Welsh, Bulldogs knock off GCC
Beth-Center’s Anthony Welsh runs for one of his three touchdowns during the first half of the Bulldogs’ victory over Greensburg Central Catholic Friday night.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Beth Center's Anthony Welsh gets a first down during the first quarter of the game while Greensburg Central Catholic's Brian Pevarnik tries to tackle.
FREDERICKTOWN – Beth-Center junior running back Anthony Welsh entered Friday night with 11 straight games of at least 100 rushing yards and a touchdown.
He did not break 100 yards against Greensburg Central Catholic, but his hard-nosed, downhill style allowed him to walk away from Bulldog Stadium with a smile on his face.
Welsh scored the go-ahead touchdown with less than six minutes to play, then stifled a Centurions’ two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game as Beth-Center defeated GCC, 29-20, in a non-conference game.
The junior running back, who was an Observer-Reporter Elite 11 selection last season, rushed for 97 yards on 17 carries with three touchdowns and an interception.
“I’m just happy we got the win,” Walsh said. “We worked hard for this one. It’s huge. We looked at this as a playoff game, and this shows we can hang with the best.
After surrendering a 14-point lead, Beth-Center (1-0, 2-0) was set to receive a punt from Centurions junior Brian Pevarnik when the snap went 10 feet over his head and into the endzone with 10:18 remaining in the third quarter. Pevarnik, who ran for a touchdown on the previous drive to tie the game, was injured when he was tackled as the Bulldogs took a two-point lead on a safety.
On the ensuing possession, Welsh showed the ability that made GCC head coach Dan Mahoney concerned when watching game film on the Bulldogs. He carried the ball three times on the drive and finished with a 13-yard touchdown where he ran over two defenders on his way to the end zone. The extra point was missed, but Beth-Center held a 22-14 lead.
“We worked on pursuit angles all week and knew we had to stop the run,” Mahoney said. “We worked on tackling low because (Welsh) never stops moving his legs. None of their backs do. (Welsh) is tremendous though and he hurt us on a few.”
The Centurions (1-0, 1-1) quickly answered when junior running back Sam Nowicki took the football on a draw play and went untouched for a 72-yard run to draw GCC to within 22-20. On the two-point conversion, the first attempt failed on an incomplete pass, but a penalty gave GCC a second chance.
Nowicki took a toss, was cornered by the sideline and reversed field. He saw a seam, but there was Welsh, barreling down on the 5-10 back who rushed for 123 yards on 17 carries and Nowicki was dragged down.
“That was huge,” Beth-Center head coach Ed Woods said. “He was making all kinds of plays. We missed the opportunity to put them away, but I never panic. I know we’re never out of a football game with the running backs we have. They can bust out for a big one at any time.”
Woods’ gut feeling was correct. On the next drive, Welsh dove into the end zone from two yards out with 48 seconds remaining to seal the victory, one of the bigger ones Beth-Center earned in years.
“They are supposedly a powerhouse, and it’s no question this is a huge win for us,” Woods said. “We didn’t know where we stood and now we have that feeling. I can’t wait to watch the game film.”
Greensburg Central had the size advantage, but Beth-Center won the battle up front during the first half.
The Bulldogs created two turnovers and Welsh made his case for being one of the best all-around players in Class A. He had three carries for 16 yards on B-C’s opening possession to get the ball to the Centurions’ 26-yard line, but a failed screen pass and an untimely sack forced them to punt. GCC had five total turnovers and commited eight penalties.
“You can’t turn the ball over like that against a good team,” Mahoney said. “We made way too many mistakes.”
GCC’s ensuing possession went for six plays, including an impressive run by Nowicki, but junior quarterback Tom Pellis’ attempt to extend the play with his feet backfired. The first-year starter eluded the pass rush by rolling left and tried sneaking a pass into double-coverage, but Welsh intercepted the pass and kept one foot inbounds for the turnover and good field position for Beth-Center.
The Bulldogs followed by driving 47 yards on seven plays that was finished by a Welsh four-yard touchdown run for the early lead.
GCC responded in the second half with two touchdowns in under two minutes of play, but Beth-Center answered with 15-fourth quarter points to clinch the victory.
“I can’t even describe winning that game,” Welsh said. “We made a lot of mistakes, but it shows us where we stand.”