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Beth Center Clinches Playoff Spot with Win Over Waynesburg 32-22 @PaBackyard @NathanGrella

Tagged under: District 7, News

| October 30, 2021

Going into the final week of the regular season, both the Beth Center Bulldogs and Waynesburg Central Raiders knew their possible postseason destinies, and the scenarios that had to play out to get there. For the Bulldogs, a win would catapult the struggling program into the playoffs for the first time since the mid-2000s. The Raiders, however, would have to win by at least 7 to end their recent postseason woes.

The Bulldogs came into the game controlling the line of scrimmage, a theme that would play out through the night. QB Dom Revi would lead the Bulldogs down the field on their second drive of the game to put the Bulldogs up 8-0.

“We just hit the sled like crazy. Practicing hitting and getting low,” OL/DL Nathan Zelnis said on preparing for the war in the trenches. “It also helped that our practice field is grass, so we were in the mud every day of the week, just so we were ready for it.”

On the Raiders following drive, Tyler Debnar would snatch the ball out of the air of an errant Nate Kirby pass and return it 56 yards for a pick six. The Interception would be the first of four on the night for the bulldogs.

“It’s just great that we’re making plays,” Zelnis said “It’s amazing to have kids on our team that have the ability to make plays like that.”

The Bulldogs would almost have two in a row, however, a 74 yard interception returned for TD by Ethan Varesko would be called back on a penalty. A couple plays later, the Bulldogs would fumble, giving Waynesburg the opportunity to drive down the field and cut the lead nearly in half. With 2:18 left in the first half, Breydon Woods would break one 58 yards.

On the next kickoff, Chase Henkins bounced the ball off a defender and back to himself, giving Waynesburg the ball back with two minutes remaining. With 9 seconds left, on the shadow of the goal line, a Nate Kirby sneak would even the score at 14.

It looked to be a dog fight to the very end entering the second half. However, the Beth Center offense awoke. After a key stop at midfield, and starting at their own 10, the Bulldogs stormed down the field, Powered first by a 43 yard field-flipping rush by Ethan Varesko, and several plays later with a 20 yard screen and score to but BC up 20-14.

With the game on the line, the Bulldogs defense stood up in the following possession. Beth Center would finalize their interception total with Trevor Pettit putting the Bulldogs back in scoring territory. Ethan Varesko again capitalized, making it 26-14.

“We just knew that we had to beat them. We had to beat them more than they beat us. We had to go harder, stronger and faster than they do and it worked out in the end.” Zelnis said.

Both teams would add to their TD totals with the game well in wraps, making the score 32-22, and sending the Bulldogs back into the playoffs.

“Winning in front of our fans was so important, there are so many great people that came out tonight,” Zelnis said. “And it was a pleasure to have everybody here at the stadium to watch us play.”

With the win, Beth Center has clinched the final playoff spot in the Century conference and will likely match up with the One seed in the Playoff pairings, meaning a matchup with either Sto-Rox or Steel Valley.

“We just have to get tougher,” Zelnis said on preparing for whoever the opponent will be. “We have to be able to physically match up to them and compete with them play after play.”

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