The Berean Christian School football team’s dominating win over Fort Myers’ Canterbury Cougars last Friday night assured the Bulldogs of a playoff spot in the newly formed Sunshine State Athletic Conference.
The Bulldogs came out slow. The Cougars, with the help of penalties, drove to the 15, but the determined Bulldog defense continued its dominance. The Cougars kicked a 35-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead in the second quarter. However, Canterbury’s lead would not last long. KeilonStube darted up the middle breaking multiple tackles and sprinting 98 yards with the kickoff return to make it 7-3. On the ensuing kickoff, the Bulldogs recovered a fumble and took control on the 45 yard line. Quarterback Chris Mauck got his passing game in rhythm, and on third and long, hit Jarod Hammond across the middle for a key fist down. From the 2-yard line, Mauck’s bootleg pass found Stube for the score. Daryk Racine added the extra point to make it 14-3.
The defense shut the Cougars down, and now with Mauck’s passing game clicking, the Bulldogs quickly drove toward another score. Daniel Pinkerman finished off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown plunge. Racine’s kick made it 21-3.
After a great kickoff, the defensive dominance continued, forcing the Cougars to punt from their own end zone. Bulldog Shawn Hood laid out and blocked the punt out of the end zone for a safety, and the half ended with the Bulldogs up 23-3.
The second half was all Berean, as the defense continued to rule with Joseph Hendricks picking off a deep pass, and a good return gave the Bulldogs’ offense great field position. After driving the ball to the 1 yard line, a fumble halted the drive. But Canterbury could not move the ball, and Parker Woolwine’s explosive hit on the handoff exchange bounced the ball deep into the end zone, where Sean McLaughlin recovered it for a touchdown. The point after pushed the score to 30-3. Daniel Downey’s dive off right tackle found pay dirt, and the point after ended the third quarter at 37-3.
In the fourth quarter, Mauck added his second touchdown pass for the night, hitting Downey from the 10 yard line, and the Racine kick set the final score at 44-3. Mauck finished 20 for 27 with 188 yards and 2 touchdowns. Luke Langsam rushed for 78 yards on 8 carries.
