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B-C's defense leads the way this season
That's simply not their style.
Beth-Center wins football games, whether it's regular season or postseason, during the days leading into Friday night. That's when the Bulldogs work on forcing turnovers.
Few do it better.
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Beth-Center (8-2) forced its way into the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals tonight against Laurel (9-1) at Gypsy Glen Stadium in Beaver thanks to a playmaking defense equally adept at gang tackling and forcing turnovers.
For the Bulldogs, it's how they're taught to play.
"Our defense takes pride in getting sacks and getting turnovers," senior linebacker Frank Vorhes said. "We take pride in whether it's our front four or front three that we can get to the quarterback and put pressure on him."
Through 10 games, Beth-Center has found its way to the quarterback and every other skill position player frequently and usually behind the line of scrimmage.
The Bulldogs have made a staggering 79 tackles for loss. The opponent has lost 342 yards during those plays. Vorhes has 20 tackles for loss, including nine quarterback sacks. Nick Vorhes ranks second on the defense with 15 and Jake Sofran has 10.
"We play very aggressive defense," said Sofran, a ball-hunting sophomore with a team-high 119 tackles. "Turnovers and sacks are what we look for."
The second-place team from the Tri-County South Conference, Beth-Center has 27 sacks. The Bulldogs have forced even more turnovers.
Lamar Bell has four of Beth-Center's 13 interceptions, while Frank Vorhes, Zander Shashura and Sofran combined for 12 of 21 recovered fumbles.
That's a total of 34 turnovers.
"We've just been consistently solid on defense all year," Woods said. "We've got a lot of guys who want to get to the football."
That makes things much easier for a developing offense led by sophomore quarterback Sal Faieta, who has passed for 928 yards with nine touchdowns. Three running backs have more than 400 yards rushing, led by Sofran's 499.
A fair share of the 149 points scored by Beth-Center the past three games, including last week's 38-17 first-round victory over Serra Catholic, were set by on turnovers or strong special teams play.
"It makes it a lot easier. Every time we get the ball in good position, it gets everyone pumped," Faieta said.
"When the offense can come right back on the field, it changes the momentum."
Beth-Center hopes to force a few turnovers against Laurel, the tournament's No. 2 seed.
The Spartans own impressive victories over Clairton, North Catholic, South Side Beaver, Monaca and are fresh off a 55-7 win over Burgettstown in the opening round. Beth-Center lost to the Blue Devils, 7-6, in Week 2.
Quarterback Tyler Forbes engineers a balanced attack fueled by a dominating offensive line. Center Robert Hites and tackle Kaleb Kingston, a 6-6 sophomore who weighs 325 pounds, anchor the unit.
"A couple of their plays are similar to what we do," Vorhes said. "Their student bodies and blasts are the same as ours. It's the blocking assignment that change. We have to stay focused."
And defy the pre-game predictions published in local newspapers.
"These kids want to continue to play. They thrive on everyone else thinking they're an underdog but that's now how they feel in their heart," Woods said. "It doesn't matter who we play, they believe they can go out and win."
