Welsh lifts Bulldogs over Maples
Holly Tonini
Beth-Center’s Anthony Welsh (33) goes head-to-head with Mapletown’s Adam Hein as he carries the ball during Beth-Center’s first game at Mapletown High School on Aug. 31. Welsh finished the year with 184 points to take home the Herald-Standard Touchdown Club crown. Hein finished tied for fourth place with 84 points.
The sun sets on the Beth-Center football team as they play the first game of the season Friday evening at Mapletown High School.
Mapletown’s Ben Boone (1) stares down Beth-Center’s Frank Dreucci as he carries the ball during Friday’s home opener at Mapletown High School. (Photo by Holly Tonini)
Holly Tonini
Mapletown’s Dylan Rush (9) knocks down Beth-Center’s Nick Pryor in the first quarter of Friday’s home opener at Mapletown High School.
GREENSBORO — Beth-Center’s junior tailback Anthony Welsh picked up right where he left off in 2013 with 214 rushing yards and three touchdowns, as B-C collected a 34-6 victory over Mapletown Friday night in Tri-County South Conference action.
Welsh won last year’s Herald-Standard Touchdown Club race with 128 points. Welsh, who rushed for over 1,300 yards in 2013, had just 13 carries and had a rushing average around 16 yards per carry in the win.
“Anthony is one of those backs that will not stay down,” B-C coach Ed Woods said. “I never had a back that gives that much effort after a hit. He spins, he bounces and he just won’t stay down. His legs never stop running. He has a high motor every play.”
Senior running back Nico Brown also had a solid night for the Bulldogs (1-0) with 75 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns.
The Maples (0-1) were hampered by ineffectiveness on offense and bad field position throughout the game.
“We had a couple of kids out of the game for various reasons and I think Beth-Center just wore us down,” Mapletown coach George Messich said. “Field position played a big part in the game. I thought we played well tonight. I’m never satisfied with a loss, but I saw a lot of good things tonight.”
The Bulldogs’ senior kicker John Berdar was a crucial part of the win, connecting on four of his five PAT’s and recording five touchbacks on kickoffs.
“Field position was key in the game,” Woods said. “John has an excellent leg and having your opponents starting at the 20-yard line most drives is a big plus for our defense. Special teams are a big part of the game and our kicker works hard on it.”
After the Bulldogs missed a field goal on their opening drive and the Maples went three-and-out on their first drive, Welsh scored from 17 yards out to make it 7-0 at 4:45 of the opening quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, the Maples trimmed the deficit to 7-6 when senior quarterback Ben Boone connected with freshmen Dylan Rush for an 11-yard scoring completion in the back of the end zone. Despite the score, the ensuing PAT was blocked.
After B-C was forced to punt on its next offensive possession, Mapletown committed the first turnover of the game when Welsh grabbed an interception near midfield.
Six plays later, Brown rumbled in from three yards out to give B-C a 14-6 lead.
“Both of our backs complement each other very well,” Woods said. “Nico had a solid game for us and when we get both of those guys going, we are hard to stop. We didn’t throw the ball a lot tonight, but we know we have to be balanced on offense.”
On B-C’s next possession, Welsh broke several tackles for an electrifying 73-yard touchdown to give the visitors a 21-6 edge at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Bulldogs added two more touchdowns courtesy of Welsh (10-yard) and Brown (33-yard).
With the win, B-C continues its dominance in the Tri-County South and against its rivals in Greene County. Since rejoining the TCS in 2008, the Bulldogs are 44-3 and have won 24 of their last 25 conference clashes.
In that same time period, B-C holds a 25-game winning streak against Greene County squads. The last Greene County team to beat B-C was Jefferson-Morgan in 2007.
Both teams will be back in action next Friday, as Mapletown travels to Carmichaels and B-C welcomes in non-conference foe Greensburg Central Catholic.
“We can definitely build off of this game,” Messich said. “Every week this season we have to improve as a team, win or lose. The kids didn’t quit tonight and battled to the final second. I feel really good about this football team.”
Tri-County South Conference
Beth-Center-7-14-13-0–34
Mapletown 0- 6- 0-0– 6
First Quarter
BC: Anthony Welsh, 17 run (John Berdar kick), 4:45 (7-0)
Second Quarter
MP: Dylan Rush, 11 pass from Ben Boone (kick blocked), 11:55 (7-6)
BC: Nico Brown, 3 run (Berdar kick), 6:37 (14-6)
BC: Welsh, 73 run (Berdar kick), 3:42 (21-6)
Third Quarter
BC: Welsh, 10 run (kick failed), 6:47 (27-6)
BC: Brown, 33 run (Berdar kick), 3:23 (34-6)