Beth Center Makes a Statement, Rolls Past Burgettstown 34-8

Tagged under: District 7, Game Photos-Videos, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Brent Ellsworth | November 7, 2026

Fredericktown, PA – It has been 16 years and nearly a dozen WPIAL playoff trips since the #8 Bethlehem-Center Bulldogs (10-1) last savored a playoff victory (34-12 win over Cornell). That drought came to an end as Beth-Center dominated the #9 Burgettstown Blue Devils (8-3) in the first round of the 2026 WPIAL Single A playoffs 34-8.

Burgettstown elected to receive the opening kickoff and promptly went three and out. That was the theme of the first half for their offense. The Beth-Center defense suffocated the ground game and on a rainy night, the passing game was also a struggle for Burgettstown. Conversely, Beth-Center relied on their bruising rushing attack to take control of the game early and never look back.

On Beth-Center’s first drive, they marched down the field which led to senior running back Cyler Myers punching it in from four yards out, and that drive set the tone offensively. Beth-Center also was able to mix in a big play, after another Burgettstown three and out.  Junior running back DeSean Whipkey took a pitch around the right end for 54 yards with 58 seconds left in the first quarter and jumped out to a 14-0 lead.

Whipkey first game back in several weeks goes 54 yards for a Beth Center touchdown. :58 left in the first
Beth Center 14 Burgettstown 0
@PaFootballNews @bethcenterath @DeSean_Whipkey https://t.co/YAsvCk0r9G

— Brent E (@BrentWestPa) November 7, 2026

 

Midway into the second quarter, Beth-Center continued to wear down the Burgettstown defense on a 

drive which ended with senior running back Homer Headlee finding the endzone on a punishing 21 yard run, putting the Bulldogs up 21-0. Then Beth-Center’s passing game got into the mix when senior quarterback Chase Bebout found senior wide receiver Daniel Duncan for a 25 yard pitch and catc

h for a touchdown, that score came with 58 seconds remaining in the half and put the Bulldogs up 28-0.

The final score for Beth-Center came in the 3rd quarter where junior running back Enzo Brown took a screen and went 25 yards and finished off the drive with a one yard touchdown run, to extend the lead to 34-0. 

Brown takes it in from the 2, set up by a screen
Beth Center on cruise control
Beth Center 34 Burgettstown 0 :06 in the third
@PaFootballNews @bethcenterath @BurgettstownA @enzobrown_25 https://t.co/nQ3Wu6W7ME

— Brent E (@BrentWestPa) November 7, 2026

Burgettstown was able to move the ball in the second half, but a promising drive was ended when sophomore  defensive back Nicholis Miller stepped in front of junior wide receiver Dominick Stevenson to pick off a pass in the red zone. Burgettstown did manage to put a score on the board with 2:30 left in the game when senior quarterback Blake Neal found senior wide receiver Bryce Speer for a 39 yard touchdown.

Burgettstown on the board Neal to Speer.
2:30 left Beth Center 34 Burgettstown 8
@PaFootballNews @BurgettstownA @bethcenterath @brycespeer1 https://t.co/A4AcbdYQ26

— Brent E (@BrentWestPa) November 7, 2026

The #8 seed Beth-Center Bulldogs will take on #1 seed Washington High Prexies (10-1) in the WPIAL Single A second round at a site to be determined.