Tagged under: District 2, District 4, Gameday Hub, News
Mason Eddinger | August 25, 2023
It’s that time of year again, High School football is back. The Berwick Bulldogs and Southern Columbia Tigers met for the third consecutive year in the season opener.
In 2021, the Tigers took down Berwick 43-0, which started a 15-1 season and another state title. The story was different a year later. Berwick led 14-0 at the half, but then got outscored 42-13 to end the game and fell valiantly 42-27. Southern Columbia would win yet another state title a few months after that game.
No matter if you are a 6 time defending State Champion or a 4-6 season that lost most of the offense, week one always brings one thing to every team, optimism. Every team has aspirations to play into December and fight for a state title. Week one is finally the time that the hard work and dedication that has been put in over the last year finally pays off, and for Southern Columbia, it paid off in a big way.
Southern Columbia got the football first and wanted to make a statement early. The recipe that made them the most successful 2A High School team in the State was going to guide them to Victory tonight. It did not take long for Southern Columbia to find the end zone, Garrett Garcia got his big night started with a 1-yard run just 4 minutes into the game.
Southern columbia gets in with Garrett garcia , they lead 7-0 over Berwick with 8 mins left in the first quarter @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/oIehOSFJFk
— Mason Eddinger (@Mason_PFN) August 25, 2023
The suffocating defense of Southern Columbia forced a quick three-and-out for Berwick’s offense and put the Tigers right back out on offense. Instead of a goal line run, Garrett Garcia broke free on a 20-yard run to give Southern Columbia a 14-0 lead just 7 minutes into the season.
Southern Columbia gets in the end zone again! Garrett garcia runs it in once more @PaFootballNews
14-0 Southern over Berwick
5:17 left in the first quarter pic.twitter.com/V6q9WMv6IR
— Mason Eddinger (@Mason_PFN) August 25, 2023
Southern Columbia knew they had to set the tone early. Last year, Berwick set the tone of the game and Southern had to play catch up, this time they got the lead and didn’t look back.
When a team runs the ball as well as the Tigers did in the first half, naturally the passing game will open up in their favor. After a few run plays in succession, QB Blake Wise found Louden Murphy to put Southern Columbia up by three scores just 15 minutes into the game.
Southern adds another with @LoudenMurphy score
Southern Columbia 21
Berwick 0
9 mins left in the half @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/E4mmPoM3YK
— Mason Eddinger (@Mason_PFN) August 25, 2023
At this point, the energy on the Berwick side was completely dead, and the Southern Columbia Tigers continued to add insult to injury as a third player got into the end zone. Carter Madden ran it in from 2 yards out, the 2PT conversion was successful and Southern Columbia led 29-0.
Southern makes it 29-0 over berwick as @cartermad2_ gets in
2pt conversion is good
5:59 left in the half @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/mHm71PNaEZ
— Mason Eddinger (@Mason_PFN) August 25, 2023
Right before the half, Louden Murphy continued his excellent day as he scooped up an Ethan Lear backward lateral and went the distance to make it 36-0 at the half.
By the time the final bell sounded, Southern Columbia had won 50-0.
Southern Columbia was as advertised in this game, excellent power running and a defense that had Berwick’s offense in a chokehold. On the Berwick side, QB Ethan Lear had a few rough plays but overall looked poised considering it was his first career start against the State Champs. Berwick did find success running the football with Tyler Winter and Jimmy DeAndrea. Overall for the Dawgs, not a game they want to remember.
Coach Jim Roth was happy with his team’s performance and talked about the win below
My postgame interview with @SoCoTigerSports head coach Jim Roth following his Tigers beating berwick 50-0 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/NMmWs5pl42
— Mason Eddinger (@Mason_PFN) August 26, 2023
sp;
SOUTHERN COLUMBIA NEXT GAME
9/1 VS SHAMOKIN AREA 7PM
BERWICK NEXT GAME
9/1 VS VALLEY VIEW 7PM
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