Dawgs use solid 2nd half to surge past Mounts

Sr. WR Jeff Steeber has 105 all-purpose yards in Berwick win

BERWICK- The Dawgs used a balance of the run and passing game this Saturday afternoon at Crispin Memorial Field, recording 130 yards on the ground along with a passing game that accumulated 136 yards. Sr. RB Matt Cashman would carry the ball 14 times for 45 yards with one td, while Sr. Jeff Steeber would rush for 65 yards on six carries, which included a huge touchdown on a 33 yard reverse late in the 4th quarter. Steeber also contributed to the passing game with three receptions totaling 40 yards.

Berwick would find the scoreboard on their very first drive of the day after the defense was able to record a three and out on the Mountaineers first possession. The Dawgs would put together an 11 play drive capped by a 25 yard field goal from So. K Olivia Seely after the Dallas “D” stood tall, with the score Dawgs 3, Mounts 0.

Dallas again would go three and out on their next series but their defense also kept Berwick from putting another drive together until the Dawgs struck at the 7:13 mark of the 2^nd quarter. Sr. WR Jake Pecorelli would haul in a 38 yard strike from Jr. QB CJ Curry with Curry picking up the one on one coverage and lofting a perfect pass to Peck. Seely would have the PAT blocked, with the score Dawgs 9, Mount 0.

Dallas would find the scoreboard with just 45 seconds left in the first half, with Sr. RB Kris Roccograndi capping a 12 play scoring drive that totaled 77 yards on a four yard jaunt. The PAT was good, with the score Dawgs 9, Mounts 7 at the half.

Dallas would start the second half with an attempt of an onsides kick, trying to catch the Dawgs napping. Berwick So. Zach Andress “The good hands people” covered the kick with ease and the Dawgs would start their first drive of the 2^nd half near mid field. The Mounts’ defense again stood tall as Berwick actually lost yardage on three plays from scrimmage and were forced to punt.

Dallas, then again put together a fairly nice drive with eight plays leading to a field goal attempt of around 40 yards. If the Mounts were to make the three pointer they would have had their first lead of the day, instead the pigskin was blocked at the line of scrimmage by Sr. Will Masteller and Berwick would take over at their own 31 yard line. Although, Berwick was unable to score on the ensuing drive, the blocked field goal seemed to turn momentum in Berwick’s favorite and in a sense they never looked back.

The Dawgs would score early in the 4^th quarter with Cashman capping an eight play drive on a five yard scamper. The PAT was blocked, with the score Dawgs 15, Mounts 7. Steeber played a huge part of the drive as Curry scrambled around on a 4^th and 24 only to connect with Steeber at the five yard line, setting up Cashman for the score. Coach Curry said of the play, “Looked like someone might have had a guardian angel out their on that one.”

Berwick again scored with just 4 minutes left in the game on the Steeber reverse of 33 yards. In all, the Dawgs offense would go 84 yards in 9 plays with Steeber capping things off. The two point conversion failed, with the score Dawgs 21, Mounts 7.

Berwick’s Sr. Zach Ladonis would finish the scoring off for the day with a 12 yard interception return on the Mounts final attempt to put a sustained driver together. Instead, Ladonis would step in front of the attempted pass and walk to paydirt. The PAT was good, with the final score Dawgs 28, Mounts 7.

“We played a good football team here today”, noted Coach Curry, speaking of the Dallas Mountaineers. ”Tell ya what, we had some trouble blocking in the first half and had to make a few adjustments. Our defense, they did it today. We knew the defense had to keep Zapoticky from getting to the outside today.”

With the win, Berwick will host Abington Heights this coming Saturday at 1 PM in the class AAA district 2 championship game. Abington Heights defeated Valley View to earn the right to come to Dawgtown.

Until next week…happy football!