Wyomissing football preview: Expectations are always high for the Spartans

Forcing a 4th and 13 with 1:23 remaining in the District 3 Class 4A championship game, the Wyomissing Spartans clung to a 27-20 lead over Lampeter-Strasburg, the same team that had beaten them 20-7 just three weeks earlier.

All Wyomissing needed was one stop to secure its 13th district title, but Pioneers senior quarterback Caileb Howse had other plans.

Howse dropped back, scrambled toward the right sideline, then reversed field, weaving his way back near the pocket while scanning downfield for an open receiver.

After what felt like an eternity, he launched a pass across his body and found Mason Hostetter for an 18-yard gain and a crucial first down.

That dramatic play led to a touchdown three plays later, helping the Pioneers force overtime, where they went on to win the game with a 28-yard field goal by Peter Fiorello.

“I thought the second game, the kids just really came back,” head coach Bob Wolfrum said of the district title game. “We had over 400 yards rushing. Their defensive coordinator comes over and says, ‘God, you guys crushed us.’ But you know, you’ve got to win the game too. We didn’t get it done. I was not happy the way the season ended that last game, but I was proud of the way the kids came back.”

It was a devastating way to end an otherwise fantastic season for the Spartans, but that loss will serve as fuel in 2025 as they look to fight their way back to the same stage.

“It was definitely heartbreaking,” senior Chase Eisenhower said. “They were a good team, and we were a good team. So it was a battle to the end, as the score shows. We were disappointed, but I feel like that does nothing more than motivate us for this year. We’ve been grinding this off-season, everybody, and we’ve learned from it. Come back, and hopefully this season shows that.”

Wolfrum returns for his 39th season as head coach of the Spartans, one of the most successful and well-respected coaches in all of Pennsylvania.

“Maybe a little less yelling, but yeah, overall, same stuff,” Eisenhower joked about Wolfrum from his freshman year to now. “Great having him here, he knows more than anybody.”

Consistently, the goal remains the same: win the section, District 3 Class 4A, and bring home the state title, just like in year one.

The Spartans will feature an entirely new offensive line this season, as all five starters, and even some key backups, from last year have graduated.

“You won’t recognize any names on the offensive line anymore,” Wolfrum said. “I don’t know how strong we’ll be at the beginning, but hopefully we get better every week. If you’re looking at the skill positions, we’ve got tons of talent. We don’t know what we have yet on the line.”

Andrew Bresnahan highlights the line at the tackle position. The former first team Lancaster-Lebanon League tight end is making the move inside thanks to his blocking abilities.

“They’ve impressed all of us,” junior Justice Hardy said. “They’re all new starters, but everyone’s stepping up. No one’s falling short. Everyone’s learning and asking questions. No one’s scared to ask questions is a real key part of it. They’ve been doing a great job.”

One thing is certain: the Spartans return two of the top skill players in Berks County, on both sides of the ball, in Chase Eisenhower and Justice Hardy.

Eisenhower earned first team honors at running back and linebacker, while Hardy was also named first team on defense and was the unanimous choice for Section 4 Defensive Back of the Year.

The duo combined for 28 touchdowns on offense while also anchoring a defense that finished ranked No. 5 overall in the Lancaster-Lebanon League.

First team LL linebacker Tyler Niedrowski had an exceptional season on both sides of the ball too, recording seven sacks on defense and rushing for 467 yards and seven touchdowns on offense.

This season will be another test in October when they’ll play section 4 rivals, Twin Valley and Lampeter-Strasburg.

“I like that two of our last three games are Twin Valley and Lampeter-Strasburg, so you build to that all year, and you get to the end, then the games really mean something,” Wolfrum said.

All three teams were ranked in the top ten in the state last season.

The Spartans face another season of hard work, aiming to keep grinding all the way through late November and early December in pursuit of another district and state championship.

Coach: Bob Wolfrum, 39th season, 372-92-1.

Last year’s record: 6-1, Lancaster-Lebanon Section 4, 10-3.

Key players lost: RB/S Derek Macrina, ATH Danny Weichler, OG/DT Max Tipton, C Francisco Fabian, OT/DL Keaton Piacine.

Key players returning: FB/LB Chase Eisenhower. ATH Justice Hardy, K/P Keegan Maher, FB/LB Tyler Niedrowski, OL/LB Andrew Bresnahan.

3 keys to success in 2025

1. Offensive line develops: The biggest question mark is obviously the young, inexperienced offensive line. The key to a successful run game in their wing-T offense is winning the battle up front, play after play.

“They’re young, inexperienced, but we’ve got the best coaches in the state that will prepare them,” Eisenhower said. “So I’m not too concerned for them. They’ll be ready and excited to see how it’ll go.”

2. Stay healthy: It’s a key to success for every football team from Little League to the NFL, but it can’t go overlooked. If Eisenhower, Hardy, Niedrowski, and others stay on the field, it’ll be tough for anyone to compete with the Spartans.

Face adversity during the regular season: In football, a team needs to be familiar with being in tough, uncomfortable situations. That way, when it’s do-or-die time, they know how to respond.

The Spartans will face a challenging non-league opponent in The Haverford School during week 2, along with tough Section 4 matchups throughout the season. They need those “back against the wall” moments now to be ready for the pressure of the playoffs.

Schedule: Aug. 22, at Southern Columbia; Aug. 30, The Haverford School; Sept. 6, Academy of the New Church; Sept. 12, at Northern Lebanon; Sept. 20, Eastern Lebanon County; Sept. 27, Donegal; Oct. 2, at Daniel Boone; Oct. 11, Twin Valley; Oct. 18, Octorara; Oct. 24, at Lampeter-Strasburg.