Shadyside Knocks Off Bridgeport

Photo by Seth Staskey Shadyside quarterback Ben Wach winds up for a pass during the Tigers’ 40-26 win over Bridgeport Friday.
BRIDGEPORT — It’s not often — at any level of football — where a team commits more penalties than it achieves first downs … and still wins.
In case someone ever wanted to look such a stat up, he or she won’t have to look any farther than Friday night’s game on Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium where Shadyside handed the Bulldogs a 40-26 setback.
The Tigers were able to overcome an astounding 22 penalties for 180 yards. Luckily they didn’t suffer a turnover and their offense was able to find traction to a tune of 387 total yards.
“We’ve battled (penalties) all year,” Shadyside head coach Michael Kernik said. “First game of the year, we had 17 penalties and then we were a little bit better. We had 15 (Friday) and I asked the kids, ‘are we going to finish with 30 penalties in the game?’ Hats off to our kids because they, somehow, found a way to pull it together.”
When Shadyside got into its locker room at halftime Kernik didn’t draw any elaborate formations or make any heavy-duty adjustments. Quite simply, he and his now 2-7 squad had a “heart-to-heart” conversation.
“We didn’t change a whole lot offensively or defensively,” Kernik admitted. “We talked about cleaning up the penalties and staying focused.”
Clearly the message got across. Shadyside committed only six penalties in the second half and was able to pitch a shutout after it trailed the Bulldogs (4-5), 26-20, at the break.
Shadyside’s offense, which showed it could move the ball against the Bulldogs on its opening drive, was solid. The defense, however, was allowing huge chunk plays in the first half to the Bulldogs.
Actually, Bridgeport senior quarterback Colin Jackson threw touchdown passes of 30 and 67 yards on back-to-back possessions to Lamar Kendricks Jr. and Avery Jackson, respectively. He then found his younger brother once again for a 17-yard hook up, which gave Bridgeport its first lead at 26-20.
The Bulldogs, however, squandered a possession late in the first half and then went three-and-out to begin the second half. From there, the momentum had firmly shifted.
“We got put into a tough situation where we had to move some guys around due to some injuries, but that’s no excuse,” Bridgeport head coach Fred Ray said. “We had our opportunities, but we put ourselves in a tough hole and had to continue to bounce back. We gave up some short fields and we made too many mistakes, which we have to correct.”
Shadyside was able to seize control thanks to the elusiveness and moxie of junior quarterback Ben Wach. He was impressive, completing 17 of 29 throws for 274 yards and four touchdowns. His 11-yard touch pass to senior wide receiver Elijah Brock put the Orange up for good in the middle of the third quarter. Sophomore Gavin Bommer, who was true on four of six PAT kicks, made it a 27-26 game.
“Our kids played a relatively clean second half and simply played their butts off … the way they’re capable of playing,” Kernik said. “Winning this game is huge because it gives our kids a bunch of confidence moving forward. I think this is something we can build on, especially since we built some momentum running the football.”
The Tigers stretched their lead to eight when Wach, who had scored the game’s first touchdown from a yard out, went into the end zone basically untouched from 3 yards out.
They iced the game when Mark Waggoner took a swing pass from Wach and raced down the sideline for a 28-yard touchdown.
Wach and Brock were an impressive duo. They hooked up seven times for 121 yards and three total touchdowns. He also caught scores from 19 and 18 yards out.
Junior Karl Tsoras was impressive as a runner and a pass catcher. He rushed 15 times for 61 yards and caught four balls for 72 yards.
Bridgeport, meanwhile, despite the loss has clinched a berth in the Division VII, Region 27 playoffs. However, the Bulldogs will close out the regular season next week against Paden City on Senior Day.
“We still have a lot of work to do and for these seven seniors, it’s important that we take care of business next week,” Ray said. “It’s been a while since we’ve been to the playoffs. We’ll see how things turn out.”
Colin Jackson completed 19 of 32 passes for 232 yards, but all but 34 of those came in the first half. Avery Jackson hauled in five passes for 92 yards, while freshman Jaki Threet made three catches for 70 and Kendricks Jr. caught five passes for 54 and a score. Joey Bugaj scored on the ground.