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Dog gone: Second-seeded Laurel too strong for B-C
A couple players took a knee and stared blankly into the distance. A few others stood, heads hanging and hands pulling on their facemasks. Following one last message from Woods, the emotional group hugged. Jordan Kinder, tears flowing, kissed his helmet as he walked toward the locker room.
That's what Beth-Center football meant to this overachieving group. That's why it's so difficult to accept it's over.
Losing to powerful Laurel 55-7 Friday night in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals wasn't how these seniors envisioned their final game in a Bulldogs uniform. But, no matter the outcome, they're all part of a proud family.
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Someday soon, the sting of the loss won't feel as sharp. After all, Beth-Center (8-3) lost to one good football team in No. 2 seed Laurel (10-1), which faces Clairton in the semifinals.
"They're the team we're trying to be," Woods said. "They're really nice on offense and they're really nice on defense. They're just solid and loaded with big, strong kids."
Spartans senior quarterback Tyler Forbes rushed for three first-half touchdowns and threw for two more scores as Laurel took a commanding 41-7 lead into halftime.
Forbes finished with 125 yards rushing and completed 6 of 9 passes for 177 yards, with 101 of those going to gifted receiver Jacob Dando.
Laurel, which beat Burgettstown 55-7 in the first round, took advantage of five Beth-Center turnovers, four coming before halftime.
And an early 14-0 deficit forced the Bulldogs to throw - a lot. Sophomore Sal Faieta attempted 24 passes in the first half and completed 10 for 155 yards, 70 coming on a touchdown pass to Deshan Brown in the first quarter.
"Once they knew we had to throw and we're going to throw as much as they did, then they started to tee off on us," Woods said.
Laurel administered the type of punishment Beth-Center isn't used to receiving.
It was Beth-Center's worst loss since a 62-7 defeat to Waynesburg on Oct. 12, 2001.
That doesn't matter to the Bulldogs, who were the only Washington County team to win a WPIAL football playoff game the past two years.
"They're all special groups," Woods said. "Every group, I remember something special about them."
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B-C's defense leads the way this season
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Good for them! : 11/14/2009
I am glad this team got it 'stuck to them' for a change. They have run up the score unnecessarily all season. You reap what you sow. How's it feel Woods?
