Berwick at Western Wayne

Recap

WESTERN WAYNE 7, BERWICK 0

Sean Owens helped keep the game scoreless for three quarters Friday night, then produced the only touchdown early in the fourth quarter to allow second-seeded Western Wayne to escape an upset bid by seventh-seeded Berwick with a 7-0, home-field victory in a District 2 Class 3A quarterfinal.

Owens intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble to lead the defense. He caught three of his team’s four completions, then stepped into the backfield as the Wildcat formation quarterback for a 4-yard touchdown run up the middle with 10:28 remaining.

Western Wayne (10-1) still needed a defensive stand to put away Berwick (4-7).

The Bulldogs held the ball for 13 plays, moving from their 31 to the Wildcats 6. Scrambling quarterback Ashton Smith was stopped after 11 yards on a fourth-and-12 from the 17 on the final play of the drive midway through the fourth quarter.

Berwick’s Caleb May and Western Wayne’s Owens each had interceptions in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs then came up with two key defensive stops in the second quarter.

After Owens recovered a fumble at the Berwick 26, the Bulldogs forced the Wildcats to give the ball back on downs at the 29.

Western Wayne had a 19-play drive from its 17 to a fourth-and-goal at the 9. Linebacker Rocco Romeo knocked down a pass to end the threat.

The Wildcats broke through with an eight-play, 70-yard drive in the second half.

Josh Vinton, who carried 35 times for 150 yards, broke loose on a 47-yard run to the Berwick 7 on the final play of the third quarter.

That run helped lead to the Owens touchdown.

Western Wayne hosts Wyoming Area (10-1) Friday night in the semifinals.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter

None

2nd Quarter

None

3rd Quarter

None

4th Quarter

WW – Sean Owens 4-yd run (Jacob Wells kick) – Western Wayne 7-0