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FOOTBALL: Wilson runs over Cedar Crest, 35-14


WEST LAWN >> The stage is set, and the record is now shared.

Wilson cleared the last hurdle before a showdown with Hempfield, defeating Cedar Crest in Friday's wind and rain, 35-14. The victory was the 52nd consecutive in L-L League play for the Bulldogs, tying Manheim Central's record, set from 1999 to 2006.

Alex Twiford scored twice from short yardage, Jake Gehman scored once by land and once by air and Bailey McElroy chipped in with a rushing TD as the Bulldogs, (2-0 Section One, 4-1 overall) triggered the mercy rule 3:23 into the second half.

On their second possession of the game the Bulldogs went 77 yards in three plays, Twiford scoring on a direct snap from the 2-yard line.

They got the ball back and, helped by Twiford's 22-yard catch-and-rumble, capped a 10-play, 72-yard march as Twiford ran one yard through a gaping hole over left tackle.

McElroy's seven-yard run finished a nine-play, 57-yard drive with 6:25 to go before halftime, and, two possessions later, after Ben Harris recovered a Logan Horn fumble, Gehman swept left end 10 yards to finish a four-play, 37-yard drive.

Coming out of halftime with a 28-0 lead, the Bulldogs' Foday Jalloh intercepted Horn at the Wilson 19. McElroy broke a 37-yard run and pulled in a 28-yard pass from QB Collin Powers before Powers found Gehman in the left corner of the end zone for a 16-yard score.

On the Falcons' ensuing possession, Logan Horn was injured, and Steve Roda stepped in to take his place at quarterback. Roda drove the Falcons (1-1, 2-3) to the Bulldog 11, with Evan Horn picking up 34 yards on an option right, before finding Horn for the 11-yard TD.

Wilson's Angel Martinez returned the kickoff 15 yards to the 24, where Crest's Greg Munion pulled it out of his grasp. Roda eluded Leo Quigley in the backfield for a 23-yard gain to the 1 and scored two plays later.

That would be the Falcons' second-to-last last hurrah. Munion (9 carries, 76 yards) wove his way 50 yards through the Bulldog defense to the 17, Connor Uhrig saving the TD. Roda's fourth-and-18 pass to Iziah Trimble fell incomplete and Wilson ran out the final five minutes.

Turning point: The rain stopped and the game began. No, seriously, after Brett Kauffman sacked Logan Horn for a seven-yard loss, and the Falcons punted to the Wilson 23, Gehman broke through the masses at the Bulldog 45 and rumbled 67 yards to the Falcon 10. Powers passed eight yards to Jalloh and Twiford scored the first of his two TDs.

Stars of the game: Gehman ran four times for 96 yards and a score and caught two passes for 44 yards and a TD. McElroy carried seven times for 81 yards and a score. Kauffman had a game-high five solo tackles and two sacks, netting a loss of 12 yards.

Key statistic: Wilson sacked Logan Horn four times for 23 yards. The Bulldogs had 426 total yards on 50 offensive plays. Crest had 256 on 53.

Up next: Wilson heads to Hempfield on Friday night for the first Section One Game-of-the-Year. Cedar Crest hits the road to Manheim Township.

Wilson 35, Cedar Crest 14

Cedar Crest0077—14Wilson141470—35

Scoring

W – A. Twiford 2 run (N. Hart kick)

W – A. Twiford 1 run (N. Hart kick)

W – Ba. McElroy 7 run (N. Hart kick)

W – J. Gehman 10 run (N. Hart kick)

W – J. Gehman 16 pass from C. Powers (N. Hart kick)

CC – E. Horn 11 pass from S. Roda (J. Peffley kick)

CC S. Roda, 1 run (J. Peffley kick)

CCWFirst downs1116Rushes-yards40-17232-291Passing6-13-18-18-0Passing yards84135Punts4-1132-31Fumbles-lost1-11-1Penalties-yards3-305-40