Nick Bracken has been a part of Wilson’s varsity football team for four years. Even though the 6-foot-1, 170-pound lineman had nothing to show for his dedication, he didn’t find excuses to miss practices or games.
He just showed up.
“He went through 40 losses,” Warriors coach Jim Brady said. “He still showed up every day for practice. There was no slacking. He played through injuries. He just kept going.”
Bracken, the only four-year senior, left 40 consecutive Wilson games without anything to show for his commitment though his character shined through.
But he picked up friends with similar dedication along the way. This year’s Warriors also had their first head coach for consecutive years. They have an alum leading the lifting and conditioning program. And, they have a bond.
“They like being together,” Brady said. “They like playing football.”
Wilson players were rewarded for their commitment to each other and the program Saturday afternoon when it ended a 41-game losing streak with an 18-14 victory at Belvidere (N.J.).
Sophomore leader Ryan Bonham scored two rushing touchdowns and senior Nickerson Louis Jeune recovered a teammate’s fumble in the end zone for what turned out to be the game winner early in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors had to hang on after a botched punt led to a County Seaters’ touchdown and two-point conversion with 59 seconds left. But Brady’s bunch recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock on a streak that started with a 50-15 loss in alum Chris Labatch’s last game as head coach on Nov. 25, 2021.
The losing streak continued through two other head coaches who were in charge one season each and the last two under Brady, who was on the staff when Wilson was on the other end of the success spectrum by reaching back-to-back PIAA championship games nearly two decades ago.
Their last win prior to Saturday’s contingency game was 42-34 at rival Notre Dame-Green Pond to end the 2021 regular season.
“Just seeing the excitement of the kids,” Brady said. “They were so locked in. They were motivated. They had a great week of practice. They really worked hard. They took it as another great opportunity to win a game. It’s a testament to all their character.”
Wilson was shut out in its final three regular-season games, four of the last five by a cumulative score of 224-8. But the players never flinched when Brady presented them with a chance to play an 11th game this year, a final shot to give the seniors the first win of their career.
It was discussed prior to Wilson’s Week 9 game against Palisades, when it played without six starters. The Warriors would play against the County Seaters as long as they didn’t make the District 11 Class 4A playoffs.
It was fitting that Bonham and Louie Jeune were among the heroes.
Bonham leads by example and is not afraid to speak up when it’s needed in practice, during the game or in the locker room. He fears nothing, least of all contact.
“I’ll ask why he didn’t make a move,” Brady said, “that he could have scored if he tried to stutter step the [opposing tackler]. But he wants to hit him.”
Bonham was accidentally stabbed by a teammate who was trying to pop balloons with a pair of scissors in the locker room prior to Wilson’s 2024 home opener and Bonham’s first varsity home game at Smith Field. He had to go to the hospital to get 10 stitches.
He returned to play in the game.
“He said there was no way he was missing a game,” Brady recalled. “The kids respect him. They’ve grown up with him. He comes from a great family. He’s strong and strong willed. He wants to be a Navy SEAL. He has the character for it and the ability to do whatever he wants to do.”
Louie Jeune came from Haiti, and doesn’t have much. He’s fought through the ups and downs, the right and wrong choices he’s made. His teammates respect his determination to battle through all the adversity in his life.
His fumble recovery in the end zone was a sign perhaps of a good break finally going Wilson’s way after four years of losing in a multitude of ways.
The Warriors have been outmanned in many games since finishing 7-4 in 2021. This group, however, refused to offer excuses.
“All the kids showed up to practice even those who knew they weren’t going to play [against Belvidere],” Brady said. “Even some of the freshmen. They just want to win.”
Wilson JVs won a few games this year without a quarterback. Freshman wide receiver Bryson Wolf, all of 5-7, 135 pounds, volunteered to play quarterback. He’ll be a varsity contributor next year at his natural position.
Wilson’s junior high team won five or six games. It will send up a large group of linemen who will help the next several years plus a quarterback with Wilson pedigree.
Cayden Stem was the last quarterback to win a game at Smith Field, which is scheduled next spring to renovated. His brother, Matt Piperato, won Wilson’s last junior high game at Smith Field when it beat Notre Dame-GP. Piperato is expected to compete for Wilson’s varsity quarterback spot in the coming years.
“We’re excited for what the program has coming up in the future,” Brady said.
Wilson was prepared Saturday for when it would be in position to win a game. The Warriors’ hands team was ready for Belvidere’s onside kick in the final minute of Saturday’s game. So was the offense with their victory formation.
“We’ve practiced both during every pre-game workout the day before every game the last two years,” Brady added. “They were ready to go.
“The kids were ecstatic after Saturday’s game. I told my wife it was like we won the state championship.”
Wilson is a long way from contending for state titles, but this group in the program is showing a willingness to do what it takes every day to improve and work as a team.
Colonial-Schuylkill League Week 11 stat heroes
(listed alphabetically)
Brody Breiner, Panther Valley: Threw for 110 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 88 yards and a score and made four tackles against North Schuylkill.
Dante Carr, Minersville: Ran for 300 yards and four touchdowns in a victory over Pen Argyl.
Max Clews, Pottsville: Rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns against Bethlehem Catholic.
Rocco DeCesare, Pen Argyl: Made 14 tackles and scored a rushing touchdown against Minersville.
Cadeo Estronza, Catasauqua: Rushed for 92 yards and threw a two-point pass against Schuylkill Haven.
Brody Foose, Blue Mountain: Ran for a touchdown, made five tackles, including a sack, and returned a fumble 30 yards for a score in a victory over Lehighton.
Michael Garey, Palmerton: Made three tackles, including half a sack, and recovered a fumble against Notre Dame-GP.
Nathan Hillard, Tri-Valley: Made a career-high 50-yard field goal in the third quarter for the game’s only points in a victory over Marian Catholic.
Hunter Hopstetter, Bangor: Made a game-high six tackles against Southern Lehigh.
Colin Karetsky, Northern Lehigh: Threw his first pass of the season for the game-winning, two-point conversion to Ryan Zambo in an overtime victory over Palisades.
Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh: Rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns and made 10 tackles, two for loss (including a sack), in a victory over Palmerton.
Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe: Threw a touchdown pass and rushed for another against Central Catholic.
Brady McCabe, Tamaqua: Caught a 34-yard touchdown pass and made a team-high five tackles, one for loss, in a win over Saucon Valley.
Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua: Rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns against Saucon Valley.
Cole Mason, Nativity BVM: Ran for 116 yards and a touchdown against Lackawanna Trail.
Caden Meek, Lehighton: Made three catches, including a 36-yard touchdown, against Blue Mountain.
Luke Miller, North Schuylkill: Ran for 170 yards and three touchdowns and caught a TD pass in win over Panther Valley.
Tyler Price, Marian Catholic: Caught four passes and made a team-high 14 tackles, two for loss including a sack, against Tri-Valley.
Colton Reber, Schuylkill Haven: Rushed for 307 yards and six touchdowns on 18 carries in a win over Catasauqua.
Taylor Rohn, Saucon Valley: Made 10 tackles and intercepted a pass against Tamaqua.
Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh: Completed 10 of 12 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Bangor.
Fritz Scheirer, Northwestern Lehigh: Made a career-high 15 tackles, including two for loss, against Palmerton.
Brady Shomper, Williams Valley: Passed for 175 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 80 yards and two scores in a victory over Executive Education.
Mason Soos, Pen Argyl: Threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 64 yards against Minersville.
Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh: Ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns on six carries against Bangor.
Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP: Rushed for a touchdown, caught four passes for 83 yards and a score and returned a kickoff 51 yards in a win over Salisbury.
Eli Szlachtianshyn, Saucon Valley: Made 10 tackles and forced a fumble against Tamaqua.
Fletcher Thompson, Williams Valley: Rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns against Executive Education.
Jack Trickel, Palisades: Threw for 143 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 98 yards and two scores against Northern Lehigh.
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
Colonial-Schuylkill League football standings
Team (Overall record); Division record; Points for; Points against
Red Division
x-Northwestern Lehigh (11-0); 8-0; 469; 138
Southern Lehigh (10-1); 7-1; 381; 154
North Schuylkill (8-3); 6-2; 378; 210
Blue Mountain (7-4); 5-3; 332; 227
Lehighton (5-6); 4-4; 269; 240
Jim Thorpe (4-7); 2-6; 222; 311
Pottsville (3-8); 2-6; 167; 284
Tamaqua (4-7); 2-6; 181; 290
Bangor (0-11); 0-9; 119; 400
White Division
x-Notre Dame-GP (11-0); 8-0; 469; 86
Northern Lehigh (8-3); 6-2; 329; 262
Palisades (7-4); 6-2; 353; 219
Pen Argyl (7-4); 5-3; 263; 276
Saucon Valley (5-6); 4-4; 245; 248
Catasauqua (4-7); 3-5; 220; 360
Palmerton (3-8); 3-5; 152; 281
Salisbury (2-9); 1-7; 148; 321
Wilson (1-10); 0-8; 81; 409
Blue Division
x-Schuylkill Haven (11-0); 9-0; 603; 148
Williams Valley (10-1); 8-1; 481; 133
Minersville (9-2); 7-2; 433; 185
Marian Catholic (7-4); 6-3; 274; 235
Tri-Valley (7-4); 5-4; 314; 162
Panther Valley (4-7); 4-5; 194; 334
Nativity BVM (4-7); 3-6; 195; 276
Mahanoy Area (2-8); 2-7; 98; 361
Pine Grove (1-9); 1-8; 68; 352
Shenandoah Valley (0-10); 0-9; 132; 404
x-division champion
