Kyle McFadden (@k_fadd) | Twitter
The latest Tweets from Kyle McFadden (@k_fadd). Freelancer covering college sports, preps & #nascar. ?: @WashPostHS @BaltSunSports @frednewspost. @FrederickCC student. 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. Views=mine. New Market, MD
WALKERSVILLE — There isn’t even the slightest glitz in Jacob Wetzel’s personality. In fact, the premier three-sport athlete is one of the quieter kids in the confined town of Walkersville. But as coach Joe Polce says, “when the lights turn on,” there’s a “killer instinct” about the Lions’ big-play slugger.
“He’s just a different animal,” said Lions junior quarterback Billy Gant. “He’s special. He’s an all-star kid that’s better than all the all-stars. He’s just insane.”
What flips the switch from reserved to big-play-producer is relatively unknown to Polce and teammates. The quick answer is a tireless work ethic. And if you ask Wetzel himself, he’ll say he’s “just there at the right place, right time.”
On Friday night, Wetzel accounted for 147 of Walkersville’s 203 total yards on just nine touches in the 12-7 win over Dunbar in the Class 2A semifinals. His 16.3 yards per touch surpassed everyone else by a wide margin to help lift the Lions to their second straight Class 2A finals appearance where they’ll play Elkton next Saturday, barring a possible schedule change.
“He’s been a big-play guy forever,” Polce said. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast. He’s the whole package, the real deal.”
After he helped force a Dunbar (9-4) four-and-out inside the Poets’ own redzone, Wetzel ensued with an emphatic 72-yard run to put Walkersville (13-0) inside of the 10-yard line. His first big play plated a 1-yard touchdown run that came three plays later by Chad Gleason (53 yards on 16 carries), which gave the Lions a 6-0 lead with 4:15 left in the first quarter.
Two drives later, Wetzel ripped off a 58-yard run to set up the Lions’ second and final touchdown of the night, which he scored off a 10-yard floater from Gant. It was one of two pass attempts for Walkersville.
“Running it so much, we knew it could open up the play action,” Gant said. “We drew that up all week.”
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
Billy Gant finds Jacob Wetzel (146 total yds) for a 10 yd TD on 3rd-&-7 to give Walkersville a 12-0 lead. Wetzel gets up limping. https://t.co/GkdKRIdDS8
After Walkersville staked a 12-0 lead at halftime, plated by two lengthy plays from Wetzel, sturdy defensive play was the difference down the stretch.
When Dunbar had driven to the Lions 29-yard-line, Wetzel, again, made a timely play when he snagged an interception at the 8-yard-line to erase a surefire scoring drive.
With 3:02 left in regulation, Poets quarterback, Jared Lewis (14-for-33, 181 passing yards, 49 yards rushing), crusaded a 43-yard drive in 53 seconds, capped with a 5-yard scamper, to cut into Walkersville’s lead, 12-7. When Dunbar drew within five points, Walkersville had yet to gain their first 1st-down of the second half.
And with three minutes remaining, the script of last year’s state final game, when the Lions lost to Patuxent, 21-20, bobbed into consideration. But like in practice all week, and throughout their 13-game win-streak, composure was kept in pressure-packed moments.
“We’re more mature now,” Wetzel said. “We know what we can do.”
On the ensuing drive, Walkersville failed to get a first down on three attempts, and suddenly faced a 4th-and-3 with 1:55 to go. Unhesitatingly, Polce kept his offense on the field, seeking to pick up the game-clinching first down.
After a well-played hard count by Gant, Dunbar was called with an encroachment penalty, thus giving Walkersville the only first down of the second half they needed.
The final 24 minutes weren’t pretty, but the job was done. For the game, Dunbar converted 9-of-13 attempts on third and fourth down, and Walkersville only mustered 21 yards on 15 plays in the second half.
“Our kids not one time all week felt intimidated or backed down,” Polce said. “They’re fast like Patuxent. That experience and making this run last year definitely has helped them. I don’t think any stage is too big for our guys.”
Either next Saturday or December 10, depending if Navy hosts their conference championship, the Lions will get a shot at redemption, aiming to secure their first football state title in 29 years.
“It’d be huge,” Polce said. “They’ve got a sign out there saying home of the ’87 state champions. It’d be nice to change that thing.”
