HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL - PENNSYLVANIA
1988
PIAA Class 3A Eastern Final - Berwick Bulldogs (16) v (12) Middletown Blue Raiders - On a windy day in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Berwick edged past the Blue Raiders to reach their first state championship game. Both teams were evenly matched, with the Defense's on top, but Berwick forged ahead for good with the game-winning TD with 3:49 to go. Middletown had 1 last meaningful drive to win the game but the Dogs defense stepped up and sealed the win with an interception. Berwick featured QB Jake Kelchner (2 TD runs), RB Donte Frank, WR Lance Evina and LB's Dave Force and Duane Koch. Middletown featured QB Chad Derr (1 TD pass, 1 TD run), RB Scott Souders (1 TD catch), WR Mike Dagen and LB's Brian Biesecker and Greg Moore (7/8, Downloaded from the internet - 2nd half slightly poorer quality, 1 Disc, WNEP - Oles/Zone/Karlson/Harch, NTSC)
PIAA Class 3A Final - Berwick Bulldogs (13) v (0) Aliquippa Quips - In an eagerly awaited match-up at Hershey Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania, #2 ranked Berwick upset #1 ranked Aliquippa to win their 1st ever State Championship. Both teams Defense's were very strong but Berwick found just enough Offense in the 2nd and 3rd quarters to get their noses in front and win the game. The MVP was Berwick WR Lance Evina who scored both the TD's. Berwick also featured QB Jake Kelchner (2 TD passes), RB Dante Frank and LB Duane Koch. Aliquippa featured QB Dave Mike, RB's Willie Lindsey and James Stewart, WR Terry Patrick and LB Sean Gilbert (8, Downloaded from the internet, 1 Disc, WNEP - Oles/Zone/Karlson/Harch, NTSC)
1991
PIAA Class 1 Eastern Final - Berwick Bulldogs (21) @ (22) North Pocono Trojans - In a big upset in Moscow, Pennsylvania, North Pocono ended Berwick's 45-game Eastern Conference winning streak and its attempt at a fourth straight championship with a late Touchdown and 2 point conversion. North Pocono opened the game with an 89 yard kick-off return TD and Berwick countered with a 77 yard TD pass as both teams traded scores throughout the game. The result came down to a frantic final 3 minutes where the Bulldogs scored the go-ahead TD with 2:20 left only for the Trojans to close to within 1 point with a TD with 36 seconds left. The Trojans then won the game with a 2-point conversion before holding off a furious final drive from the Bulldogs. North Pocono featured QB BJ Gallis (1 TD pass), RB Larry Shumbres (1 TD run + 89 yard KO return TD), WR Brian Croom, TE Keith Olsommer and LB's Mark Jackett and Bill Macknosky. Berwick featured a big game from QB Ron Powlus (13-27-329-1 + 8-38-0 + 1 Interception), RB Jason Sobolewski (1 TD run), WR's Chris Orlando and Mike Elmes and LB's John Hey and Dave Beaupain (8, Downloaded from the internet, 1 Disc, WYOU - Nugent/Gurn/Jordan, NTSC)
1992
PIAA Class 3A Eastern Final - Berwick Bulldogs (29) v (6) Manheim Central Barons - On a cold and windy day at Hershey Park Stadium, Berwick moved to 14-0 with a big win over the Barons and reached their 2nd PIAA Final. Led by QB Ron Powlus (124 yards passing, 67 yards rushing + 2 TD's), the Bulldogs broke open a close game with 3 unanswered TD's in the 2nd quarter to take a 21-0 lead in at the half. Mannheim couldn't overcome the weather in the 2nd half and Berwick wrapped up the game with a 4th TD in the 3rd quarter. The Barons did score a consolation TD late in the game, a 95 yard TD pass, but it was too late to make a difference. Berwick also featured RB Jason Sobolewski (2 TD runs), WR Chris Orlando and LB Dave Beaupain. Mannheim featured QB Jason Thompson, RB Chad Strickler and WR Loren Cook (1 TD catch). Miami Hurricanes head coach Dennis Erickson was in the stands to watch Ron Powlus (8, Downloaded from the internet, 1 Disc, WYOU - Nugent/Gurn/Jordan, NTSC)
1992 PIAA Class 3A Final - Berwick Bulldogs (33) v (6) Blackhawk Cougars - Nationally ranked #1 Berwick finished their season in style, knocking of Blackhawk to win their 2nd National Championship. The star of the show was Berwick QB Ron Powlus (12-27-149-4 + 8-60-0 + 1 catch for 13 yards) in his final High School game. After the Cougars opened the scoring, the Bulldogs rattled off 19 unanswered points in the 1st half to take control of the game. The Berwick defense kept the Cougars scoreless in the 2nd half and the Bulldogs cruised to the win and the State Title. The Berwick Defense, led by LB Bill Hetler and DB Mike Bennett (2 interceptions) forced 6 turnovers. Berwick also featured WR Chris Orlando (3 TD catches). Blackhawk featured QB Jeff Weaver, RB Pat Cutshall and LB Gregg Blum (8, Downloaded from the internet, 1 Disc, WNEP - Karlson/Angeli/Tidey/Renick, NTSC)