Dallas, Berwick face crucial battle

The Dallas Post // Sports

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

October 30

By John Erzar jerzar@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

Last Friday while a halftime guest on the Berwick radio broadcast, Dallas coach Ted Jackson made a request to Berwick’s football team.

“I asked them on the radio if they would come up here and play next Saturday,” Jackson said. “I haven’t got an answer yet.”

Of course, Jackson didn’t sit by the phone all week waiting for a call. After all, the game at 7 p.m. today could be Berwick’s last home game of the season at Crispin Field.

It could also determine the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3A champion, move Dallas closer to a home game in the District 2 Class 3A playoffs and clinch a place in districts for defending D2-3A champion Berwick.

At least one of those scenarios will happen, and possibly all three depending on the outcomes of games elsewhere in the WVC and Lackawanna Conference.

The easiest road for Berwick (6-2) and Dallas (8-0) would be to just win tonight and let the loser fret over games scattered throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

But that road is cluttered with every imaginable obstacle.

For Berwick, the main problem will be severing the momentum and confidence Dallas has built after a two-win season in 2008.

“The ball is in our court,” Berwick coach Gary Campbell said. “Again, nothing changes mindset-wise as far as having our backs against the wall and as far as what we need to do.”

For Dallas, the dilemma is twofold. The Mountaineers need to curtail Berwick’s hard-running backfield. They must also block a defensive front that is allowing 93.5 rushing yards per game and has allowed an average of 1.2 yards per carry in its last three games.

“Defensively, they are the best football team we’ve seen all year,” Jackson said. “They run schemes on offense you don’t see. I’m just happy for our kids. They are getting a chance to play in a big game.

“These kids suffered through hell last year. Being 8-0 and going to Berwick to play for a championship is a tribute to these kids.”

Dallas’ streak has come with some close calls, including an overtime victory against Williamsport to start the season and three other wins by seven points.

The Mountaineers’ run defense hasn’t been as stout recently, allowing three 100-yard rushers in the last three games including 106 to Pocono Mountain East’s Eddie Helm last Sunday.

Of the three 100-yard rushers, Helm’s between-the-tackles style best resembles Berwick’s ballcarriers – tailback Lou Hampton and fullback Alec Ladonis. Hampton, though, have more speed than Helm and Ladonis runs with more power.

Plus, sophomore quarterback Jared Pierce is coming off a season-high 75-yard rushing performance in Berwick’s 21-0 victory against Coughlin last Friday.

“They’re no fun,” Jackson said. “We’re not a big, physical team. We just have to hope to hang in there and have enough guys get to the ball and knock people down.”

Dallas, though, has demonstrated all season it can do all the little things right to accomplish a victory. Few teams work as well in unison as the Mountaineers.

For example, the running game hasn’t been very productive, but quarterback Adam Goeringer has shown incredible touch on his passes. He has thrown for 11 TDs, with running back Paul Brace and tight end Cody Plesnar hauling in four each.

Berwick’s secondary showed some vulnerability three games ago against West Scranton, giving up touchdown passes of 38, 46 and 71 yards.

The unit will get a boost from the presence of defensive end Casey Davenport, who returned last Friday after missing five games with a hamstring injury. He and Roy Dennis give the Dawgs a pair of excellent pass rushers off the edge.

The Mountaineers also need to be cognizant of inside linebackers Brett Bodwalk and Caleb Fetteroff, who find themselves in the opponent’s backfield regularly.

The Dawgs have posted consecutive shutouts – 33-0 over Pittston Area and 21-0 over Coughlin. The 21 points were the most Coughlin’s defense has allowed this season.

“What happens with a game like (Coughlin) is it gives us confidence going into the game,” Campbell said. “You’ve seen us all year. (We’ve been) here and there, up and down. But now we’re starting to jell a little bit.

“Some things are starting to happen that are good. I’m really happy, and I know the kids are really happy playing a meaningful game on their field.”