Berwick rolls by Crestwoood, offense puts up big numbers

Sr. RB Matt Cashman rushes for 285 yards in 48-21 win

By Frank Kastreva, Easternpafootball.com

The Berwick Bulldogs kicked off their 2011 campaign scoring quickly in their opener at Crestwood High School in Mountaintop Friday night. The Dawgs would score in their first drive needing only four plays along with two Crestwood penalties to march 69 yards to paydirt. Sr. RB Matt Cashman capped off the drive on a 32 yard scamper. So. K. Olivia Seely nailed the PAT and Berwick never looked back, recording a 48-21 win over the Comets.

Senior running back Matt Cashman had a huge night coming only 20 yards away from tying Berwick’s all-time rushing record of 305 yards set by Mike Graybeal in 1975. Brant Quick also recorded 303 yards against Coughlin at Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium in 2004.

“I had no clue how many yards I had in the game, but it certainly is nice to be in that kind of company,” noted Cashman after talking with the media at the end of the night.

Berwick had the contest in hand much of the night and Cashman actually did not play the entire game as Coach Curry sat most of his starters half way through the fourth quarter.

The Dawgs second score would come at the end of the first quarter going 89 yards on 12 plays. Cashman carried the bulk of the load during the drive with six rushes. Jr. QB CJ Curry would cap the drive on a ten yard keeper to paydirt.

Berwick again found the goldzone after a fumble recovery by Sr. DE Brandon Dalberto thanks to the strip by Sr. OL Ray Grasley. Cashman capped the short drive on a four yard dash to cash.

The Dawgs found the scoreboard once again on their next possession after a turnover on downs by the Comets. Curry completed to Sr. WR Jake Pecorelli for a 50 yard pass play to paydirt. The two point conversion was good with the score 27-0 at the 7:49 mark of the second quarter.

Crestwood finally got on the scoreboard at the 3:05 mark of the second quarter on a 45 yard interception return by So. LB Frank Aigeldinger. Berwick and Cashman would answer right back with the Dawgs running back ripping off a 70 yard rush to Crestwood’s 18 yard line. Two plays later Pecorelli completed the drive on a five yard dash. Seely nailed the PAT to make the score Berwick 34, Comets 7.

Crestwood started the second half scoring on their opening drive going 64 yards on nine plays, with Sr. RB Evan Callaghan capping things off on a one-yard rush.

The Dawgs tacked on two more scores before the end of the contest with Pecorelli scoring on an eight yard scamper and then on a 32 yard pass play from Curry. Sr. DL Adam Harrison also recovered a fumble to set up one of the scoring drives.

Crestwood was the last to strike paydirt late in the fourth quarter with Aigeldinger hauling in a 51 yarder, with the final score Dawgs 48, Comets 21.
Cashman was quick to praise his offensive line for the huge chucks of yards picked up on the ground tonight. In the first quarter Cashman had already recorded 86 yards on the ground and in the first half had 181 yards.

As for Coach Curry, he chuckled with the media a bit after the game, admitting he was nervous before the start. “It was like I was starting all over again, I felt like a kid. I have to admit I could barely stand waiting for thing to start. It kind of felt like it was the first game I ever coached.”

Berwick will open things at home next Friday night as Pottsville comes to Dawgtown. Get there early…it will be a dandy. Until then…Happy Football!