Bentworth shuts out Mapletown, 20-0
MAPLETOWN – Bentworth coach Randy Walters knew his secondary was good, but three interceptions were probably more than he expected, as the Bearcats beat Mapletown 20-0 in non-section action Friday night. “I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by our secondary tonight,” said Walters. “At times I was a little bit concerned with our team’s performance, but we showed up better in the second half.”
Throughout the game the Maples showed offensive promise, moving the ball on the ground with rushes from four players including 28 yards from sophomore Zach Fecsko, and 29 from quarterback Cory Minnick, only to be turned away from the end zone by an increasingly aggressive front line.
“We moved the ball very well, and we had some opportunities,” said Maples coach George Messich “We just played in spurts, running the ball well at times, and other times not so well.”
After a personal foul by the Bearcats, the Maples found themselves poised for a score, but a Kyle Cline interception in the left corner of the end zone halted the Maples’ advance with 23 seconds left in the first quarters.
However, the Maples got the ball back minutes later following a Zack Fecsko fumble recovery at the Bearcats’ 30.
Yet the Bearcats secondary struck again. Brian Earley intercepted a bullet pass and returned it 36 yards.
Bentworth struck when quarterback Benjamin Gregg connected with Cory Liermann for a 36-yard touchdown pass at the 8:50 mark in the second quarter.
“We just wanted to throw a slant pass as Mapletown was being aggressive in their attack,” said Walters of the game winning score. “Corey was able to make a spectacular catch and keep the ball while falling on his back.”
Neither team was able to do much in the remaining 8:50, as the teams traded quick three and outs.
The Maples were able to advance to their own 44 yard line, but a false start forced another punt, and the Maples ran out the clock for the first half a series later following a short lived Bearcat drive.
The Maples took the ball to start the second half, but the Bearcats defense struck again with Jayson Wright recovering a Fecsko fumble at the Maples 43-yard line, but the drive fell apart after Gregg was sacked by Fecsko and Reynolds on second down.
The Maples were able to overcome disastrous field position at their own 2-yard, but were forced to punt it away to their 36-yard line where Earley started of the drive with a six-yard rush.
The Bearcats were able to push their way down the field on a six-play drive to the Maples nine-yard line, but were pushed back following a 15-yard penalty for personal foul.
Undeterred, Gregg was able to throw a high pass to the right side of the end zone to Dan Hansell and following Sicchitano’s extra point, the Bearcats led 14-0 with 57 seconds remaining in the third.