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BERWICK — Running back Daquan Hellenthal didn’t have a carry in the first half. Quarterback Jared Marshman didn’t start the game.

The two Berwick Bulldogs, though, played a huge part in the second half Friday night.

Hellenthal rushed for all 184 of his yards in the final two quarters and Marshman connected on a long touchdown pass as Berwick dominated defending District 2 Class 3A champion Crestwood 34-14 in the season opener for the two Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3A teams.

“Big win, big win,” said Marshman, whose 51-yard strike to Luke Fisher started a 20-point fourth quarter for the Dawgs. “We made a statement tonight.”

Many statements as Berwick avenged two losses last season to Crestwood, including a setback in the D2-3A championship game.

One came on Hellenthal’s 81-yard dash to the end zone on the first play from scrimmage after Crestwood took a 14-7 lead on Tanner Kahlau’s 14-yard TD run at 6:23 of the third quarter.

Another came on the defensive side of the ball. Crestwood trampled Berwick’s defense last year with its running game. But with graduation losses and a couple linemen sidelined, the Comets never got moving on the ground. They finished with 36 yards on 20 carries and 93 yards of total offense.

“I don’t know if we expected (to dominate) as much as we did,” Berwick defensive lineman Kyle Pierce said, “but our game plan was to come out and have the D-line dominate, stop the run and make them throw the ball because we have a great secondary that can cover.”

Mission accomplished.

Crestwood started the game with a 87-yard touchdown return by Kahlau on the opening kickoff. The Comets offense, which shredded opponents last year, never got going in the first half, getting just one first down. Berwick was only slightly better, and a 3-yard TD run by quarterback Mike Force sent the teams into the locker rooms tied 7-7.

Berwick opened the third quarter with a long drive down to the Crestwood 18-yard line where the drive stalled. Then came a series of plays that livened up the action.

Berwick defensive back Alex Koch intercepted Crestwood quarterback Seamus Rother on the first play after the turnover on downs. Kahlau, though, sacked Force on the next play, and Crestwood’s Alex Makowski returned the fumble 44 yards. A Berwick penalty moved the ball to the 14 and Kahlau scored on his run on the next play.

But after the kickoff, Hellenthal broke off his long run and Berwick kept rolling.

The fourth quarter was all Berwick as Marshman hit a wide-open Luke Fisher on a post pattern for a 51-yard score to snap the 14-14 tie. Hellenthal, who rushed 13 times to get his 184 yards, kept slashing through Crestwood’s defense. His running led to touchdown runs of 3 yards by Matt Shannon at 7:21 of the fourth and 6 yards by Anthony Cicini to close out the scoring.

“We were down two starters up front and we just got worn down,” Crestwood coach Greg Myers said. “We had a couple kids playing both ways and that wasn’t the plan.”

Berwick 34, Crestwood 14

Crestwood`7`0`7`0`—`14

Berwick`0`7`7`20`—`34

First quarter

CRE — Tanner Kahlau 87 kick return (Connor Keenan kick), 11:44

Second quarter

BER — Mike Force 3 run (Luke Fisher kick), 8:46

Third quarter

CRE — Kahlau 14 run (Keenan kick), 6:43

BER — Daquan Hellenthal 81 run (Jordan DiValerio kick), 6:23

Fourth quarter

BER — Fisher 51 pass from Marshman (DiValerio kick), 11:10

BER — Matt Shannon 3 run (kick failed), 7:21

BER — Anthony Cicini 6 run 3:02 (DiValerio kick), 3:02

Berwick quarterback (7) Mike Force tries to get past the Crestwood defense during a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3A matchup on Friday night.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090515berwick13.jpg.optimal.jpgBerwick quarterback (7) Mike Force tries to get past the Crestwood defense during a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3A matchup on Friday night.

Crestwood Tanner Kahlau (6) carries the ball for a gain against the Berwick defense during a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3A matchup on Friday night.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090515berwick23.jpg.optimal.jpgCrestwood Tanner Kahlau (6) carries the ball for a gain against the Berwick defense during a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3A matchup on Friday night.

Crestwood Tanner Kahlau (6) carries the ball for a gain against Berwick defenders on Friday night.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL090515berwick33.jpg.optimal.jpgCrestwood Tanner Kahlau (6) carries the ball for a gain against Berwick defenders on Friday night.
Big second-half performances by Hellenthal and Marshman led Bulldawgs

By John Erzar

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Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar