Eight turnovers. Seven in the first 22 minutes of the game that rapidly jetted out of hand, disappearing like some Roman candle shot aimlessly into the night sky.

"In my 20 years as coach at Cumberland Valley, we've never had turnovers like we had tonight," said Tim Rimpfel, the veteran Eagles coach who arrived with an overachieving 12-1 team and departed thinking his New Kingstown outfit never really gave itself a fighting chance.

There were just far too many bullet holes in CV's feet.

Not that unbeaten powerhouse Wilson needed that much help, either, in the District 3-AAAA championship game that doubled as a PIAA state quarterfinal.

The Berks County Bulldogs, confident and polished, cashed 20 quick points out of the CV miscues and roared to a 35-7 triumph before 4,824 chilled fans who looked on in disbelief as the Eagles came unglued -- four lost fumbles and four interceptions.

In the end, Wilson recorded its 11th mercy-rule win in the past 12 games, a feat in itself.

What's worse, CV didn't arrive at this elite destination by making a bevy of mistakes. The Eagles in 13 previous games were plus-20 in turnover margin.

"It happens," shrugged Eagles quarterback Nathan Rhodes. "It's a shame, but we just didn't play CV Football tonight. I don't know why."

Where this mismatch was headed was signaled early. CV was perched first-and-goal at the Wilson 4 when Rhodes reverse pivoted for a pitchout but had a Wilson lineman slap the ball out of his hands. The Bulldogs recovered and promptly marched 94 yards in seven plays for a 7-0 lead that gradually swelled.

"The funny thing about their turnovers was that they had a pretty good [margin] coming into the game," said Wilson boss Doug Dahms, who now finds himself with a run-pass-defense juggernaut that is a legitimate threat to win the state championship.

Wilson, you may recall, has some Football pedigree. The school has spawned current NFL high-profiler Kerry Collins of the Tennessee Titans and Penn State. It also produced present NFL rookie, quarterback Chad Henne of Michigan and the Miami Dolphins .

Like Collins and Henne, these current Bulldogs can play.

"These kids are just never content. They keep studying and trying to do better," said Dahms, whose Bulldogs meet western titan and also unbeaten Bethel Park Saturday at State College. All Dahms knows about the Blackhawks is what he has read.

"They fly to the ball defensively, a lot like us. Offensively, they are cautious and don't take a lot of risks. I'll just need to see them on film."

Rimpfel saw all he needed to see of Wilson, which totaled 421 yards with the greatest of ease. The Bulldogs had scoring drives of 94, 19, 62, 9 and 73 yards. The short fields were turnover-produced from a vicious, swarming defensive unit that seemed to have CV's number.

The Eagles had nine possessions in the first half -- seven turnovers and two punts. Very few Football teams win games at those numbers. The turnover count is an all-time District 3 record.

"Wilson executes so well," said Rimpfel. "They are a polished, efficient and confident team that will be a very tough out. They don't make mistakes. Very sound defensively."

If Wilson had a hammer who kept pounding the Eagles like a nail, it was tailback Zacc Groff. The 5-10, 190-pound senior tailback, who was a reserve when camp broke back in August, rushed 16 times for 127 yards and had scoring runs of 17, 12 and 9 yards.

It's a shame CV didn't put its best foot forward Saturday night. A 12-2 season is sterling, considering the mini-slump around New Kingstown the past year or two. Rimpfel started 20 of 22 seniors who carried the Eagles back to respectability and beyond this campaign.

"Can't remember when I've enjoyed a group any more than this one," Rimpfel said. "Whatever we preached, they listened. That doesn't always happen."

Rhodes, like his coach, also felt the sting of disappointment that a 28-point loss inflicts. But also like his coach, he recognized that CV's body of work this season has been impressive. The more the quarterback talked, the more his emotion poured out.

"This has been the best year of my life," said the 5-10, 180-pound senior.

For a proud Football program, the gushing remark represents the height of flattery.

NICK HORVATH JR.: 255-8404 or nhorvath@patriot-news.com