The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 

Highlanders stay perfect at home: McGuffey beats Beth-Center on Senior night 35-8 @McGuffeyFB @BruceDavidson37

Tagged under: District 7, News

| October 23, 2021

By: Bruce Davidson

In only their fourth and final home game of the 2021 season the McGuffey Highlanders welcomed the Beth-Center Bulldogs on Friday night.

Beth-Center received the opening kickoff only to go three and out. McGuffey Junior RB Kyle Brookman notched the first touchdown of the game on a reverse with 8:23 left in the first quarter giving the Highlanders a 7-0 lead.

The Bulldogs decided to go for it on fourth down and two their own 30-yard line, but the McGuffey defense made the stop. A few plays later Brookman broke free again for a touchdown.

With 7:04 remaining in the first quarter the Highlanders jumped out to a 14-0 lead.

It would stay that way through the end of the first and for much of quarter number two. Midway into the second quarter Beth-Center got its first turnover of the night recovering a McGuffey fumble. The Bulldogs were unable to turn this takeaway into any points.

3:00 till halftime Junior QB Philip McCuen ran in from seven yards out for a touchdown. McGuffey had control up 21-0 when both teams headed to the locker room at halftime.

Although three touchdowns were on the board for them, the Highlanders fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half to Beth-Center. It did not cost McGuffey though, yet again no points were cashed in by the Bulldogs.

Following three-straight punts the Highlanders had the ball at their own 49-yard line, still leading 21-0 with 5:00 left in the third quarter.

Philip McCuen tossed the first passing touchdown for McGuffey on play action to Junior Tristan McAdoo. The Highlanders now lead 28-0 with 3:16 left in the third quarter.

On a bizarre play in the final minute of the third quarter the McGuffey special teams delivered when Junior Morgan Shriver recovered a blocked punt in the endzone for a touchdown. After 36 minutes played it was 35-0 Highlanders, and a running clock would begin in the fourth quarter.

The final frame of the night passed by quickly. In a span of less than a minute another McGuffey fumble was nullified by a Beth-Center interception two plays later giving the Highlanders the ball right back.

Only 1:26 remained in the game when the Bulldogs broke the shutout. Beth-Center Sophomore Ethan Varesko got the visitors on the board with a 26-yard TD reception. Varesko also added on the Bulldogs two-point conversion because, why not?

The clock ran out with McGuffey taking the win 35-8. The Highlanders finished their home regular season with a fourth win in as many games on the gray turf.

After the game McGuffey Junior Kyle Brookman spoke about closing their home campaign victorious.

“It feels good, last week was a tough one, but it feels good to get back, play some McGuffey football and get a win,” Brookman said.

Moving forward, next week is a road game against 2A Century Conference leading Washington. Brookman outlined his mindset for the showdown.

“Like every year it’s always going to be a good game,” Brookman said. “It’s a big rivalry, but we’re going to get it done like we did last year.”

McGuffey upset Washington in last season’s opener 7-6 on the Highlanders home field. Next Friday the Prexies (8-0, 5-0) look to avenge that game in Washington. Beth-Center closes out their regular season at home against Waynesburg Central (1-6, 1-4). The Bulldogs won last year’s matchup with the Raiders 20-7 in Waynesburg.

 

Be sure to follow @PaBckyard and @PAFootballNews on Twitter for continuing coverage throughout the 2021 high school football season.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x