The Berean Christian School Bulldogs football team, which plays in the independent Sunshine State Athletic Conference, stepped out of its class last Friday night to play the Class 8-A Coral Glades High School Jaguars. The disciplined Bulldogs’ passing attack and stingy defense proved to be too much for the Jaguars, leading to a 20-0 win for Berean. Quarterback Christopher Mauck and receivers Keilon Stube, Daniel Pinkerman, Nick Doucette, Jay Morgan and Jared Hammond continued an aerial assault, putting up 422 yards during the game.
The first quarter proved to be a stalemate, with Berean’s defense shutting down the Jaguars’ running attack, and multiple dropped passes by the Berean offense. Berean got on the board early in the second quarter, when Mauck drove the Bulldogs 70 yards, capped by a 1-yard bootleg pass to Pinkerman. Stube’s kick was good, putting Berean ahead 7-0.
The defense gave the ball back to Mauck, who began to dissect the Jaguar secondary and march the Bulldogs down the field. However, on first-and-goal, a bad exchange from center ended in a turnover, putting the halftime score at 7-0.
The Bulldogs got the second half kickoff and looked to be stalled with third-and-18 on their own 35-yard line until Mauck drilled a deep back shoulder throw, and a super catch by Pinkerman set the Bulldogs up on the Jaguar 30. After a quick slant to Stube and a darting 15-yard run, Berean was once again in the Red Zone. Two plays later, Mauck drilled a bullet through a safety window, and Doucette made a dazzling catch for a touchdown. The kick failed, putting Berean’s lead at 13-0 at the end of the third.
The defensive front, led by David Combs, Parker Woolwine, Kersten Francilus, Chris Todd and Shawn McLaughlin, along with the secondary play of Luke Jamison, Hammond and Kasey Montrois, continued to bottle up the Jaguar offense and give the ball back to Berean. Mauck wasted no time hitting several quick passes to move into Jaguar territory. On third-and-long, Mauck hit Doucette on a deep go route, and the junior made a great grab between two defenders to keep the drive alive. A couple of quick darts to Pinkerman, Jamison and Stube, and the Bulldogs were inside the Jaguar five. Two straight dives proved unsuccessful against the huge Jaguar defensive line. On third-and-goal, Mauck faked the dive, rolled out left and easily hit a wide open Doucette for the score. Stube’s kick made it 20-0.
A late drive by the Jaguars was halted as Hammond picked off his third pass of the year to let Berean take a knee to end the game.
Mauck ended the night 32 for 48 on 422 passing yards. Stube caught 13 for 167 yards, with strong totals for Pinkerman and Doucette as well.
Berean travels to Jupiter Christian School to take on the Eagles on Friday, Sept. 11. Watch the Bulldogs each week live online at www.bereanbulldogs.org/live.
