East Pennsboro at Wyomissing: District 3 4A football quarterfinal preview

Can East Pennsboro reach its first District 3 semifinal since 2017? Mid-Penn partisans will find out Saturday when the seventh-seeded Panthers land in Reading to face No. 2 Wyomissing in a 4A quarterfinal. Below is a closer look at the 1 p.m. showdown.

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THE PANTHERS (8-3): The Mid-Penn reps started the second season with a convincing performance against Susquehannock. A couple of senior standouts, RB-OLB JJ Gossard and WR-OLB Aaron Angelo, again took the lead in EP's 42-14 victory.

Gossard carried 26 times for 156 yards and three scores. Angelo combined for three scores and established the program mark for receiving yards in a season. That tandem have been crucial to the Panthers' success all season. QB Turner Barlup has been a solid on-field general, as well, targeting nearly 70% of his passes with 14 TDs.

In addition, the defense has picked up 61 total TFLs on the season, so lineman Logan Newman and backer Kolton Keys have added plenty of fuel. All must be prepared, and play fast and disciplined, to keep Wyomissing's rushing attack in check.

• District 3 picks and predictions for Nov. 8-9

THE SPARTANS (8-2): You really can't talk about the District 3 playoffs without spending a few hours on the Spartans. Bob Wolfrum's crew would be working on six straight D3 3A titles had the program not been bumped to 4A.

It's been a challenge, mainly with fellow 4A engines Lampeter-Strasburg and Twin Valley rolling sidecar in L-L Section 4, but there's no chance the Spartans aren't prepped for more hardware.

Behind ultra-back Justice Hardy, who is scrambling for nearly 10 yards per carry, Wyomissing's vaunted Wing-T remains a Master Class in leverage and efficiency. And now the Spartans are ticked after the Pioneers walked into town and stopped a 36-game home winning streak.

AT STAKE: The winner earns a semifinal invite against the winner of No. 6 Eastern York (8-2) and No. 3 West York (8-2).

X-FACTOR: Home field. East Pennsboro has talent and guts, two characteristics that have guided the Panthers all season. The rub is when was the last time Wyomissing lost two straight at home in the same season? We're thinking kids were playing Atari 2600 inside and stickball outside. Cue the damn cannon.

THE PICK: Wyomissing 28, East Pennsboro 15