Scranton Prep at Berwick

Recap

SCRANTON PREP 42, BERWICK 7

Scranton Prep’s defense completely throttled the Berwick offense and vaunted tailback Ty’Meere Wilkerson as the Cavaliers trounced the Bulldogs 42-7 in the District 2 Class 3A title game. The Cavaliers will now play District 4 champion Mifflinburg at a site to be determined.

The Bulldogs, the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 champions, suffered their first loss of the season. The Berwick defense was unable to stifle the versatility of the Prep offense which rolled up over 350 yards of offense, including more than 300 in the first half before the mercy rule went into effect at halftime.

The Cavaliers took the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards in just 5 plays, all of them on the ground. Braedon McPartland had the key carry in the drive, going 37 yards inside the Berwick 20. Two plays later, Prep’s multi-talented quarterback Will McPartland danced the final 7 yards for the score. Tyler Bianchi’s first extra point gave Prep a 7-0 lead with 9:26 left in the opening period.

After forcing a Berwick punt, Prep took over at their own 17. This time, it only took the electric Prep offense 4 plays to hit paydirt. After Will McPartland hit Noah Krzywiec on a screen off a double-reverse for 68 yards, the senior quarterback powered in from 2 yards out. Prep led 14-0 less than 8 minutes into the football game.

Another Berwick punt resulted in disaster for the Bulldogs. After the snap sailed over the head of the Berwick punter, the kick went off the side of his foot, giving Prep possession at the Berwick 20-yard line. It was McPartland to McPartland, Will to Braedon, for 18 yards and the score on just the second play of the drive. Prep held a commanding 21-0 advantage at the conclusion of the first quarter.

Berwick turned the ball over for the first time on their next drive. Quarterback Brady Cleaver threw into double coverage on 2^nd and 17 from his own 30-yard line. The pass was picked off by Prep’s A.J. Croom who returned the ball up the left sideline all the way to the Berwick 35-yard line.

The Cavaliers wasted no time in knocking on the door. On the very first snap of the drive, it was the familiar combination of Will to Braedon McPartland on a streak pattern up the left sideline that went for 32 yards down to the 3-yard line. Two plays later, Will McParltand garnered his third rushing touchdown of the evening from 2 yards away and the Cavaliers had completely stunned the home crowd, leading the undefeated Bulldogs 28-0 with 10:43 left to play before halftime.

After two Berwick punts were sandwiched around one from the Cavaliers, it was time for some more heroics from the Prep offense. After spiking the ball with just 2 ticks left on the second quarter clock, McPartland dropped to throw and found Mackey Lynett behind the Berwick defense. When Lynett wrestled the ball away from the Berwick defender, the Cavaliers had completed a 48-yard scoring play to conclude the half. The final touchdown of the period ensured that the entire second half would be played under the mercy rule.

Berwick got the football to begin the third period and lost the ball on downs at their own 32. From there, Prep overcame a holding penalty to score in 4 plays. Will McPartland combined a 17-yard scramble with two completions to brother Braedon for 14 and 10 yards respectively to put the ball at the Berwick 1. The senior signal caller bulled over from a yard away for his fourth and final rushing touchdown of the evening, making the score 42-0 with 5:50 left to play in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs finally scored with 3:12 left to play in the third quarter when Wilkerson scooted in from 10 yards away to make the final margin 42-7 as reserves played the remainder of the game.

The title marked the fifth consecutive district crown for Coach Terry Gallagher who will guide his Cavaliers into the state tournament once again.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER

SP – Will McPartland 7-yd run (Tyler Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 7-0

SP – W. McPartland 2-yd run (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 14-0

SP – Braedon McPartland 18-yd pass from W. McPartland (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 21-0

2ND QUARTER

SP – W. McPartland 3-yd run (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 28-0

SP – Mackey Lynett 48-yd pass from W. McPartland (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 35-0

3RD QUARTER

SP – W. McPartland 1-yd run (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 42-0

BER – Ty’Meere Wilkerson 10-yd run (Caleb Yost kick) – Scranton Prep 42-7

4TH QUARTER

None