Tunkhannock’s Ryan Cywinski runs past a Berwick defender during the Tigers’ 49-0 loss to the Bulldawgs at Crispin Field on Friday night. TIMES-SHAMROCK PHOTO/FRANK LAURI

BY JOSH HORTON

Times-Shamrock Writer

BERWICK – Tunkhannock coach Rod Azar said the Tigers outplayed Berwick for almost the entire first half on Friday night at Crispin Field.

But eventually, the team was wore down as Berwick ran away with a 49-0 victory.

“Honestly, our 27 players outplayed Berwick’s 80 for almost the entire first half,” Azar said. “Eventually they wore us down, but I’m very proud of our guys’ efforts.”

For as lopsided as the game ended, Berwick led just 7-0 after the first quarter.

However, the Bulldogs offense awoke like a dormant volcano, exploding for 42 points over the final three quarters.

“In the first half, we stuffed Berwick’s run game,” Azar said. “We also moved the ball nicely on offense, but couldn’t finish our drives.”

The Bulldogs grabbed the momentum in the second quarter when quarterback C.J. Curry and Andrew Force connected for a pair of long touchdowns. The first of the two came at the 4:54 mark of the quarter on second and 15 from the 23-yard line when Curry threw up a bomb to Force and hit him in stride for a 77-yard score.

The second came with less than a minute remaining in the half as the two connected for a 55-yard touchdown on a very similar play.

“You know those big plays we got from Force were huge for us,” Berwick coach George Curry said. “Plays like that truly are momentum boosters and we really never looked back from there.”

Berwick opened the second half on a mission as Kyle Trenholm maneuvered his way in and out of Tiger tacklers for a 77-yard kick return.

Olivia Seely converted the PAT and the Bulldogs lead increased to 28-0.

“I told the kids at half time we are a good running team and I really challenged them to show it in the second half,” Curry said. “I think we did.”

Coach Curry’s halftime speech seemed to work as Matt Cashman scored two rushing touchdowns, while Nick Talanka chipped in for another completing the scoring for the Bulldogs.

Cashman led the ground attack with 63 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Force led the air attack with two receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Curry finished the game 5 of 7 with two touchdowns and 200 yards.

Going into next week’s matchup, Azar said the Tigers will face another big challenge for a deep Wyoming Valley West team.

“WVW is another big, deep and talented football team, which will give us problems as the game progresses,” Azar said. “But if we show up and play as hard as we did last week, we’ll be in the game again. The long we keep things close, the better our chances.”

Tunkhannock 0    0  0  0  – 0

Berwick          7   14 21 7 – 49

TA         BER

First Downs         5            12

Rushes-yards  34-72     36-184

Comp-Att-Int  3-5-0       5-7-0

Passing               23           200

Total yards        95           384

Fumbles-Lost    1-1          1-0

Penalties-Yds     6-35      4-25

Rushing: TA – C. Coolbaugh 3-22; R. Cywinski 7-19; J. Colley 3-15; Leone 4-13; J. Robinson 6-12; S. Edmondson 2-9; B. Beauchemin 5-2; R. Ell 3-(-20); B Dailey 1-0. BER – M. Cashman 12-63, 2 TDs; N. Talanca 8-39; K. Trenholm 3-29; C. Curry 7-17; J. Steeber 2-13; J. Pecorelli 1-12; B. Hughes 2-7; C. Hampton 1-4.

Passing: TA – B. Beauchemin 3-5-0, 23; BER – C. Curry 5-7-0, 200, 3 TDs.

Receiving: TA – J. Colley 1-(-1); J. Robinson 1-1; R. Cywinski 1-23. BER – J. Pecorelli 2-37, 1 TD; A. Force 2-132, 2 TDs; J. Steeber 1-31.