High school football preview: LL Section 1 battle features Manheim Township coming to Wilson

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Beginning league play in the Lancaster-Lebanon season is headlined by what should be an absolute gem of a game.

Wilson (2-1) hosts Manheim Township (3-0) as the two Section 1 powerhouses meet up early in this year’s schedule.

The Blue Streaks walked into John Gruski Stadium in late October of last year and left with a 20-14 victory, which decided the section title.

Since 2023, the squads have traded blows with who wins when they meet up, with Wilson last winning back-to-back meetings in 2022-23. Dating back to 1972, the teams have combined for 39 Section 1 titles.

In their previous matchup, Wilson committed 11 penalties for 112 yards, with several flags declined by Manheim Township.

With a chance to win in the final two minutes, the Bulldogs drove down the field, but a fumble, which was retained, and a holding penalty backed coach Doug Dahms’ offense out of the red zone.

Now graduated quarterback Mason Young took the snap from the shotgun, scrambled in the pocket and threw across his body toward the middle of the field, trying to keep the play alive, but the pass was intercepted, sealing the game and a section title for the Blue Streaks.

Heading into Week 4 of the 2026 season, penalties and mental errors are still a concern for the Bulldogs.

In their 35-23 loss to Central Bucks West two weeks ago, the Bulldogs turned the ball over six times, with three interceptions and three fumbles lost.

“You don’t win football games when you do that, especially against good teams,” Dahms said. “Hopefully we have most of that resolved. And on both teams, we had 17 penalties last week, and same thing, you can’t afford to do that. Just keep pushing the little things and hope to get better.”

The longtime Bulldogs coach points to inexperience as the reason for the team’s mental errors. “Sometimes kids are trying a little harder to make a play. Sometimes trying to get off the ball a little quicker. It’s all the stuff that comes with maturity and growing up.”

Whoever walks off the field Friday night with the win will also have the upper hand in the section title race.

The Bulldogs will have their hands full on both sides of the ball against the Blue Streaks, but it all starts with junior quarterback Dayne Byler.

“A stud,” Dahms referred to him as.

Byler has thrown for 430 yards and six touchdowns, with another coming with his legs and just one interception, not putting the ball in harm’s way often.

A big arm, combined with the ability to keep plays alive outside of the pocket, the Bulldogs defense, allowing just 132 yards per game and led by linebacker EJ Brownback, will have to be on their keys and stay disciplined for 48 minutes.

Leading receiver Chase Fletcher has three touchdowns in the first three weeks, while P.J. Myers leads Section 1 with 397 yards on the ground, picking up over six yards a carry and scoring three touchdowns for an offense that has averaged over 320 yards per game.

As for the Blue Streaks defense, that is commanded by an all-around chess piece in senior Jabari Destine.

Destine has the ability to disrupt a game from the defensive end position, to linebacker, to freelancing around the defense, proving to be a true game wrecker as the Bulldogs offensive line will have their hands full.

Dahms complimented the Manheim Township program as a whole. “They’re very well coached. They don’t make many mistakes, and they keep it simple and play football.”

But even though the Blue Streaks have some elite talent, Wilson packs the same punch.

Offensively, teams all season long will have trouble slowing down a Bulldogs offense that has racked up nearly 375 yards per game.

Monty Greer is off to an impressive start to his senior campaign, rushing for 248 yards and five touchdowns, while also showing his ability in the passing game, recording 140 yards and another two touchdowns.

One reason for that jump in numbers is because of the absence of Louisville commit Justice Hardy, who missed the majority of Week 2’s Central Bucks West 35-23 loss and last week’s Muhlenberg win.

Dealing with a shoulder injury, which he is “still a little gimpy” with, according to Dahms, Hardy will likely be a game-time decision on Friday night.

In his lone full game, during the season opener at Gov. Mifflin, Hardy made his presence felt immediately when, on his first carry in the red and white, he took it 50 yards to the end zone, untouched.

The senior finished with 104 yards and two touchdowns on only six carries in the game.

So, for the Bulldogs, they’re hoping to get back one of the league’s most electrifying players, while the Blue Streaks probably hope he takes another week’s rest.

At quarterback, Cole Peterson will make his fourth career start under center, starting the season 46-of-59 for 648 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions, all coming in Week 2 against Central Bucks West.

“C-plus,” Dahms said when asked to grade Peterson’s season so far. “He’s doing some good things, but sometimes he has to be careful. He has to understand his limitations and play within himself. When he does, he plays well. When he tries to push it, he runs into trouble.”

It’ll be key for Peterson and the Bulldogs as a whole to protect the football this week, with such high stakes in a game that can determine District 3 Class 6A playoff seeding come November.

That, along with cleaning up the penalties, are two aspects of the game Dahms and his program know they need to resolve if they want to reach their ultimate goals and championship hardware.

Elsewhere, the only Berks-Berks matchup will take place out at Hawk Hill as Hamburg hosts Berks Catholic in a Section 5 showdown.

The reigning section champion Saints sit at 0-3 heading into league play, being outscored 213-49 in a rough start to 2026.

The Hawks, 2-1, are coming off a huge 56-20 win over Daniel Boone, with sophomore quarterback Isaac McFadden leading the way with five total touchdowns and 222 yards.

This week’s schedule

Manheim Township at Wilson, 7 p.m.

Berks Catholic at Hamburg, 7 p.m.

Penn Manor at Reading, 7 p.m.

Ephrata at Exeter, 7 p.m.

Solanco at Muhlenberg, 7 p.m.

Conestoga Valley at Gov. Mifflin, 7 p.m.

Twin Valley at Manheim Central, 7 p.m.

Fleetwood at Garden Spot, 7 p.m.

Elco at Conrad Weiser, 7 p.m.

Octorara at Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.

Columbia at Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m.

Kutztown at Pequea Valley, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Northern Lebanon at Wyomissing, 1:30 p.m.

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