DALLAS — The numbers from the box score will tell you everything you need to know about Dallas’ 42-6 win over Berwick on Friday night at Mountaineer Stadium. The game was just as lopsided as the numbers would suggest.
But to learn how Dallas got to this point — unbeaten through seven games, averaging more than 40 points per game — you’ll have to dig a little deeper. It goes back nearly three years to when the Mountaineers were on the bus home from Hershey after taking a 46-7 thumping at the hands of Thomas Jefferson in the state title game.
For Mountaineers coach Rich Mannello, that was the moment when he knew things had to change. As much as he loves lining up in the I-formation, dominating the line of scrimmage, and controlling football games between the tackles, eventually he knew his teams were always going to come up against a opponent who could neutralize his front and his offense — just like Thomas Jefferson did in Hershey.
With that in mind, Mannello has forged an offense which is not only potent, but fun. Friday night against Berwick, Dallas attacked the perimeter like Mannello has never done. He shifted his backfield formation to create some confusion with the Berwick defense. And he even ran a trick play out of that shift for a big gain.
At 62-years old, Mannello and his offense have evolved. It’s like a basketball game with helmets and pads. Brady Zapoticky isn’t a quarterback so much as the point guard distributing the ball in a way which would make John Stockton’s jaw hit the floor. Last night that led to 328 yards of offense and a 42-point lead before Berwick recorded a first down.
Welcome to a new generation of Dallas football.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Dallas receiver Zach Paczewski, who had five receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown Friday. “Dallas used to be in that I-back a lot and now we’re really expanding our formations, and it’s awesome. We’re all getting the ball and we’re just having a blast out there.”
“It’s no secret, you have to get the ball in the playmakers’ hands,” Mannello said. “It’s a little more involved than lining up in the I-formation, — which I love doing — and running iso and power and counter. I can do that and be pretty happy, but it’s about the kids and giving them the best chance to win.”
Don’t be fooled, there is still plenty of that I-formation in the Mountaineers’ playbook. At 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, tailback Dylan Geskey (90 yards, 3 touchdowns) is a load to bring down. He brings that physical, punishing style with which Mannello teams are so well known. Just look at Geskey’s three touchdown runs last night, they came from 1, 2 and 3 yards out.
But he can also gain chunks on the edge with sweep plays that are triggered by an offensive line which may be undersized but moves with a quickness that allows Dallas to be varied in the offensive gameplan.
Paczewski had 111 yards of offense and a touchdown last night. Geskey had 95 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Brady Zapoticky ran for 36 yards and a score to complement his 129 passing yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Nick Farrell had a 19-yard catch-and-run for a score.
“I think coach Mannello sees the speed we have on the perimeter. He sees we have a lot of guys who can take over games when they’re given the chance,” Paczewski said. “I think he realizes what he can do with these players.”
“We all learn all the time. I’m 62-years old and I learn every day we’re here,” Mannello said. “I’ve got a staff that challenges me every day to think outside the box. But the kids are engaged because those skilled guys are all over the place and we’re moving the football around to so many guys. We’re changing personnel groups and formations and that keeps us sharp. Kids want to be challenged mentally. Their brains work fast. Their whole world is faster and if you don’t keep them moving fast, you lose them.”
That change has made its way to the Dallas defense as well. This is no longer a unit sitting back and reading an opponent’s offense and reacting to it. Instead, the Mountaineers are putting the pressure on their opponents. They sacked Berwick quarterback Ethan Lear three times last night. Three other times they managed to let the Bulldogs’ signal-caller get back to only the line of scrimmage.
Of Berwick’s 20 rushing attempts last night, 10 went for 2 yards or fewer. There wasn’t time to throw even if receivers did manage to get open. When Berwick’s first-team offense and Dallas’ first-team defense were finally replaced by backups in the fourth quarter, Berwick had managed just 16 yards of offense and did not record a first down. There were only 8 minutes, 37 seconds left in the game when Berwick finally managed to get one of its two first downs.
“Playing shade and reading the offense, those days are over. Football is too fast,” Mannello said. “You have to be torqueing the front and you gotta be moving. That defense can run. So we had to change up our personnel and our plan to what we’re able to do.”
Now at 7-0, Dallas has a team that maybe has Mannello evoking some of the same thoughts as he had with that 2019 state finalist team. Only time will tell what this group of Mountaineers can accomplish, but Mannello believes it’s a group which can battle for a District 2 Class 4A championship.
He saw the improvement in the weight room from the offseason that he wanted to see. And now schematically he’s got as varied a group as he’s ever had.
“Our confidence is definitely up,” Paczewski said. “But we have to keep it going. So let’s just focus on getting another win next week.”
Dallas 42, Berwick 6
Berwick 0 0 0 6 – 6
Dallas 14 14 14 0 – 42
First quarter
D—Brady Zapoticky 4 run (Rowan Laubach kick), 11:05
D—Dylan Geskey 2 run (Laubach kick), 4:34
Second quarter
D—Zach Paczewski 13 pass from Zapoticky (Laubach kick), 11:17
D—Nick Farrell 19 pass from Zapoticky (Laubach kick), 5:39
Third quarter
D—Geskey 3 run (Laubach kick), 9:27
D—Geskey 1 run (Laubach kick), 2:24
Fourth quarter
B—Braylon Hawkins 49 run (run failed), 8:37
Ber Dal
First downs 2 19
Rushes-yds 20-76 44-199
Com-att-int 2-9-0 10-12-0
Pass yards 16 129
Total yards 92 328
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1
Penalties-yards 5-21 2-20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing—Berwick, Braylon Hawkins, 2-57, TD; Gavin Galutia, 3-19; Jimmy DeAndrea, 3-9; Tyler Winter, 5-6; Ethan Lear, 7-(-15). Dallas, Dylan Geskey, 18-90, 3 TDs; Brady Zapoticky, 8-36, TD; Sam Kelley, 4-29; Zach Paczewski, 2-21; Hunter Pitcavage, 2-8; Mike Lewis, 4-7; Logan Geskey, 2-7; Brady McCann, 1-3; Kenny Martin, 1-0; Team, 2-(-2).
Passing—Berwick, Ethan Lear, 2-9-0, 16 yds. Dallas, Brady Zapoticky, 10-12-0, 129 yds., 2 TDs.
Receiving—Berwick, Braylon Hawkins, 1-9; Tyler Winter, 1-7. Dallas, Zach Paczewski, 5-90, TD; Nick Farrell, 2-24, TD; Mike Lewis, 1-12; Dylan Geskey, 1-5; Gavin Lewis, 1-(-2).
INTERCEPTIONS—None.
RECORDS: Dallas (7-0); Berwick (2-5).
