Another first-round loss for B-C
FREDERICKTOWN – Apollo-Ridge senior quarterback Jesse Zelonka was a one-man wrecking crew Friday night against Beth-Center.
Zelonka passed for three touchdowns, and ran for two more, leading Apollo-Ridge to a 42-28 upset win over Beth-Center, in the first round of the WPIAL Class A football playoffs.
It was the first loss of the season for Beth-Center (9-1) and the third consecutive year the Bulldogs have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs as the home team.
“This was a special group of kids. I mean, they’re all special to me, but I think with us going undefeated and that being the first time in a couple of years … that was something special these kids will remember,” Beth-Center head coach Ed Woods said. “We’ll keep fighting and scratching and doing what we have to do to be successful.”
Apollo-Ridge (8-2) advances to play top-seeded Sto-Rox in the quarterfinals.
“Apollo-Ridge is a solid football team,” Woods said. “My hat’s off to those guys and those coaches. They did a great job. To drive as far as they did to play ball … they stepped off the bus and they were ready to play.”
Beth-Center led 14-7 after one quarter, but Apollo Ridge reeled off the game’s next 35 points.
The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead on an 11-yard touchdown run by Anthony Welsh that capped a 10-yard opening drive. Zelonka then set the tone for the night on Apollo Ridge’s second offensive play, rambling 46 yards for a tying touchdown.
B-C quarterback Gino Faieta then connected with Nico Brown on a seven-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds left in the first quarter, giving the Bulldogs their final lead at 14-7.
Apollo-Ridge then scored three second-quarter touchdowns to forge a 28-14 lead at halftime. Zelona tied the score with a 70-yard run, then put the Vikings ahead for good at 21-14 with a 52-yard scoring pass to Alex Smith. A 63-yard punt return by Duane Brown to inside the B-C 10-yard line set up Ben Gamball’s one-yard plunge that made the score 28-14.
Zelonka completed three of 13 passes for 182 yards. All three of his completions went for scores. He also rushed for 163 yards on nine carries.
The Vikings added to their momentum early in the third quarter, when Zelonka passed 48 yards to Tre Tipton. The duo hooke dup against moments later on an 83-yard TD pass that pushed Apollo-Ridge’s lead to 42-14.
B-C battled back and produced two touchdowns early in the fourth, getting a 19-yard run by Welsh and a five-yard scoring burst by Brown to trim the gap to 42-28. The Bulldogs had a chance to pull to within one score with six minutes left as they drove into Vikings territory but turned the ball over on downs.
Welsh rushed 129 yards on 26 carries.
All four Tri-County South playoff teams suffered first-round losses for thethird cvonsecutive season.