Dawgs post 34-7 win over W-B Coughlin
WILKES-BARRE- The Berwick Bulldogs traveled route 11 north Friday night, making their first trip to Wilkes-Barre during the 2011 campaign. James M Coughlin would be the Dawgs opponent, who came in 7-32 against Berwick in the season series losing the last eight of nine.
Coughlin would only be down by 12, with the Dawgs leading 12-0 at the half, but the Dawgs determination again won out scoring the 34-7 victory in front of a nice crowd at W-B Memorial Stadium.
The Dawgs two touchdowns in the first half would come from sophomore sensation Andrew Force and Sr. WR Jeff Steeber. Force would keep his streak of TD catches alive with six receptions on the season, ALL six being touchdown passes. Force would cash in on a 21 yarder from Jr. QB CJ Curry and Steeber would find paydirt on a 10 yard pitch left.
Berwick would take a 20-0 lead late in the 3rd quarter after Coughlin tried a fake punt on a 4th and 10 at their 48 yard line. Berwick’s “D” would stand tall and turn away the Crusaders. The offense would take over at their own 44 yard line with Curry ripping off a 30 yard dash to cash just four plays later. Steeber was successful on the two point conversion and the Dawgs stretched their lead to 20.
Coughlin would finally find the scoreboard with only .27 left in the 3rd quarter going 58 yards on nine plays with Sr. RB Hunter Bednarczyk finding the goldzone on a 14 yard jaunt.
The Dawgs would answer back with two more scores of their own with Sr. RB Matt Cashman capping an eight play drive on a 34 yard scamper and then again on a 10 play drive capped by a 24 yard scamper, with the final score Dawgs 34, Crudaders 7.
“I told the kids; Coughlin will try and break our will. That’s what they do, they try and break you. We have to force our will on them, said Coach Curry. “These kids had 12 formations they had to know for this game. We played smash mouth football tonight and got the win.”
With the win, the Dawgs have improved to 8-1 with only Hazleton Area at home next week the only game left in the regular season. The way it’s shaping up now, if Berwick could get bye Hazleton Area next week and quad A Scranton would beat Abington Heights next week. The Dawgs would be the number one seed in the district 2 AAA playoffs and would have two home games if they advanced after game one.
The Dawgs could have either Crestwood, Valley View or Dallas at home in their first playoff game the way it looks right now, but nothing is set in stone except for the Dawgs certainly playing postseason football.
Until next week…Happy football!
