After a disappointing 22‑0 hole in their regular‑season finale against California, the Beth‑Center Bulldogs entered the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs with renewed focus. The eighth‑seeded Bulldogs delivered an emphatic 34‑8 victory over ninth‑seeded Burgettstown on Friday night, marking the program’s first playoff win since 1990.
Game‑by‑game breakdown
The Bulldogs seized control from the opening kickoff. A three‑and‑out by the Blue Devils (8‑3) set up an eight‑play, 40‑yard drive that culminated in a four‑yard touchdown run by senior running back Cyler Myers. Hunter Bobbs’s extra point gave Beth‑Center a 7‑0 lead.
Later in the first quarter, DeSean Whipkey extended the lead with a 54‑yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 14‑0. The Bulldogs continued to dominate the ground game in the second quarter, adding a 21‑yard touchdown run by Homer Headlee and a 25‑yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chase Bebout to tight end Dan Duncan. The half closed with a commanding 28‑0 advantage.
Second‑half highlights
Enzo Brown, the team’s regular‑season leading rusher, capped the third quarter with a one‑yard touchdown run, bringing the total to 34‑0. The drive was set up by an 18‑yard pass from Bebout to Brown. Burgettstown finally got on the board in the fourth quarter when Blake Neal connected with Bryce Speer on a 39‑yard touchdown pass, but the Bulldogs held firm.
Defensively, Beth‑Center forced two turnovers. Nicholis Miller intercepted a pass and returned it 58 yards past midfield, while Whipkey added another interception for the Bulldogs.
Key performances
- DeSean Whipkey: six carries for 81 yards.
- Homer Headlee: nine carries for 80 yards.
- Chase Bebout: three rushing attempts for 80 yards and completed 5 of 8 passes for 50 yards, including the TD to Duncan.
- Enzo Brown: limited to 59 yards on 16 carries after being the season’s top rusher with 1,495 yards.
Coach Tim Trump praised his players’ resilience, noting that the team “felt written off” after the loss to California but responded with “ultra‑focused” practice and a “power football” approach. He also highlighted the inspirational visit from members of the 1986 Bulldogs team, who reminded the current squad of the program’s proud tradition.
Looking ahead
With the win, Beth‑Center (10‑1) advances to the quarterfinals where they will face top‑seeded Washington. The Bulldogs aim to continue their historic run and add another chapter to a legacy that has not seen a playoff victory in more than three decades.
Coach Trump concluded, “Our kids went into this game expecting to win. I’m proud of them. They played phenomenal. It was fun to watch.”
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
