Beth-Center wins game as time expires
FREDERICKTOWN – Beth-Center found a new respect for the Black Hills Conference Friday night at Beth-Center Stadium. With an undefeated record and hopes of a conference title on the line, the Bulldogs were looking in the black with four seconds left in the game, trailing 19-14 to the Fort Cherry Rangers.
However, thanks to the heroics of Beth-Center quarterback Dominic Moore and running back Steve Hvizda for a 6-yard touchdown reception as time expired, the Bulldogs dramatically rallied past the Rangers, 20-19.
“This game shows that we have character,” said Bulldogs coach Ed Woods. “They hung in there and they never gave up.”
Beth-Center’s winning touchdown drive started from its 32-yard line with 2:46 left to play. The Bulldogs, a team that is virtually a running only team, took to the air as Moore connected on five straight passes in engineering the game-winning drive.
“That’s not our game,” Woods jokingly said about passing the football. “We try to run in between the tackles, and play power football.”
The Bulldogs (5-0, 8-0) did play power football as running backs Chris Stay and Ryan Butka combined to rush for 205 yards on 37 carries for two touchdowns.
“I can’t remember a loss like this,” said Fort Cherry coach Tim Garry. “As a head coach this is definitely the toughest loss I’ve had to endure.”
The Rangers (3-2, 5-3) surprised most people by staying close and keeping Beth-Center on their heels. Fort Cherry’s Jordan Clemons, who came into the game as the WPIAL’s leading rusher, performed just like a leading rusher would be expected as he gained 120 yards on 21 carries, highlighted by his 67-yard second-quarter scamper that gave the Rangers a 14-13 lead.
“Nobody gave us a shot,” said Garry. “That wasn’t our motivation. Our motivation was to come down here and try to win a conference championship. But we knew coming down here would be difficult.”
Fort Cherry was in good position late in the third quarter. Leading 19-14 they engineered an 11-play drive that chewed up 6:58, but the drive stalled and the Bulldogs gained possession midway through the fourth quarter.
“I was real concerned there,” Woods said. “I was worried about using our timeouts that early. I didn’t know what else to do other than to see the game play out.”
The Rangers were the beneficiaries of multiple breakout plays from Clemons and quarterback Chris Luketic. Clemons not only ran for the 67-yard score, but he also returned a kickoff for an 84-yard touchdown right after the Bulldogs scored their first touchdown. Clemons’ return gave Fort Cherry a 7-6 lead.
Then facing a second-and-15 from the Rangers’ 45, Luketic took ball 55 yards to make it 19-14, setting up the dramatic ending capped off by Hvzida’s touchdown.
“I knew exactly what we were going to do at that point,” Woods said. “I told the kids who was going to score and I told them we were going to win. That’s how confident I felt about those kids.”