PREVIEW: 2010 Playoffs, Game 2

(7) CUMBERLAND VALLEY EAGLES

VS
(2) WILSON BULLDOGS


Where: John Gurski Stadium, West Lawn, PA
When: 7:00 PM, Friday, November 19th, 2010

HOW'D THEY GET HERE?

• Going 10-0 during the regular season helps. Then defeating Lancaster-Lebanon (Section 1) rival Manheim Township, 48-21, in round 1 sealed it. It was the Bulldogs 11th victory of the season, the 11th time in program history the team has won at least 11 games. It is also the 3rd straight year the team has reached that win milestone, as well as for the 4th time in the last five seasons.  During the Bulldogs first round victory, senior WR/DB Connor Mathias and junior RB/DB Rodney Gillin stole the show. Mathias had 2 TD receptions and a pick six while Gillin rushed for a measly 172 yards and 3 TDs while adding an INT of his own. Wilson went into the half up 42-0, dominating a Blue Streaks team that played them tough in their League match just 3 weeks prior. When this Wilson team is clicking they're tough to beat, and rank up there with the great Bulldog teams of the past (1978-1981, 1989-1990, 1999, 2002, 2008). As has been mentioned on this blog numerous times, Gillin needs just 106 yards rushing Friday evening against the Eagles to become the teams all-time single season leading rusher. He would surpass Pete Gilmore's school record set during the phenomenal 1999 campaign.
• The 7th-ranked Eagles of Cumberland Valley are 9-2 on the season, having defeated Spring Grove, 35-21, in the 1st round. They were 5-1 in the Mid-Penn Conference (Commonwealth Division), falling to Harrisburg (4th seed in District 3 playoffs) during their regular season. They also lost to AAA powerhouse Bishop McDevitt, who felled Harrisburg too. They beat 6th-seeded Central Dauphin, 30-17, as well as District 3 #8 seed Red Lion, 45-6. The Eagles score about 36 points per game while allowing about 16 per contest. They are run-oriented, much like Wilson. Cumberland Valley averages close to 280 yards rushing per game while only throwing for an average of 75 yards per game.  They utilize multiple backs in their attack. Their big play threat is #22 Jeremy Dipetro, who has accumulated 1,023 yards on just 85 carries with 12 TDs. Dan Flynn & Kevin Snyder combined for 230 carries for 1,506 yards with 22 TDs. They have just 6 TDs through the air, compared with their 34 on the ground.

MATCH-UP HISTORY

• This will be the 12th meeting between the two most prestigious programs in District 3 AAAA. The Eagles hold a 7-4 lead in the series. They also won the most recent match up, 28-21, on November 27th, 2009. They defeated the Bulldogs in West Lawn to advance to the District 3 AAAA championship game. You don't have to look too far in the past to find Wilson's latest victory over Cumberland Valley. It occurred on November 29th, 2008, in the District 3 AAAA final in Hershey, PA. The Bulldogs dismantled the Eagles, 35-7. Based on the history between the two squads this should prove to be an entertaining match.

Helmet images courtesy PA Helmet Project.