Last time Valley View visited Crispin Field to play Berwick, they left with a double overtime win and District 2 Class 4A title. This time, it was a little more simple. They made a statement.
The Cougars got 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns from running back Mason Kordish and 125 passing yards from quarterback Janaasah Boone to beat the Bulldogs 35-7 on Friday.
The Valley View defense was stifling, sacking Berwick quarterback Alex Force seven times and limiting a Berwick offense that was averaging 31 points a game to one touchdown. Senior linebacker Traon Jones recorded three of those sacks and harassed Force all over the Bulldogs backfield.
“Traon does such a good job for us off the edge,” said Valley View coach George Howanitz. “He’s been almost unblockable the first five weeks of the season and that was the case tonight.”
Valley View scored first on their second possession of the game. A seven-play drive went 72 yards and was capped off by a one-yard Kordish touchdown run. A 34-yard flea flicker from Boone to senior wide receiver Jaden Duplessis was the key play on the drive. Duplessis caught four passes for 79 yards.
Berwick tried to answer but a recurring theme haunted the Bulldogs all night, penalties. They finished with 12 penalties for 155 yards, many of them stopping drives and putting Berwick in long down and distance situations.
“A lot of stuff was self-inflicted,” remarked Bulldogs head coach Frank Sheptock. “We got behind the sticks and that’s not the kind of offense we are. I take responsibility for that. I have to coach more discipline. But obviously (Valley View) is a good football team and you can’t give good teams more chances with mistakes like that.”
A penalty seemed to stop the next Valley View drive. After moving the ball to the Berwick 13 yard line, the Cougars were penalized 15 yards and were in a tough situation. But Boone bailed them out with a perfect strike to tight end Dylan Howanitz for a 28-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead.
The Cougars would put one more score in the books before half and this time they dug into their playbook for some trickery.
Wide receiver Marc Kudrich lined up as the lone tailback and took a pitch from Boone to his right. Kudrich then stopped and threw back to Boone at the ten yard line and powered his way into the end zone for the third Valley View touchdown. The play was very reminiscent of the Eagles Philly-Philly play in the Super Bowl.
The Bulldogs didn’t go away, cashing in on their first possession of the second half. A ten-play, 55-yard drive set up by a 45-yard kickoff return by Teagan Wilk, hit pay-dirt with Owen Shoemaker hitting pay-dirt from seven yards out for Berwick’s first and only score of the night.
Berwick would force Valley View into a three and out and get the ball back down two scores, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty would stall the drive. The Cougars answered with Kordish scoring on a one-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Boone finished the scoring with a seven yard touchdown run on the next drive.
Boone added 71 rushing yards to his evening. Anytime Valley View needed a play, the junior signal caller made one.
“Most of our starters last year played here, so we all were used to the environment,” said Boone who had the game-clinching interception in last year’s game. “It’s kind of felt like we were at home because we had such a crazy game here last year. So we were ready for all the stuff that they were bringing to us.”
Valley View moved their record to 6-0 while Berwick dropped to 5-1. Both teams could meet again in the playoffs and both still have to play unbeaten Dallas later this season. It should make an interesting Class 4A playoffs.
“We know we could see them again, said senior offensive lineman Mike Sebastianelli. “But we are not going to worry about that. We are going to enjoy tonight and get back to work on Sunday.”
Valley View hosts Western Wayne next Friday while Berwick hits the road against WVC rival Hazleton.
