kick)
W —Paolini 9 pass from Kuczala (Mendel kick)
W —Geyer 1 run (Mendel kick)
W — Paolini 11 run (Mendel kick)
W —Geyer 68 run (Mendel kick)
W —Workman 9 run (Mendel kick)
H —Henne 82 fumble return (Nelson kick)
Wyo Ham
First Downs 22 7
Rushes-Yards 50-442 24-74
Passes 3-7-0 4-9-0
Passing Yards 40 40
Total Yards 482 114
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1
Penalties 0-00 0-00
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Wyomissing — Geyer 11-107, Paolini 12-95, Weaver 2-64, Westwood 6-51, Naylor 6-49, Workman 4-31, Martir 3-31, De Belle Mitton 2-17, Smith 3-2, Kuczala 1-(-5). Hamburg — Kuhn 6-22, Nelson 4-21, Reynoso 5-16, Herber 3-10, Hamilton 3-4, Ruiz 2-1, McAllister 1-0.
PASSING: Wyomissing — Kuczala 3-7-0, 40. Hamburg — Kuhn 4-9-0, 40.
RECEIVING: Wyomissing — Weaver 1-21, Duguay 1-10, Paolini 1-9. Hamburg — McAllister 1-19, Henne 2-15, Ruiz 1-6.
INTERCEPTIONS: None.