Berwick hands Valley West old fashion butt kicking
Written by: Frank Kastreva on Saturday, September 20th, 2008. Follow Frank Kastreva on Twitter.
KINGSTON- If you were to tell the people of Berwick that their team would be 4-0, ranked statewide and crushing quad A teams three years after legendary coach George Curry departed. First thing you would do, is ask if they had been drinking.
Well, break open the fine wine because all of the above is quite true.
After starting the season 3-0 with wins over Crestwood, Tunkhannock and Wyoming Area, the Dawgs were to be tested for the first time as they rolled into Kingston to square off against Valley West. Tested, well if that’s the case, they passed with flying colors, downing the Spartans 34-7 in front of a capacity crowd.
Valley West opened the scoring with Sr. RB Dave Ryncavage capping things off on a two yard jaunt to paydirt. It would be the Spartans lone TD of the night despite Ryncavage having his best game of the season.
Berwick would roll off 34 unanswered points enroute to a blowout. To Bewick’s credit they went after it and capitalized on the Spartans miscues. That is the sign of a championship team. Great teams keep you down and don’t let you up.
The deciding factor in the game came on the Dawgs first play from scrimmage in the second half. Sr. RB Evan Crisman took a handoff and scampered 71 yards to the goldzone. With the score the Dawgs took a 27-7 lead and for all intensive purposes crushed any hopes for a Valley West comback.
Sr, Brandon Welch got Berwick on the board after running back the kick after the Spartans scored. Welch would rumble 90 yard to paydirt. Valley West held a 7-6 lead after the PAT was missed, but that may have been the Dawgs only miscue of the night.
The Dawgs also got two TD’s from Sr. Zach Powell, both long receptions from Jr. QB A.J. Mihaly. The first a 75 yarder, the second a 84 yarder on a screen play in which the Spartans missed a few tackles to say the least.
Berwick added their final score of the night as Sr. John Jola capped the scoring drive on a one yard jaunt to the gold zone with the final score Dawgs 34 Spartans 7.
“We got beat by a better team out there tonight, said Spartan Head Coach George Curry after the game.
Berwick has always had great athletes and coach Campbell is doing a great job with that program.”
After following Berwick football for about 30 years, it was a weird feeling tonight. Not for just me but a few others also. A.J. Mihaly, who was a main cog in the Berwick machine tonight is household name in Dawgtown. In fact his father was an assistant to Curry during his tenure at Berwick and to this day is still coaching their under Campbell.
Curry can remember when A.J. was just a toddler running around the back yard during summer barbecues. Now he’s a junior in high school on a state ranked Berwick team.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but it’s surely a different feel from the other side of the fence.
Good luck Dawgs, on your quest for Hershey gold.
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September 21st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Both Berwick and Hazleton are good teams. Polecat right now Hazleton I would say is a better team. The have beatin Abington Heights and Del Val. Berwick beat Valley West who is not a good team. I’m so happy to see Curry go down in a ball of fire like this. Also, Frank I am saying nothing about your article just that I wish there would be a different team than Valley West.
September 21st, 2008 at 8:39 pm
first ,I am not a kid. I dont know y you’re assuming that. Second, I am not fom hazleton so I am partial to all. Hazleton is not better than last year,at all, yet. But talented, yes. I hope Hazleton and berwick make serious runs but not valley west. Thats all. And I will stay up and be in Berwick game not caring who wins but hoping for some good football.
September 21st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Hey 99-Hazleton is better without Euchis, Kost and Mast-puuuhleaaaaase! Spare me the pontification brutha. I am not wa wa wa-ing. I am pleased, plump and content to be parked on my butt. I am a true blue Bulldawg backer and the Dawgs are 4 and o. Maybe you might make the trip to Camelot ( week 10 at Crispin). Then again 7 pm might be bedtime for you. You need to quiet down boy and let the adults talk.
September 21st, 2008 at 10:27 am
Hazleton is not far less talanted than last year, Valley west is! 4-0 baby! wa wa wa!
September 21st, 2008 at 7:03 am
Hey Frankie- you do a great job. Do not let a couple of kids get you down. I read the game report each week and will continue to do so. I believe Berwick has a real shot at winning the conference and District 2. Hazleton is far less talented than they were in 07. I thought they would handle Del Val easily. I was not impressed with Del Valley`s defense. Berwick- Valley West is always the game of the week- if a couple of kids do not agree, they should not read the report.
September 20th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Ok guys the reason we have weekly coverage of wvw is because one of our main contributors is Frank Kastreva. (voice of District 2 football and owner and operator of wvcd2.com) Now I know everyone is sick of WVW but they do play a different team each week which also gives them coverage as well. The eastern site covers at least 8-10 different games each week. We are always looking for new writers each season for both the Eastern site and Western site. We do appreciate everyones comments on our games of the week. Enjoy the rest of the season
Jeremy, President EasternPAFootball.com
September 20th, 2008 at 11:53 am
ok first of all. WVW is not the same team they were when they had reese, resetar kocijolek, and the boys.Now Hazlteton is the Powerhouse in district two. Hazleton needs to get a game of the week
September 20th, 2008 at 10:59 am
when is WVW not going to be in a Game of the Week? they are not good enough to be in any game of the week.