Beth-Center remains undefeated
PERRYOPOLIS – The visiting Beth-Center Bulldogs did just enough to hold down the Frazier Commodores on their homecoming night, for a 20-8 Black Hills conference win to remain unbeaten on the season. The Bulldogs (2-0,5-0), rushed for 236 yards on the night, with C.J. Jackson leading the way with 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Frazier (0-3, 1-4) got a strong performance from senior quarterback Joe Kulikoski, as he finished the night passing for 95 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 61 yards.
“We didn’t play a very good football game tonight. We were very inconsistent,” Bulldogs coach Ed Woods said. “Frazier did a great job against us tonight, especially passing the ball. I think our kids came into the game thinking it would be a pushover, but it wasn’t. We’ve got to learn how to put people away, and we didn’t do that tonight.”
Beth-Center picked up the game’s first points in the second quarter, when Jackson scored on a 35-yard run to cap a six-play, 70-yard drive.
The Bulldogs were able capitalize on a Frazier turnover for the next score. The Commodores faced a second-and-10 from their 27-yard line.
Kulikoski’s pass was tipped and pulled in by BC’s Jeff Paletta who returned the ball to the Commodores’ 12-yard line. It was the first of four interceptions by the Bulldogs defense.
Three plays later Ryan Butka powered his way in for a two-yard scoring run.
Steven Fiem’s second extra-point on the night gave the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.
The Commodores pulled themselves together and got back into the game just before the half ended by driving 70 yards on 12 plays, when Kulikoski connected with Tim Holt on an eight-yard scoring pass.
Kulikoski passed to Holt again on the two-point conversion as the Commodores trailed 14-8 at the half.
“I’ve got to give our kids a lot of credit. They came ready to play tonight,” Frazier coach Lew Sweitzer said.
“I felt we played with them at times tonight, but they’ve got a nice running game, and they throw several backs at you. We couldn’t stop them all.”
It was the BC running game and defense that took over the second half.
The Bulldogs scored the only points in the second half, opening the third quarter with a punishing 10-play drive to the Frazier 10, where they missed a 27-yard field goal attempt.
After forcing the Commodores to punt, Beth-Center took over at the Frazier 42-yard line, and put together a four-play drive ending with Jackson scoring his second touchdown on the night with a 17-yard run.
From that point the Bulldogs defense held the Commodores in check picking off two passes and recovering a fumble to remain perfect on the season.