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Monday, December 01, 1997     Page:

Berwick’s latest victory over Manheim most dominant of all
   
Some might call it “The Jinx.”
    Some say Manheim Central coach Mike Williams can’t win the “Big Game.”
   
Whatever it is, it’s obvious the Berwick Bulldogs have the Barons’ numberAt
least, that is, when it comes to the PIAA state football playoffs.
   
For the fifth consecutive time Saturday afternoon at Wilkes-Barre Memorial
Stadium, the Dawgs ended Manheim’s season.
   
Since the state playoffs began in 1988, the Dawgs have met the Barons for
the right to move on to the state title game five times, and in each instance,
it’s been the Dawgs that have moved on.
   
Coincidence?
   
I think not.
   
It all started back in 1989, when the Dawgs escaped with a 14-10 victory
against the Barons.
   
Then came 1992, when the Ron Powlus-led Dawgs recorded a relatively easy
29-6 victory against the Barons. The Dawgs would eventually go on to win their
second state title a week later.
   
After that came what many felt, including myself, to be one of the greatest
high school football games in state history, the 1993 Berwick-Manheim Central
thriller.
   
That’s when the Dawgs scored a late touchdown to grab a seven-point lead,
only to see the Barons move deep into Berwick territory in the waning seconds,
threatening to tie the score and force overtime.
   
The two slugged it out like a pair of heavyweight fighters, throwing punch
after punch until one team finally hit the canvas.
   
As Manheim drove deep into Berwick territory, the Dawgs needed to make a
play.
   
They did when linebacker Jason Canouse stepped in front of an open Manheim
receiver for an interception in the end zone to secure Berwick’s incredible
37-30 victory. The Dawgs would go on to win their third state title a week
later.
   
The next year, the Barons appeared ready to shake the Berwick mystique,
bolting out to a 17-0 halftime lead.
   
The Berwick season seemed destined to come to an abrupt end as the Barons
took the second-half kickoff and quickly moved to the Berwick 1-yard line.
   
But as fate would have it, the Barons fumbled at the Berwick 1, only to see
the Dawgs march 99 yards for a score.
   
That drive propelled the Dawgs to two more scores and an 18-17 victory.
Again, a week later, the Dawgs won another Class AAA state title.
   
So when Manheim came to Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium Saturday, everyone
expected a barnburner.
   
It never materialized.
   
Unlike the previous four matchups, the Dawgs dominated the Barons in every
phase of the game.
   
The Barons’ veer offense, which they ran to near perfection the first four
battles, was shut down.
   
Berwick’s swarming defense, led by Tim Schectlerly, J.D. Stanley, John Ohl,
Larry Hook and Jeremiah Dyer, punished the Manheim offense, forcing four
turnovers and holding the Barons to 159 yards in total yardage.
   
While the Berwick defense was shutting the Barons down, the Dawgs’ offense
was having its way with the Manheim defense, keeping the Barons on their heels
with a great mix of running and passing.
   
Berwick quarterback Jeremy Chapin made the big throws and runs, and
tailback Cody Hall slashed his way through the Barons.
   
By the end of the first quarter, the Dawgs held a commanding 21-0 lead and
never looked back.
   
By halftime, the Dawgs increased their lead to 28-0, and the Berwick
faithful began thinking about Altoona and another state championship.
   
Two more scores in the second half, coupled with another impressive half by
the Dawgs’ defense, and thoughts turned to an unprecedented fourth-consecutive
state title.
   
This may not be the best Berwick team to ever hit the gridiron, but one
thing is for sure- the Dawgs are playing their best football at the right
time.
   
So, if the Dawgs raise that AAA state championship trophy in the air again
on Friday night in Altoona, don’t be too surprised.
   
The Dawgs don’t have a chance for a perfect season, as early losses to
Cleveland St. Ignatius and Wyoming Valley Conference Division I champion
Wyoming Valley West made sure of that, but a sixth state championship is well
within reach.
   
And if the Dawgs play with the fire and determination they did Saturday,
there may be no team capable of stopping them.
   
Not even Perry Traditional Academy, the lone team to win a state final
against the Dawgs, and their opponent on Friday night.
   
It just might be another “Dawg Day” in Altoona.
   
Scott Fertal covers high school football for the Times Leader.