North Pocono 21 Berwick 20
In one of the great games from week two in the district, North Pocono denied Berwick’s attempt for a gutsy two-point conversion with fifty-three ticks remaining on the clock.
The game’s first score was on the legs of Trojan running back Marquill Eggleston, who scampered across the goal line from forty-seven yards away. Eggleston finished with 97 rushing yards. North Pocono went up 14-0 after Greg Sporko darted 37-yards for the score.
Then Berwick began to come alive as junior quarterback Jared Pierce found Eric Schleich all alone along the sidelines for a 51-yard TD connection to pull the ‘Dawgs within two, 14-12. Berwick decided to go for two and Pierce’s toss to Casey Davenport in the end zone tied the game up at 14.
Back came the boys from Moscow, North Pocono’s signal caller Jack Williams rushed for 30-yards on a 4th and five play down to Berwick’s four yard line late in the fourth quarter. Sporko carried the ball in on the next play to give the Trojans a 21-14 lead. Sporko rushed for 101 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns.
However, the Bulldogs did not quit. On a 4th and long situation, Pierce aired out a 57-yard touchdown pass to Sean Ridall to close the gap to a 21-20 deficit for the ‘Dawgs with 53 seconds on the clock. Coach Gary Campbell, Jr. decided to roll the dice once again. This time, Pierce’s pass to the back of the end zone is not hauled in. North Pocono held on to win, 21-20, in a thrilling contest.
Nuggets: Ridall caught 10 passes for 127 yards. Pierce finished the game with 242 yards passing and 3 TDs (2 passing & 1 rushing). However, Jared did throw five interceptions.
