BERWICK – There were a couple of times where Berwick was getting close to making things interesting against Valley View. The Bulldogs played with more urgency than they did a week ago against Southern Columbia, but ultimately suffered the same fate. When Valley View needed to come up with a big play or momentum-killing drive, the Cougars did exactly that. Two second-half drives that consistently ripped off huge chunks of yardage enabled Valley View to pull away for a 34-19 win.
“Our effort was ten times better than it was last week,” acting Berwick coach Bo Orlando said. “I talked to them before the game, and I pointed to the heart. I said, football is right here. It’s a different football game, Being a Berwick football player, I want intensity. I want you to be physical and I want you to lay it on the field. Regardless of what happens, I just want some better effort, and I was very happy with our effort.”
Orlando, filling in for Mike Bennett who was absent with an illness, had to like what he saw when Ethan Lear connected with Billy Winter on a 41-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter. Valley View had its lead trimmed to 7-6 at the time, but the Cougars would promptly respond with a couple of touchdown drives before halftime. Zach Cwalinski scored on runs of 1 and 4 yards to give his team a 20-6 cushion heading into halftime.
“I just think there were some things they were giving us, our kids knew that and we executed at times,” Valley View coach Scot Wasilchak said. “(Berwick) is a heck of a football team, their kids fought. I knew they’re going through some tough times, but I thought their kids fought hard tonight, and they should be proud of them. But I think those plays – I think we’re a little more experienced. We were able to make those plays, and they weren’t.”
Berwick (0-2) used a big play on special teams to get back in the game. Chase Schuckers blocked a punt to give the Bulldogs a short field. Lear capped off the seven-play, 31-yard drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak that pulled Berwick to within one score midway through the third quarter.
“We went out there and said let’s score early in the second half,” Orlando said. “We didn’t score, but then we blocked a punt. We were right in it, and then one of our coaches said we have to talk about momentum. We had the momentum, and then they run, score right back, and it kills the momentum.”
Valley View (2-0) needed just three plays to once again take control on the scoreboard. Preston Reed, who had a huge second half, broke loose for runs and 39 and 28 yards. One the next play, Cam Higgins scored his second touchdown of the night from 12 yards out, giving his team a 27-13 lead.
“It was huge,” Waslichak said. “They came down and scored after they blocked a punt, and I think our kids responded, and that was huge. We’re a young team. We’re trying to find our way a little bit, but to go three plays like that and go the length of the field was really special. Our guys up front took it personally.”
Just like on the Cougars’ previous drive, it would take only three plays to find the end zone. Quarterback Casey Malsberger perfectly executed a screen pass and found Reed. The big fullback did the rest by rumbling his way across the goal line, finishing off a 54-yard sprint to pay dirt on the opening play of the fourth quarter and putting the game away. Reed finished with 179 total yards, which included 125 on the ground.
“We’ve been waiting for Preston to do that for quite some time,” Waslichak said. “He had a little hamstring injury in the preseason, so we’ve been bringing him back slow. Tonight, we brought him out and showed what he can do.”
Valley View 7 13 7 7-34
Berwick 0 6 7 6-19
Individual Scoring
First Quarter
VV-Cam Higgins 3 run (Jacob Bekele kick) 7:49
Second Quarter
B-Billy Hanson 41 pass from Ethan Lear (kick blocked) 10:04
VV-Zach Cwalinski 1 run (kick failed) 8:44
VV-Cwalinski 4 run (Bekele kick) :33
Third Quarter
B-Lear 1 run (Luke Peters kick) 5:14
VV-Higgins 12 run (Bekele kick) 4:03
Fourth Quarter
VV-Preston Reed 54 pass from Casey Malsberger (Bekele kick) 11:41
B-Tyler Winter 1 run (kick blocked) 7:14
Team Statistics
………………..VV……………..B
1st downs 15……….10
rush-yds…41-244…..33-84
comp-att-int…6-10-0…..10-24-0
pass yds…..118……..127
total yds…362………211
fum-lost….2-2……….3-0
pen-yds….3-15…….6-60
Individual Statistics
Rushing-Valley View: Preston Reed 11-125; Cam Higgins 15-72, 2 TDs; Zach Cwalinski 8-37, 2 TDs; Nick Kucharski 4-15; Casey Malsberger 3-(-5). Berwick: Tyler Winter 14-40, TD; Jimmy DeAndrea 3-20; Ethan Lear 14-16, TD; Ty’Meere Wilkerson 1-4; Alex Estrella 1-4.
Passing-Valley View: Malsberger 6-10-0, 118 yds., TD. Berwick: Lear 10-24-0, 127 yds., TD.
Receving-Valley View: Kyle Rupp 2-42; Chris Savkov 2-18; Reed 1-54, TD; Gianni Marino 1-4. Berwick: Billy Hanson 6-93, TD; Wilkerson 3-21; Winter 1-13.
