Dawgs chew up the Cougars

Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News

Bryan Wenzel | October 5, 2019

The  battle between Hazleton and Berwick has been a long hard fought one. Just last year it was a hard fought game and literally came down to the last minute of the game for an ending score of 28-21 for a win to Berwick. This year was a bit more brutal, for Hazleton.

It only took Berwick 16 seconds into the start of the game to get on the scoreboard. Upon Hazleton receiving back Johnson dropped the ball but was able to save it on the 1 yard line. Then 2 minutes later Berwick followed up with another run past the white line followed by a fumbled snap keeping Berwick from getting the extra point making it 13-0. Then almost another 2 minutes following Berwick briought another 7 to the table. At the 1/2 way point in the quarter on a good pass by Hazleton, a Berwick defender stepped in an grabbed it from the air up to the 31 yard line but is unable to  run it in for a score. With Hazleton waking up in he final minutes of the 1st quarter they decide to intercept the ball back from Berwick on the 4 yard line and take it to the 50 but then weren’t able to move more than a few yards either direction. This quarter was full of errors as well, with a pass interference on Berwick, an illegal procedure by Hazleton then another by Berwick, Hazleton missed a side pass. Making the end of the first quarter 20-0 in Berwick’s favor.

The 2nd quarter wasn’t as exciting as the first. The opening 4 minutes was just a lot of back and forth, but then ended with a short kick by Hazleton and Berwick took it from the 48 for a TD. Then with less than 1 minute left in the half Mason Laubach, not finding any receivers, took it in himself. While lining up for 2 points Berwick suffers from another illegal procedure and then with a bad snap still goes for it and Hazleton knocks it out of their hands at the last second, thus ending the 1st half with a score of 33-0 Berwick.

Hazleton started the 2nd half on their 28. About 2 minutes and 30 seconds into the 2nd half Berwick managed to score one more time bringing to score to 40-0 and putting the mercy rule into play. It is now about this point that Berwick brought in 2nd string. While Berwick doesn’t put any more points on the board they do manage to fumble on the 1 yard line letting Hazleton recover and score after 2 plays bringing what would become the final score of the game 40-7 and Berwick winning.

Next week Berwick will face with Crestwood (5-2) at Crestwood.

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