Berwick, coach make comeback

The Bulldogs are 2-0 and George Curry is recovering from prostate cancer.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Berwick High School has won six PIAA Class AAA football titles and was the runner-up once. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was the unofficial state capital of high school football.
The Bulldogs haven't played in a PIAA final since defeating Perry Traditional Academy in 1997. But they are off to a promising 2-0 start and are ranked No.1 in Class AAA by the Patriot-News of Harrisburg.
Veteran coach George Curry is as feisty as ever after coming through prostate cancer surgery and treatment last winter.
"I lost about 41 pounds and physically I feel pretty good," he said. "I'm getting back into it. I've been trying to walk four miles a day, but I'm also being careful."
Likes current team
He is not making any predictions, but he likes his current team. His has 15 starters back and good overall team speed.
"We were playing seven or eight sophomores last year," he said. "Those guys are all experienced this year, our quarterback is a three-year starter and we have some nice backs."
Berwick defeated Tunkhannock 35-13 last weekend with backup Tristan DiPippa at quarterback. He replaced starter Christian Force, who was injured in the season opener against Whitehall.
DiPippa, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior, is better known for his linebacker abilities. He played tight end on offense until Curry shifted him to quarterback this season.
"He wears No. 92. When was the last time you saw a quarterback wear No. 92?" Curry said. "He comes from a football family and he's going to be big time next year."
With Force sidelined for a while, running back Brant Quick, a 5-10, 180-pound junior, is carrying the offense. He rushed for 162 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries in a 23-12 win against Whitehall. Against Tunkhannock, he ran 12 times for 81 yards and two scores and also had a 19-yard TD reception.
DiPippa helped out by completing 8 of 11 passes for 125 yards.
"We've been hurt by injuries the last couple of years," Curry said, asked why Berwick has been away from the PIAA finals for so long. "I've noticed the teams that get to the Super Bowl are usually ones that stay healthy and don't lose any prime-time players.
"So we need to stay healthy. And that's not easy, because we have a tough schedule."
Elsewhere
Jeannette went after win No. 600 Friday when the Jayhawks played host to East Allegheny. The only other PIAA District 7 (WPIAL) schools to reach 600 victories are New Castle and Greensburg Salem. ... Carlisle running back Tyreese Marshall rushed for a school-record 286 yards on 15 carries in a 38-13 victory against Cedar Cliff last weekend. The previous single-game record was set by Michael Owens in 1984. ... Clarion-Limestone in District 9 owns the longest regular-season football winning streak in the state at 28 games following Strath Haven's 31-21 loss to Conestoga last Friday. Strath Haven had won 74 consecutive regular-season games. Clarion-Limestone's streak is a modest, by comparison, 28 games. ... Mike McKee, a 6-4 senior guard for Plum, has verbally committed to Kent State's basketball team. McKee averaged 20.9 points per game last season and made 88 3-pointers. McKee was also being recruited by St. Francis (Pa.), Holy Cross, James Madison, Eastern Michigan and Robert Morris.
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