Berwick survives, 29-27 over Bethlehem Catholic
Written by: David Mika on Saturday, November 23rd, 2013. Follow David Mika on Twitter.
ALLENTOWN – Berwick’s running back Jorden Stout’s four-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion with 4:18 remaining in the game was the difference in a 29-27 win over the District 11 champs Bethlehem Catholic (8-5) Friday night at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown. With the win, Berwick (13-0) will play Clearfield who defeated Jersey Shore, 27-8. Site and time to be determined.
Going into the game Berwick wanted to pound the ball and control the clock. Well on the opening drive they did just that. The Dawgs marched 78-yards on 18-plays to take a 7-0 lead on C.J. Curry’s 13-yard slant to Kyle Trenholm.
The Golden Hawks Chris Figler intercepted a Curry pass to end the Dawgs second drive.
On defense the Dawgs challenge tonight was Bethlehem Catholic’s big play ability.
“It’s hard to deal with that speed,” said Berwick head football coach George Curry. “They had five or six kids that can score on you any time they touch the ball.”
On the first play of the second quarter, Bethlehem Catholic’s Michael McDaniel did just that. He burst through the line and went 86-yards down the sidelines for a score to tie the game up at 7.
On Berwick’s next drive they took the lead on a 20-yard reverse by Trenholm with 7:36 left in the half.
The Golden Hawks were in business and driving quickly on Berwick’s defense. Quarterback Julian Spigner’s 37-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Simmons tied the game up at 14.
Late in the first half the Dawgs were faced with a 4th and 7, but the Golden Hawks defense held and took over at their 41 with 1:01 remaining in the first half.
Bethlehem Catholic’s big play ability stuck again. Spigner hit Simmons in the corner of the end zone for a spectacular 15-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining in the first half. But a costly unsportsmanlike penalty moved the extra point attempt back. Eric Ho’s kick was no good and Bethlehem Catholic went into halftime with a 20-14 lead.
The Dawgs in the first half won the time of possession battle, 19:00 to 5:00, but trailed by seven.
After a scoreless third quarter the Dawgs were on the march. With ten minutes left in the game, Curry called his own play on a fake dive and went in for a 15-yard touchdown run. Olivia Seely’s kick put the Dawgs up by one, 21-20.
The Dawgs added to their lead on a Jorden Stout four-yard touchdown run. The Golden Hawks jumped off sides and Coach Curry decided to go for two.
“We planned that. I called it on a long count,” said Curry. “When they jumped we were going to get two. We wanted to make them score twice.”
Stout pounded the ball in from two-yards out for the two-point conversion and the Dawgs led by nine with 4:18 remaining in the game.
With 58.5 seconds left Spigner threw his third touchdown of the night. He hit Figler for a 12-yard touchdown pass.
But instead of only being down two points and going for the tie on the two-point conversion, the 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty against the Golden Hawks right before halftime proved to be costly in the end. Ho’s kick was able to cut the lead to 29-27.
“I told my kids all week there are a lot of ways you can win a football game,” said Curry. “There’s offense, defense and special teams and tonight our special teams did well.”
The Golden Hawks tried an onside kick, but Berwick’s Alex Klinger recovered the ball. Berwick would run out the clock and move on with the win.
NOTE: The injury bug hit the Dawgs again. Offensive lineman Dalton Perla was taken out in a stretcher.
Berwick’s running back Jorden Stout rushed for 135 yards. The Dawgs outgained the Golden Hawks 210 to 121. “Our kids played real physical tonight,” said Curry. “Our strength is power with that big fullback.”
Bethlehem Catholic’s Quarterback finished the night with 225 yards and three touchdown passes. Freddie Simmons finished the night with six catches for 108-yards.
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November 27th, 2013 at 12:54 am
STAY HOME RED DAWGS YOU ARE NOT A TRUE FAN
November 26th, 2013 at 9:51 am
red dawg stay home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 25th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
And reddawg don’t count out them Manheim Central Barrens they have been battle tested in the state playoffs since 1989..it might be a long shot but how great would that be berwick an Mannheim in the AAA state title game bring back one of those classic wars we use to have with them..boy I miss the good old days
November 25th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
Yes I think u are right about wood next year they will be a handfull lot of underclassman on both sides of the ball.. But if we do meet up in 2 weeks I very highly doubt it will be a mercy rule game .. We have a pretty good clearfield team we have to get by first..but I must say I don’t understand king George the last 3 weeks we went from a 5 wide air attack the first 10 games to a power run game the last 3 weeks we have a 2000 yard passer and only thru the ball about 30 times combine the last three weeks I don’t know maybe old George is hiding some things for the right time he’s been known to do that just something to think about 🙂
November 25th, 2013 at 8:52 am
Dawg93
Translation? Maybe in English next time? No need to be so defensive, just my opinion based on seeing both Wood and Berwick this year. You may be correct and McDevitt or WA could get there as well. Erie Prep just looks real good right now.
Also if you read my post I actually don’t think Wood will win it this year. Prep or the Western rep will win it in my opinion. Wood starts only a handful
Of Seniors so next years Wood version has a better shot.
November 25th, 2013 at 7:53 am
Yo Mike…here I am…not lost for words…tip your hat to Beca…they played a strong game, but couldn’t close the deal…
You want me to “bow out gracefully and let the chatting to the folks who understand the game”?
Are you suggesting that’s YOU?
HA!
You’re a funny guy, but obviously don’t understand the game nearly as much as you think you do!
King George?
Do you know anything about what goes on at Berwick?
Do you know how many kids that play meaningful minutes for Berwick were actually born and raised in Berwick?
Do you know why “King George” was let go by the Berwick School Board?
NO.
You don’t.
Now…my advice to you is to crawl back into your little make-believe world and stop pretending you’re an authority on things you have NO CLUE about.
You’re nothing more than a Monday morning quarterback who prolly never played a down of football in your life and couldn’t put a jock strap on correctly.
West Allegheny vs Wood for all the AAA marbles in Hershey.
I’m out.
I’ll leave amateur hour to the amateurs.
That’d be you, Mike…
November 25th, 2013 at 12:35 am
YA RED DAWG WAS THE LAST TIME CURRY GOT MERCY RULED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BERWICK PLAYERS DONT LISTEN TO RED DAWG
November 24th, 2013 at 9:50 pm
George curry has never been mercy ruled I played an been watching berwick football for almost 30 years never been mercy ruled…happened twice when Campbell was couch but let’s just say that was a different era thank god.. And the bulldogs won’t be against wood either wood might win the game but it won’t be no mercy rule game their not that good don’t no why u guys think these philly schools are so great no philly school will win a state title this year either MABEY that all star team Imhotep.. Been watching football all over the eastern part of the state for a long time now so what else u guys wanna know ? How bout u reddawg what u got and by the way u forgot 2 teams playing out west called Mannheim central an bishop mcdevitt so just don’t pencil in wood vs Erie or west allegheny cuz like they say that’s why they play the game boys…
November 24th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Unfortunately next weekend could be the first-IF they beat Clearfield.
November 24th, 2013 at 4:47 pm
When was the last time George Curry got mercy ruled??
November 24th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
All the respect in the world for Curry- great guy and obviously a wonderful coach. Sorry to say boys that even King George himself will not be able to stop the freight train he might see in Wood in a few weeks. Wood is also extremely well coached but the difference will be on the line of scrimmage. Woods line is big and athletic and nothing that Berwick has seen all year. Wood will not need to pass on Berwick. I agree Wood pass game is secondary to what they do. And I do think that will be exposed by Erie Prep or West Allegheny in the Final. But not by Berwick or Clearfield.
November 24th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
THEN STAY HOME RED DOGGY
November 24th, 2013 at 12:54 am
Berwick will win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 24th, 2013 at 12:41 am
RedDawgs77 “Clearfield will be the Dawgs Championship. They will get Mercy ruled by Wood. The game will be over by halftime.”
Hmmmm…. I remember back in 1988 when something similar was said about Berwick vs Aliquippa and we all know how that ended up… this is why they play the game my friend.
November 23rd, 2013 at 8:47 pm
…that’s is why they play the games..Wood will be favored but expect King George to open up the play book..don’t underestimate the master…
November 23rd, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Clearfield will be the Dawgs Championship. They will get Mercy ruled by Wood. The game will be over by halftime. I was shocked how slow Berwick looked last night.
November 23rd, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Gunner wasn’t a Berwick fan. He couldn’t have been.
November 23rd, 2013 at 2:40 pm
…he seems to be lost for words and it may take awhile before we hear from him…IF we ever hear from him…my advice…bow out gracefully and let the chatting to the folks who understand the game. Congratulations to King George on winning another game on discipline and character…Bechi was very talented but the show boating catches up with you…
November 23rd, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Bring On Clear field
November 23rd, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Where is the Berwick guy who was on here taunting the Beca folks all last week?
November 23rd, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Wow my heart can’t take this every week. lol Helluva job by everyone. Stay focused and button those chinstraps.