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Northwest edges GAR

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David Smith leads Hazleton Area to first victory of the season

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; When it comes time to watch Friday night&#8217;s game tape, Wyoming Valley West might want to skip the first quarter. It was kind of a horror show.</p><p>The Spartans had more penalty yards (39) than offensive yards (26). They had an interception lead to a Berwick scoring drive. A short punt led to another Berwick score.</p><p>After that, it was an award-winning performance for Valley West as it scored four TDs in an eight-minute window of the second quarter on the way to a 48-24 victory over Berwick in a Wyoming Valley Conference interdivisional game.</p><p>Valley West improved to 6-2. Berwick fell to 5-3.</p><p>&#8220;They came out in a front we didn&#8217;t expect them to come out in,&#8221; said Valley West coach Pat Keating, explaining the poor first-quarter output. &#8220;They came out in a 3-4 instead of their base 4-3 stuff. We didn&#8217;t think they were going to play that as their base tonight, but they did.</p><p>&#8220;I think it took our kids two or three series to adjust to that stuff.&#8221;</p><p>Three series to be exact. Valley West&#8217;s second possession lasted one play as Berwick safety Mike Force intercepted a pass. Running back Evan Klinger scored on a 2-yard run 10 plays later. Klinger, subbing for 1,000-yard rusher Len Wyda who was hobbled by a leg injury, scored on another 2-yard run to give Berwick a 14-0 lead going into the second quarter.</p><p>&#8220;I made a really bad mistake on one of the first plays of the game,&#8221; Valley West quarterback Aaron Austin said. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t see that safety. But we told everyone on the sideline we just had to regroup. We weren&#8217;t out of it.&#8221;</p><p>The Spartans regrouped with a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive after Klinger&#8217;s second touchdown. Austin carried in from 10 yards away to ignite the comeback.</p><p>Valley West put together an 11-play, 75-yard TD drive the next time it got the ball. Running back Sean Judge, who went over 4,000 career yards from scrimmage on the possession, capped it with a 3-yard run.</p><p>The momentum then swung way to Valley West&#8217;s favor as Berwick fumbled on its first play after the kickoff and Logan Myers pounced on the ball. Running back Chris Melovitz scored on the next play, pin-balling off defenders to complete a 20-yard TD run.</p><p>Judge made it 28 consecutive points with a 1-yard TD run set up by a 53-yard catch-and-run by wideout Darrian Tyson.</p><p>&#8220;Turnovers are always bad,&#8221; Berwick coach Frank Sheptock, &#8220;but it&#8217;s when they occurred that I thought really gave them some big momentum. The first one, it&#8217;s 14-14 and we&#8217;re still moving the ball and things and then you give them good field position and momentum.</p><p>&#8220;Then the one down here just compounded our problem.&#8221;</p><p>Sheptock was referring to a fumble at the Valley West 16-yard line in the third quarter recovered by Valley West&#8217;s Dylan Jockel. Berwick was down 34-24 at the time with 5:15 left in the quarter. The Spartans turned it into a 1-yard TD run by Judge. Austin had the big play of the drive, a 48-yard run.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Wyo. Valley West 48, Berwick 24</strong></p><p><strong>Berwick`14`3`7`0`&#8212;`24</strong></p><p><strong>Wyo. Val. West`0`28`13`7`&#8212;`48</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>First quarter</strong></p><p>BER &#8212; Evan Klinger 2 run (Ken Marshman kick), 4:08</p><p>BER &#8212; Klinger 2 run (Marshman kick), 1:23</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Second quarter</strong></p><p>WVW &#8212; Aaron Austin 10 run (Jake Gurtis), 9:56</p><p>WVW &#8212; Sean Judge 2 run (Gurtis kick), 4:23</p><p>WVW &#8212; Chris Melovitz 20 run (Gurtis kick), 4:00</p><p>WVW &#8212; Sean Judge 2 run (Gurtis kick), 1:55</p><p>BER &#8212; K.Marshman 30 FG, 0:00</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Third quarter</strong></p><p>BER &#8212; Klinger 41 pass from Jared Marshman (K.Marshman kick), 10:27</p><p>WVW &#8212; Judge 16 run (kick blocked), 7:04</p><p>WVW &#8212; Austin 1 run (Grutis kick), 1:27</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fourth quarter</strong></p><p>WVW &#8212; Austin 16 run (Gurtis kick), 1:51</p><p><strong>Team statistics`BER`WVW</strong></p><p>First downs`18`21</p><p>Rushes-yards`43-148`55-346</p><p>Passing yards`187`101</p><p>Total yards`335`447</p><p>Passing`11-23-0`5-7-1</p><p>Sacked-yards lost`2-15`2-24</p><p>Punts-avg.`5-29.2`4-28.5</p><p>Fumbles-lost`4-3`1-0</p><p>Penalties-yards`4-41`7-64</p><p><strong>INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS</strong></p><p><strong>RUSHING</strong> &#8212; Berwick, Len Wyda 7-16, J.Marshman 13-24, Klinger 15-77, Damon Beckhorn 1-0, Anthony Cicini 1-0, Thomas Smith 6-31. WVW, Judge 25-151, Austin 20-125, Zach Davies 2-13, Sean Mikovitch 2-1, Chris Melovitz 6-56.</p><p><strong>PASSING</strong> &#8212; Berwick, J.Marshman 11-22-0-187, team 0-1-0-0. WVW, Austin 5-7-1-101.</p><p><strong>RECEIVING</strong> &#8212; Berwick, Matt Champ 4-63, Mike Force 1-1, Beckhorn 2-34, Cicini 1-29, Harrison Kuchka 2-19, Klinger 1-41. WVW, Judge 1-6, Jake Shemo 1-30, Darrian Tyson 2-55, Mikovitch 1-10.</p><p><strong>INTERCEPTIONS</strong> &#8212; Berwick, Force 1-0.</p><p><strong>MISSED FGs</strong> &#8212; None.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bulldog Evan Klinger (8) extends his arm over the goal line for Berwick's second score of the first quarter against Wyoming Valley West Friday night at Spartan stadium. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bulldog Evan Klinger (8) extends his arm over the goal line for Berwick's second score of the first quarter against Wyoming Valley West Friday night at Spartan stadium. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-2-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Chris Melovitz (6) rolls over Berwick's Justin Groshek (24) for a WVW score. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-2-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Chris Melovitz (6) rolls over Berwick's Justin Groshek (24) for a WVW score. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-3-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Berwick's Matthew Champ (7) is on the receiving end of a Jared Marshman (9) pass against the Spartans. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-3-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Berwick's Matthew Champ (7) is on the receiving end of a Jared Marshman (9) pass against the Spartans. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-4-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">WVW's Darrian Tyson (13) catches Bulldog RB Evan Klinger (8) for a loss. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-4-2.jpg</photo3><caption3>WVW's Darrian Tyson (13) catches Bulldog RB Evan Klinger (8) for a loss. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-2CMYK-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West running back Chris Melovitz (6) rolls over Berwick&#8217;s Justin Groshek for a touchdown in the second quarter Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-2CMYK-2.jpg</photo4><caption4>Wyoming Valley West running back Chris Melovitz (6) rolls over Berwick&#8217;s Justin Groshek for a touchdown in the second quarter Friday night. </caption4><photoCredit4>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-1CMYK-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Berwick running back Evan Klinger (8) extends his arm over the goal line for Berwick&#8217;s second score of the first quarter against Wyoming Valley West Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-1CMYK-2.jpg</photo5><caption5>Berwick running back Evan Klinger (8) extends his arm over the goal line for Berwick&#8217;s second score of the first quarter against Wyoming Valley West Friday night. </caption5><photoCredit5>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-3CMYK-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Berwick&#8217;s Matthew Champ is on the receiving end of a Jared Marshman pass against Wyoming Valley Wes. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-3CMYK-2.jpg</photo6><caption6>Berwick&#8217;s Matthew Champ is on the receiving end of a Jared Marshman pass against Wyoming Valley Wes. </caption6><photoCredit6>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-4CMYK-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Darrian Tyson tackles Berwick running back Evan Klinger for a loss. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Berwick-WVW-ftbl-4CMYK-2.jpg</photo7><caption7>Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Darrian Tyson tackles Berwick running back Evan Klinger for a loss. </caption7><photoCredit7>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit7></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Spartans wipe out early deficit with big second quarter</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>FRIDAY NIGHT&#8217;S SCORES</strong></p><p>Valley West 48, Berwick 24</p><p>Northwest 20, GAR 17</p><p>Crestwood 28, Hanover 20</p><p>Meyers 24, Tunkhannock 13</p><p>Pittston Area 28, Nanticoke 27</p><p>Wyoming Area 42, Dallas 10</p><p>Hazleton Area 20, Donegal 14</p><p>Williamsport 49, Coughlin 28</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wyoming Valley West bites Dawgs, 48-24