Bulldogs maul Burgettstown for first playoff win since 1990
There was no slow start for Beth-Center this time.
The Bulldogs lost their regular-season finale 22-20 last week against California when they fell into an early 22-0 hole. That defeat cost them an undefeated regular season and the Tri-County South Conference championship.
They were determined to make up for that disappointing defeat in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs Friday night.
The result was an emphatic, dominating 34-8 victory by the eighth-seeded Bulldogs over ninth-seeded Burgettstown.
Beth-Center (10-1) churned out 325 yards on the ground with three players rushing for 80 or more yards as it advanced to this Friday’s quarterfinals against top-seeded Washington.
It was Beth-Center’s first playoff win since 1990 when it defeated Cornell, 34-10, in a first-round game.
“This game meant a lot to us,” B-C coach Tim Trump said. “We were undefeated until last week and it just felt to me these kids have been underdogs all year. Then we had that tough loss to California and it seemed like everyone wrote us off.
“The kids took it personally. We had a really good week of practice. They were ultra focused and they came ready to play. They were on fire.”
The Bulldogs took control of the game right from the start, forcing the Blue Devils (8-3) into a three-and-out, then going on an eight-play, 40-yard drive capped by Cyler Myers’ 4-yard touchdown run. Hunter Bobbs added the extra point to make it 7-0 and Beth-Center was off and running.
The Bulldogs forced another punt and then DeSean Whipkey’s 54-yard touchdown run made it 14-0 later in the quarter.
Beth-Center kept the momentum going in the second quarter by adding a 21-yard touchdown run by Homer Headlee and a 25-yard touchdown pass by Chase Bebout to Dan Duncan for a commanding 28-0 halftime lead.
“This game was the exact opposite of the California game,” Trump said. “Everything was working in that first half. We played, basically, power football and they couldn’t stop it.”
Enzo Brown’s 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter extended the Bulldogs’ advantage to 34-0. The score was set up by Bebout’s 18-yard pass to Brown.
Burgettstown threatened to get on the scoreboard later in the quarter but was foiled by Nicholis Miller’s interception and 58-yard return past midfield. Whipkey also had an interception for B-C.
The Blue Devils averted a shutout when Blake Neal threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Speer in the fourth quarter.
Whipkey led B-C with six carries for 81 yards. Headlee had nine carries for 80 yards and Bebout also rushed for 80 yards on just three running attempts.
Ironically, Brown, the team’s leading rusher during the regular season with 1,495 yards, was held to 59 yards on 16 carries.
“They definitely were zoned in on Enzo but then even he was just a leg tackle away from breaking a couple long ones,” Trump said. “Our line just totally dominated them.”
Bebout completed 5 of 8 passes for 50 yards and the TD to Duncan, who had two receptions for 31 yards.
Trump pointed out his team received some inspiration before the game.
“We had some guys from the 1986 team come in and speak to them,” Trump said of the B-C squad that reached the WPIAL Class 2A final where it fell in a close battle to Burrell, 3-0. “They talked about how they knew they were a good team, that they were very confident and went into every game expecting to win.
“Our kids went into this game that way, expecting to win. I told them I’m proud of them. They played phenomenal.
“It was fun to watch.”