B-C remains perfect with last-minute win
CALIFORNIA – Even though an eerie fog waited to roll into Cal U’s Hepner-Bailey Field minutes after Beth-Center eked out a 14-13 non-conference win over host California on a dreary Friday night, Stephen King made his presence known during the game. No, not Stephen King, the famous mystery writer, but Stephen King, Beth-Center’s 6-1, 215-pound junior tight end.
On King’s only carry of the night, a perfectly timed and executed end-around with three minutes remaining in the game and the Trojans clinging to a 13-6 lead, he powered his way to the California 3-yard line to set up Chris Stay’s second touchdown of the night, a 1-yard plunge with 1:58 left in the game.
“We knew coming in that the end-around was a play we could run,” B-C coach Ed Woods said. “We were saving it for the right opportunity and everything worked out for us.”
Stay’s run pulled the Bulldogs to within one point, and Woods had “no doubt about going for two. We missed our first extra point and at that point I knew we were going for two and the win.”
On the two-point conversion attempt, B-C quarterback Dominic Moore rolled to his left and hit a wide-open George Cramer for the conversion and the win, lifting Beth-Center’s record to 3-0 overall, with Black Hills Conference play set to begin next week. Moore completed six passes for 63 yards.
Beth-Center’s winning points were set up when California (1-2) was forced to punt from its three-yard line, following a procedure penalty. B-C’s Nick Moore returned the punt to California’s 20-yard line to set up the winning drive.
Holding onto the slim lead, California coach Joe Kuhns entertained no thoughts about taking a safety.
“Beth-Center missed their first extra point and, if they scored, we were forcing them to go for two points,” Kuhns said. “We were not going to give them a safety and get beat by a touchdown. We took our chances and came up short.”
California was without the services of star junior running back Donte Valentino in the second half. Valentino, who rushed for a game-high 72 yards on 15 first-half carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run, suffered a concussion, Kuhns said, and did not return to action after halftime.
With the game even at 6-6 at the half, California got on the scoreboard with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter when sophomore quarterback Ben Carson scored on a 25-yard run.
California’s touchdown drive of 47 yards on seven plays was all Carson, who completed two passes Robert Altobelli, good for 23 yards, before his touchdown run, a perfectly executed quarterback draw. The score was Carson’s first touchdown of the season.
“Ben really grew up on that drive,” Kuhns said. “He completed a couple passes and opened up the middle for his run. He has the skills and on that drive he showed that he could step and lead the team.”
Carson, who also intercepted a Beth-Center pass late in the third quarter, completed 4-of-12 attempts for 65 yards.
Despite the win, Woods was concerned about his Bulldogs’ “lack of consistency.”
“A win is a win, but we sputtered and didn’t take advantage of good field position when we had it,” said Woods. “We got ourselves into too many third-and-long situations. I’m not near pleased with our overall performance. We’ve got a lot to work on before next week.”
Beth-Center got on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter on Stay’s first touchdown run, a 43-yarder that he broke off left tackle and outraced California’s defenders down the left sideline. Stay topped all Beth Center ball carriers with 52 yards on 10 attempts.
Not to be outdone, California scored on its first possession after the Beth-Center touchdown with Valentino’s 1-yard run. California’s scoring drive covered 63 yards in 11 plays and churned 5:27 off the clock.