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Athletic @berwickdawgsProve To Be Too Much To Handle In Battle Of Unbeatens.

Tagged under: District 2, News

| September 15, 2018

Photos courtesy Lee Vivian

KINGSTON- Sometimes a football game does not match the hype it receives going into the contest. Such was the case Friday night at Spartan Stadium as Berwick (3-0) overwhelmed a game, but undermanned Wyoming Valley West by a score 0f 40-24 in a key Wyoming Valley Conference showdown of premier rivals.

 

Valley West took the opening possession of the game and picked up an initial first down, but then the Berwick defenses settled in a forced a Spartan punt. The ‘Dawgs took over at their own 40,

Berwick defense was tough all night Lee Vivian photo

and systematically maneuvered down into Spartan territory, where Blake Mauer took a lateral pass from QB Alex Force and found his way for a score from 21 yards out. Jarret Groshek made the PAT to make the score 7-0 with 6:13 left in the quarter.

The Spartans caught a break, after Berwick stopped the Valley West offense on a fourth down play. Berwick fumbled the ball back at the Bulldog 30 late in the quarter. Carson Canavan capped off the drive with a 2 yard run. Adam Sivak made the point after to tie the game at 7 with 11:00 left till half.

Berwick RB Own Shoemaker quickly broke the tie at the 10:29 mark with a dashing 49 yard run, Groshek added the PAT to make the score 14-7.

Again, The Spartans answered as QB Jake Shusta connected with Joge Pina on a 24 yard post pattern to make the score 14-14 with still 7:30 left in the quarter

Freshman sensation Aiden Mason took the ensuing kickoff 82 yards for a Berwick score, where he made the first wave miss and then kept his balance on the sidelines at the Spartan 5 before he managed to put his team ahead 20-14 as the PAT was blocked.

Shoemaker Lee Vivian photo

Berwick went into the locker room with a 27-17 lead on a 4 yard run by Shoemaker following a 31 yard field goal by Sivak for the Spartans. The Berwick score was setup by a 58 yard kick return by Antonio Baratta setting the Bulldogs at the Spartan 20.

Berwick only ran 16 plays in the first half compared to The Spartans 40. Valley West had 182 yards of offense.

Berwick then closed ranks in the second half as they took the opening possession and Shoemaker capped the drive with a 13 yard score to make the score 34-17.

Teagan Wilk, then got in on the action as he picked off an errant Shusta pass setting Berwick up with great field position. Wilk then completed the drive with a 15 yard score to make score 40-17 early in the final quarter.

Lee Vivian photo

Valley West then scored a late touchdown as backup Darius Redguard darted in from 30 yards out.

“They are a tough team to defend. They give you so many shifts and motions and they are unbalanced. You have to recognize all of those things. Berwick coach Frank Sheptock said afterwards.

“We spotted them two scores in the first half. You can’t do that against a good team like that.” Spartan coach Pat Keeting mentioned

With the win Berwick moves to 4-0 on the season and will travel to face Selinsgrove next Friday night as the Seals will be coming off a 35-0 win over Shikellamy. Wyoming Valley West 3-1 will travel to the Back Mountain to face 4-0 Dallas, a 41-21 winner over Pittston.

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