2023 Season Preview Wilson Bulldogs:
In this article:
The Wilson Bulldogs are typically your favorites to win Section 1 out of the LLBerks almost every season and this year may not be any different. Head Coach Doug Dahms is already a legend in West Lawn as he enters…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Wilson Bulldogs are typically your favorites to win Section 1 out of the LLBerks almost every season and this year may not be any different. Head Coach Doug Dahms is already a legend in West Lawn as he enters his 18th season as their Head Coach. Until this past spring Coach Dahms served as the Bulldogs Head Track and Field Coach and has taught Science for over 40 years at the high school. He is finally taking a break from both but will continue to lead Wilson’s football team as they compete for another section title. Last year’s start finished the regular season 8-2 but with one of the losses coming to Hempfield, the Section Crown would go over to the Black Knights. Coach Dahms squad has a number of key pieces returning and you know he has used the lack of section title as motivation come this fall.
The prize recruit of Wilson’s Senior class is Offensive Tackle Jack Dendall Jack Dendall 6’4″ | 270 lbs | OL Wilson (West Lawn) | 2024 State PA . The young man is the total package on the offensive line whether it is pass or run blocking, his technique is on point. Obtaining several FCS and FBS Offers already, I would not be shocked if he has a couple of Power 5 school offers soon. Coach Weider offered his take on the young man this past spring “Dendall was the starting left tackle for Wilson last year. He had a really good year for Wilson and I expect him to improve this year as well. Dendall has good size standing 6’4″ inches tall and is a master technician at offensive line. ” The Bulldogs love to run the football and will impose their will against you if you cant stop it. Having a force up front like Dendall certainly helps, hopefully this leads to more Power 5 schools to come calling for his services.
Highlights
One of our new additions to the 2024 State Rankings is this underrated wide receiver in Edison Case Edison Case 6’3″ | WR Wilson | 2024 State PA . This rising senior really came on towards the end of last year and is the perfect deep threat the Bulldogs to balance their run-first offense. A big target at 6’3 Case is not afraid to go across the middle despite his small frame. A tough nose kid who can beat you over the top, I expect a big senior season from him. He is star in both football and lacrosse for Wilson, but where he shines the most is in the classroom with a stout 4.0 GPA. Remember his name, he will be one of the top receivers in the conference come this fall.
https://twitter.com/EdisonCase88/status/1617647424935432192?s=20
Brady Kline Brady Kline 6’1″ | 220 lbs | LB Wilson | 2025 State PA may be the top Junior not only for Wilson but the entire LLBerks, if you don’t know yet you will soon. One of top tight ends in all of Pennsylvania returns to West Lawn this fall and he has already caught the eye of Coach Weider “Kline played tight end for Wilson last year. Wilson runs very good routes for a tight end. In his film, you feel he has a good feel for the game and knows how to get open. He is good at going across the field and catching the ball in traffic. Kline is also a good blocker. He does a nice job engaging and then blocking someone. He is very good on the edge blocking defensive ends and outside linebackers. Kline has all the skills you need at the tight end.”
https://twitter.com/BradyKline12/status/1595873609028960258?s=20
Each season the Bulldogs always have top notch offensive linemen to make your defenders weep and Logan Kurzweg Logan Kurzweg 6’0″ | 270 lbs | OL Wilson | 2024 State PA is no exception. Standing at 5’11 with a great motor, do not sleep on this young man. Kurzweg is a perfectionist who knows how to get to the second level on his blocking assignments, no surprise Wilson constantly churns out 1,000 running backs. A first team all Section 1 selection a year ago, no reason to think why he wont achieve both all district and state honors this Fall. He is also a three year varsity starter on their wrestling squad and has a 3.5 GPA.
Highlights
Ryan McMillan
Ryan McMillan
Whether it is at linebacker or at guard McMillan is another hard nosed/high intelligent football player for Coach Dahms squad. McMillan gets after it in the middle of the defense from his linebacker position, his read and react are on point, you do not see him error much on tape. No surprise their as Wilson squads are always coached up to perfection, but this kid is legit nonetheless.
Ben Rada
Ben Rada
It seems like Rada has kicked for Wilson forever as he enters his senior campaign. I still remember the ice cold veins he had to kick two clutch field goals back in 2021 to defeat the previously unbeaten Central York in the playoffs. If you don’t remember Rada as a sophomore had not attempted a field goal all season until their District Semi-Final matchup against the Beau Pribula lead Central York Panthers. He had two clutch kicks in the closing minutes which turned out to be the difference in Wilson knocking off the reigning district champions. Since then he has only become more accurate and makes contributions at receiver and defensive back as well. He is star lacrosse player over in West Lawn, more people will remember him for his football contributions this Fall though.
Nick Fiorini
Nick Fiorini
The graduation of Holy Cross commit Cam Jones was a big loss on both sides of the ball. While the Bulldogs have some depth at corner, it may be Fiorini’s tuo carry the ball at running back. Posting just 18 carries a season ago, he can hit the whole with speed and quickness, he may be next in a long line of excellent running backs. Where he has made his mark so far as a rising junior is at outside linebacker. Carrying good footwork and speed, Fiorini is good at covering running backs out of the backfield, no surprise he saw the field as a sophomore last fall.
Derek Reiniger Derek Reiniger 5'11" | 225 lbs | DL Wilson WL | 2025 PA
Derek Reiniger Derek Reiniger 5'11" | 225 lbs | DL Wilson WL | 2025 PA
Reiniger is a mean force in the middle of their defense at his tackle position, already having an impact after his sophomore campaign. You will be hearing about him a lot more as he enters his Junior season, he will be a matchup nightmare.
https://twitter.com/Derek_Reiniger/status/1650652184596316161?s=20
Final Thoughts: If you haven’t been following the past 20 years, you would not know that Wilson is yearly the traditional favorite to win Section 1 every year. What in my opinion validates that even more is the chip on their shoulder they will have come fall. Hempfield knocked off the Bulldogs in a thrilling victory last year to achieve their first section title in nearly 20 years, do not think Coach Dahms has forgotten. While Cam Jones impact cannot be overstated, they do return most of their offensive line and Hunsicker at quarterback, expect an 8-2 campaign from Wilson this year. Whether or not they reclaim their Section 1 championship, remains to be seen.