By Michael Bullock:
Vikings’ Herb claims one career mark, chasing another
Able to bank one career record while throwing for 308 yards and a handful of touchdowns, Williams Valley’s Bryce Herb hopes to pin down another career mark for the second time in as many weekends. Herb’s 308-yard performance in a 49-20 drubbing of Panther Valley moved the 6-foot-1 senior atop the Vikings’ career touchdown passes mark with 57, supplanting former leader Levi Engle (53). Herb’s record TD toss came with 9:26 left in the first half when he found Hunter Wolfgang. Herb wound up throwing three TD passes to Jesse Engle — Engle became the Vikes’ all-time career TD receptions leader with 33, passing Jake Wolfgang — and one each to Hunter Wolfgang and Jake Herman. Engle wound up with seven receptions for 142 yards as the Vikes won their third game in a row. Herb also ran for 40 yards and another score., while Logan Williard added two interceptions. Up next for the Vikings (4-1, 4-0) is a trip to Schuylkill Haven (2-3, 2-1) for a Schuylkill 2 dustup with the host Hurricanes. Haven last weekend rolled Shenandoah Valley 62-6 behind Connor Goehring, who rushed six times for 177 yards and three touchdowns. Averaging more than 12 yards per pop, Goehring has run for 621 yards on 51 carries and scored eight times.
Late-starting Tri-Valley aiming for third win in a row
Behind Chase Herb’s 215 rushing yards (22 carries) and three touchdowns, Tri-Valley (2-0, 2-0) dumped Mahanoy Area 40-7 at home. Kameron Wetzel added 67 rushing yards on just seven attempts for Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs, the last Schuylkill League side to get started. Caden Richards added 12 tackles for Tri-Valley — Richards, Herb and kicker Jay Wilcox are the Bulldogs’ only seniors — three more than sophomore Jacob Scheib. Sampson’s Bulldogs will board the bus for the first time as a date with Schuylkill 2 rival Marian Catholic (1-4, 1-2) awaits. Marian was limited to just 8 yards of offense in last weekend’s 48-0 loss to North Schuylkill, the Colts’ second straight setback.
Pine Grove hoping to get back on track
Unable to get its offensive attack into a consistent rhythm last weekend, Pine Grove tumbled 27-7 to visiting Pottsville in a matchup of Schuylkill 1 neighbors. QB Josh Leininger threw for 133 yards (13-for-30), his lone touchdown pass going to Shea Morgan in the third quarter with the Cardinals already down by double digits. Morgan caught six passes for 85 yards, while Dalton Geesey added five grabs for 47 yards. Brody Robinson added 54 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Robinson added 20 tackles defensively, two more than the remarkably active Leininger. Up next for Frank Gaffney’s club is a Schuylkill League crossover against Panther Valley (1-4), which yielded more than 300 yards through the air in a 49-20 loss to Williams Valley.
