A few inches over a foot and a half.
That’s what the Berwick defense is surrendering per carry when an opponent tries to run the ball.
Over 28 feet.
That’s what the Dallas offense has been gobbling up on average when it runs the football.
“Their offense revolves around the run. Run defense is our strength,” Berwick coach Carmen DeFrancesco said. “Something’s got to give.”
We’ll find out starting at 7 p.m. today when Berwick (7-1) heads to Dallas (8-0) in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 4A game that could ultimately decide the top seed in the District 2 Class 4A playoffs.
In football terms, Berwick is allowing 0.7 yards per rushing play. The Dawgs have held two opponents to negative yards rushing and their last two opponents — Hazleton Area and Crestwood — averaged 0.3 yards per carry. The Dawgs surrendered a season-high 66 rushing yards three weeks ago in a 35-28 loss to Valley View, but it took the Cougars 32 runs to reach that number.
“And I couldn’t single out one of them. It’s like a pack mentality,” DeFrancesco said. “The front four is where it’s starting. So dominant up front. If you had to single out someone, it’d be (defensive end) Eric Montes. He goes until the whistle blows.”
Dallas coach Rich Mannello saw the same thing on tape that DeFrancesco witnesses every Friday night. An initial hit on a ball carrier usually results in a Dawg pile as Berwick has taken gang-tackling to the extreme.
“Tremendous speed up front,” Mannello said. “Everybody keeps talking about the front — and there’s great speed and obviously a lot of weightroom going on there — but back side of that defense is tremendous. It’s not just the front group. It’s those outside backers, the secondary and those guys can fly.”
Two-time all-state selection Teagan Wilk leads the secondary. The East Carolina recruit became the school’s all-time interception leader earlier this season, quite a feat for a player who started as a freshman at Southern Columbia and picked off four passes for the Tigers that season. He has returned two of his four interceptions this season for touchdowns.
The main focus for the Berwick defense will be Dallas running back Lenny Kelley. Kelley leads the entire WVC with 1,371 rushing yards and 21 rushing TDs. He is averaging 10.9 yards per carry and ran for a career-high 275 yards in last Friday’s 37-7 demolition of Valley View.
“Kelley is the guy,” DeFrancesco said. “If someone were to chart his yards after contact, I’d be interested to see that. It has to be a lot. You’re going to have to gang-tackle him.”
Dallas’ offense, though, isn’t a one-man show. Running back Danny Meuser has 621 yards rushing and is averaging 12.7 yards per tote. Quarterback Michael Starbuck has thrown for 14 touchdowns and is well on his way to another 1,000-yard passing season.
Berwick’s offense was a concern entering the season and the unit has produced a few pedestrian performances. However, it has picked up the pace in recent weeks.
Berwick quarterback Ryan Laubach doesn’t throw much, but has tossed five TD passes in the last three games. Running back Aiden Mason leads the Dawgs in rushing with 559 yards as plenty of players touch the ball. One in particular is Wilk, who has become more involved. He caught and ran for touchdowns in last Friday’s 42-7 victory over Crestwood.
“You have to know where No. 7 (Wilk) is on every snap,” Mannello said. “In all three phases. Where he is in the kicking game, on offense and obviously on defense.”
Dallas would have the upper hand for the top seed in the D2-4A playoffs with a win, although the Mountaineers have a tough game with rival Lake-Lehman left.
If Berwick wins, it’s anybody’s guess how the seeding will shake out as the top-three teams end up in a rock-scissors-paper scenario. Berwick would have beaten Dallas, Dallas already defeated Valley View and Valley View defeated Berwick.
ELSEWHERE …
• Crestwood tries to remain in position for a D2-4A home playoff game as the Comets travel to Pittston Area.
• Wyoming Valley West has a difficult task against visiting Delaware Valley, which has outscored its last two opponents 102-0.
• Wyoming Area hosts Hanover Area, a team the Warriors defeated convincingly twice last season.
• Tunkhannock goes for its first five-win regular season since 2007 as a slumping Mid Valley bunch pays a visit.
• Nanticoke Area is at Lake-Lehman, which is trying to stay in position for a D2-3A home playoff game.
• Northwest is at Old Forge in what could be a preview of the D2-A championship game.
• After losing in overtime last Friday, Hazleton Area looks to rebound against visiting Wallenpaupack.
• Williamsport brings a four-game losing streak into its game at Wilkes-Barre Area
• Winless Holy Redeemer hosts Lackawanna Trail on Saturday afternoon.
• Wyoming Seminary is home Saturday afternoon against Western Reserve Academy.
