Cashman is money for Dawgs

Sr. RB rushes for 166 yards as Berwick squeaks by Pittston Area

YATESVILLE- Pittston Area has not had the greatest luck against the Berwick Bulldogs over the years, winning only two of their previous 28 meetings. The Patriots defeated Berwick in 2003 under the tutelage of George Curry and then again in 2006 with Gary Campbell at the helm.

Tonight on a very wet field which made for a very interesting game, Pittston Area played an almost flawless contest but game up short to a determined Berwick team.

Berwick Sr. Wideout Jeff Steeber would find paydirt with only 1:13 left in the game to give Berwick the lead for good after trailing 20-15 to start the fourth quarter. Sr. DB Will Masteller sealed the deal with an interception on Pittston Area’s first play of their final possession, with the final score Dawgs 23 Pats 20.

Berwick would jump on the scoreboard quickly on their opening drive going 55 yards in only five plays with Cashman capping the drive on a four yard scamper. So. K Olivia Seely nailed the PAT with the score Dawgs 7, Pats 0.

Pittston Area would answer back early in the second quarter on a 11 play drive that covered 84 yards with Sr. WR Joe Starinsky capping the drive on a 32 yard TD reception from So. QB Kyle Gattuso. Sr. K Derrick Donoto’s PAT was good with the score Dawgs 7, Pats 7.

Starinsky, again found paydirt on another long pass from Gatusso, this time covering 51 yards to give Pittston Area their first lead of the night at the 6:03 mark of the second quarter with the score Pats 14, Dawgs 7.

The Dawgs would answer back on their very next possession after Pittston Area captured the lead as Cashman ripped off a 50 yard dash to cash. A Pats’ penalty on the PAT had Berwick now go for two as Cashman converted on the short run with the score at the half Dawgs 15, Pat 14.

Pittston Area regained the lead with 7:16 left in the third quarter on another TD reception from Starinsky, this time a 20 yard hook up from Gattuso. The Pats only needed three plays to find the goldzone after Cashman decided to tuck the ball away and run instead of punting away from his own 16 on a 4^th and 20.

“It was there a few times in the first half, but it certainly was a mistake on my part to try and gain the first down in that situation. I just was not thinking how deep I was in my own territory and if we would have lost this game, it would of been on my shoulders,” said Cashman of the fake punt.

Instead, Sr. RB Jeff Steeber would be the hero as he capped a six play drive starting at the Pittston Area 39 late in the fourth quarter on a 12 yard scamper. Berwick would regain the lead for good and with a two point conversion held a 23-20 lead with only 1:13 left in the ball game.

Will Masteller would intercept Gattuso’s first play from scrimmage as he was mobbed by his teammates, sealing the win for the Dawgs improving their record to 7-1 with just two games left in the regular season.

The Dawgs will travel to Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium next Friday night to lock horns with Wilkes-Barre Coughlin, a team that Pittston Area defeated the prior week.

Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium has been a home away from home during many of Berwick’s championship runs under Curry with one of the Dawgs’ most memorable playoff wins taking place their against Manheim Central. In a game that Berwick trailed 17-0 at the half only to come back a win 18-17 in route of another state title.

Until next week…happy football!