By John Erzar

jerzar@timesleader.com

Berwick football coach George Curry takes the field with his players in Dallas on Friday night. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_dallasberwick01.jpg.optimal.jpgBerwick football coach George Curry takes the field with his players in Dallas on Friday night. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)

The Berwick football team takes the field at Dallas on Friday night.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_dallasberwick02.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Berwick football team takes the field at Dallas on Friday night.

The Dallas student fans cheer on the Mountaineers during Friday’s football game against Berwick. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_dallasberwick03.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Dallas student fans cheer on the Mountaineers during Friday’s football game against Berwick. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)

Dallas takes the field on Friday night. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_dallasberwick04.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas takes the field on Friday night. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)

Berwick quarterback Mike Force, right, loses the football and Ian Spare of Dallas recovers deep in Berwick territory in the second quarter of Friday’s game in Dallas. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_dallasberwick05.jpg.optimal.jpgBerwick quarterback Mike Force, right, loses the football and Ian Spare of Dallas recovers deep in Berwick territory in the second quarter of Friday’s game in Dallas. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)

Dallas defensive lineman Ian Spare (70) recovers a Berwick fumble in the second quarter on Friday.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_dallasberwick06.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas defensive lineman Ian Spare (70) recovers a Berwick fumble in the second quarter on Friday.

Tanner Gattuso (14) of Dallas makes a catch for a first down in the first quarter on Friday. Berwick’s Alex Koch (1) looks on. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_dallasberwick07.jpg.optimal.jpgTanner Gattuso (14) of Dallas makes a catch for a first down in the first quarter on Friday. Berwick’s Alex Koch (1) looks on. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)

Berwick’s Alex Koch, right, knocks away the ball from Dallas receiver Tanner Gattuso in the first quarter on Friday.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_dallasberwick08.jpg.optimal.jpgBerwick’s Alex Koch, right, knocks away the ball from Dallas receiver Tanner Gattuso in the first quarter on Friday.

DALLAS — If the first two games didn’t prove it, Friday night certainly did.

Berwick’s identity this season will be defense.

“Oh, yeah,” Berwick coach George Curry said. “The offense will get better.”

The Berwick offense was just good enough, scoring the game’s only touchdown as the Dawgs defeated Dallas 7-0 in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3A game.

Quarterback Mike Force scored what proved to be the game-winner with 1:21 left in the second quarter, faking a handoff into the line, slipping a tackle at the Dallas 20-yard line and finishing off a 26-yard touchdown run.

“Force can run,” Curry said.

And the defense can hit. Berwick (3-0) sacked Dallas quarterback Matt Harrison five times, with some of them coming at critical moments. Dallas (1-2) was deep into Berwick territory three times and came away empty.

The first was just before Berwick scored when an errant shotgun snap escaped the grasp of Force and Dallas defensive lineman Ian Spare recovered the fumble at the Berwick 12-yard line. The Mountaineers had to settle for a 27-yard field goal try that was lined wide left.

Late in the third quarter, Dallas cut off a Berwick drive by blocking a 35-yard field goal attempt. The ball bounced down field where Dallas’ Tanner Gattuso circled behind it, picked it up and ran it 68 yards to the Berwick 27. That possession fizzled out on consecutive sacks.

“I wasn’t getting anywhere when they had me at nose guard,” said Berwick 190-pound defensive lineman Sean McCole, who had the second sack in the Dallas possession. “They moved me to tackle, and I was able to use my speed to get past their bigger guys.”

On its final possession of the game, Dallas drove from its 30 to the Berwick 18 as Harrison connected for 28 yards to receiver Ryan Martin and 14 yards to lineman-turned-back James Geiger. The Mountaineers managed just two yards before Berwick defensive back Justin Goshek sacked Harrison for a 12-yard loss on a blitz. Their final hope ended in an incompletion.

“We’d get something going then we’d shoot ourselves in the foot with a penalty or a sack,” Dallas coach Rich Mannello said. “That offensive line, those are my guys. I’ll get that squared away.”

Berwick defense has allowed just one touchdown this season. The victory was the Dawgs’ second consecutive shutout.

Offensively, though, the Dawgs moved to the Dallas 14 twice and came away with no points.

“They’re getting close, they’re getting better every week,” Groshek said. “The offensive line is working very hard, and Mike is getting better every week.”

Berwick 7, Dallas 0

Berwick`0`7`0`0`—`7

Dallas`0`0`0`0`—`0

Second quarter

BER — Mike Force 26 run (Jordan DiValerio kick), 1:21

Team statistics`Ber`Dal

First downs`10`7

Rushes-yards`38-161`31-57

Passing yards`47`76

Total yards`208`133

Passing`3-7-0`5-14-1

Sacked-yards lost`0-0`5-49

Punts-avg.`4-38.5`5-37.8

Fumbles-lost`2-1`0-0

Penalties-yards`5-34`8-77

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Berwick, Len Wyda 1-(minus-2), Force 10-71, Daquan Hellenthal 8-46, Matt Shannon 13-55, Anthony Cicini 1-4, Alex Koch 2-6, Luke Fisher 1-(minus-4), team 1-(minus-15). Dallas, Dave Simpson 21-90, Matt Harrison 7-(minus-37), Cole Dixon 1-1, Jame Geiger 1-1.

PASSING — Berwick, Force 3-7-0-47. Dallas, Harrison 5-14-1-76.

RECEIVING — Berwick, Kyle Pierce 1-6, Harrison Kuchka 1-40, Hellenthal 1-1. Tanner Gattuso 2-31, Ryan Martin 2-31, Geiger 1-14.

INTERCEPTIONS — Berwick, Justin Gorshek 1-18.

MISSED FGs — Berwick, 39BLK, 35BLK. Dallas, 22WL

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar