California Trojans Win Thriller In Beth Center 32-27

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News

Nate Grella | August 26, 2019

It was a win forty years in the making, an event generations of California Trojan fans have been waiting for far too long. It was the culmination of that eternity, where parents, students, and alum finally got to celebrate a win over the Bethlehem Center Bulldogs. It was a thriller from start to finish, with both sides being led by standout players who battled the humid weather and frequent cramps to make a final push to victory. You couldn’t have picked a better game to lead the way into a new and exciting season of high school football.

The Trojans may have ended the game on a high note, but they certainly did not start off on one. On their first drive, Cochise Ryan fumbled, which was recovered by the Bulldogs. The ensuing Beth Center drive however, would fall just short at the Trojans 12 as Malik Ramsey deflected a pass into a turnover on downs

The Trojans Defense controlled much of the first half against a fledgling, young and inexperienced Bulldogs offense. At the end of the half, the score would be 14-6. The two touchdowns scored by California would both be QB keepers from Cochise Ryan. The first a simple 2 yard rush up the middle, and the second, a weaving option scramble.

The real action in the game would occur during the second half for both teams. Coming out of the locker room, the Beth Center Bulldogs offense was determined not to be shut down. 30 seconds into the half, Devyn Dingle would turn bad field position into points as a slant across the field exposed an out-of-position California secondary. The Two point conversion sealed the deal and tied it up at 14 apiece.

On the following California drive, Cochise Ryan would fumble again, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs. This fumble would spark a slow grind of a 3rd quarter, defined by drives stalling between the other teams’ 30’s. With 4th and 6 and over 5 minutes left in the quarter, the Bulldogs looked to have yet another drive foiled by the strong Trojans defense, however, Colby Kuhns made up the difference with his arm, finding a wide open receiver in the endzone to go up by 6, 20-14

The 3rd quarter would end with that score, despite a fumble by the Trojans in the backfield and Trojan interceptions by Cochise Ryan and Mason Ramsey on back-to-back Bulldog drives. The first half of the 4th quarter was unlike the end of the 3rd. Both teams grinded in the trenches and gained a touchdown apiece, making the score 26-20, California. On the following Bulldog drive, A controversial incomplete pass had Beth Center on the ropes, making it 4th and 1 in their own territory. Kuhns then handed the ball off on a jet sweep to Devyn Dingle, swapping the defense to the other side of the field, leaving nothing but green grass in front of him, tying the game. A Bulldog extra point would bounce over the crossbar, putting the Bulldogs up by 1.

Beth Center did not give the Trojans much time left on the clock. With under three minutes, California would need to score quickly, and without a reliable kicker, they would need to get a touchdown. A poor Bulldog punt put the Trojans on their own 40. A 10 yard pass to Malik Ramsey gave the Trojans better field position, but chewed down the clock, a QB keeper by Ryan would do the same a play later. With 1:12 left in the game, California tossed a screen pass to Lucas Qualk. Qualk, who had dropped a wide open 2 pt. Conversion earlier in the game, also dealt with cramps throughout the 4th quarter. “I got those cramps and I was like, ‘If I get back up, I just want to go’ and that’s what happened.” Qualk said.

Qualk took the screen pass to the house for a 41 yard score. A score that would end 40 years of heartache for Trojan fans and would galvanize the team with a shocking road win at 32-27. The humble Qualk was quick to praise his teammates after the game however, “I got up from those cramps, I healed, I went out there and did my thing, credit to my blockers though, wasn’t just me out there, it was a team effort.”

What’s Next?: California will hit the road once again, this time with their first Conference test in Monessen while Beth Center will likewise try to rebound on the road against Carmichaels.

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