Oct 7, 2016 4 min read

BURGETTSTOWN – Saying Burgettstown football coach Mark Druga badly wanted this shutout would be a massive understatement.

Even with a comfortable lead and victory assured, Druga, his staff and his defensive starters were exhorting on their reserve defenders as they worked to hold Beth-Center out of the end zone as time ticked down late in the fourth quarter.

When Trent Cunko’s pass fell incomplete in the end zone on the game’s last play, the Blue Devils burst onto the field and celebrated a 28-0 win at soggy Hill Memorial Stadium in Burgettstown Friday night. The win pushed the Blue Devils mark to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in Century Conference play while the Bulldogs fell to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in conference.

“We were really geared towards it and our younger JV guys stepped up and stopped them there,” Druga said. “We were just so proud of them.”

For a team this year that has an offense centered around do everything quarterback Brad McLaughlin, the defense has done more than pull its weight as the Blue Devils seek another post season spot this season as they have allowed a mere 11.5 points per game.

“Our defense has been playing lights out the entire year,” Druga added. “We had one little hiccup this year, but for the most part, our defense has been very strong.”

The defense made what was perhaps the game’s biggest play on the first snap from scrimmage in the second quarter. Beth Center was starting to get its ground game moving two possessions after McLaughlin gave the Blue Devils a 7-0 lead via a 47-yard scoring run on fourth-and-1. The Bulldogs reached midfield when Bryan Krynak scooped up a Dominic Fundy fumble and outraced everyone to the end zone, giving the hosts a 14-0 lead.

“Bryan just has a motor that keeps on going every single play, and when he misses a sack, he is running downfield to make the tackle,” Druga said.

“He’s one of our fastest players, too. I just hope some colleges are looking at him because he is a heck of a player.”

Krynak also had two sacks.

“We just kept making game changing plays on that side of the ball,” Druga said. “I think that was our fifth defensive touchdown this year.”

Burgettstown made it 21-0 midway through the second quarter when McLaughlin hit Ryan Lounder on a middle screen pass. The junior receiver/defensive back weaved his way through the Bulldogs secondary for a 46 yard score and effectively turned the lights out on the hosts.

The Blue Devils struck again on their next possession when McLaughlin (7 of 12 for 117 yards and two scores) found Lounder again for a touchdown, this one from five yards out with 1:28 left in the half.

McLaughlin also led the Blue Devils in rushing with 85 yards on 10 carries.

“He’s the heart and soul of our team for sure,” Druga said in reference to his signal-caller.

Beth Center’s offense was severely limited by both the Blue Devils defense and the inclement weather. Fundy was able to move the chains on the ground much of the evening, amassing 131 yards on 33 carries. But the Bulldogs were unable to sustain any momentum through the air much of the night, allowing the Blue Devils to key in on Fundy.

“He ran the ball hard,” Druga said. “But we were able to stop them when we had to.”

The one sour note that the Blue Devils must deal with going forward was an injury to starting tailback Nic Speer, who left the game with an apparent lower body injury.

“He got hit in the lower back, we hope that it is not serious,” Druga said. “We believe that he will be okay.”