Matt Lonczynski ran for three touchdowns and passed for another Friday night as Berwick handed visiting Dallas its first loss of the season with a 39-22 upset in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 football game.
The Mountaineers entered the game as the top-ranked Big School in the Gaughan Auto Store Super Six Football Power Rankings and had a chance to clinch at least a tie for first place in the division. Instead, they slipped to 4-1 in the division and 6-1 overall, records that are matched by Crestwood.
Berwick launched itself back into the middle of the title race at 3-1 and 4-3.
Lonczynski engineered a balanced Bulldogs attack that gave the Mountaineers trouble from the start.
The quarterback was one of three rushers with more than 60 yards and got the ball to two different receivers who also exceeded that number as Berwick put up better than 150 yards both rushing and passing.
The Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead after first quarter.
Lonczynski ran 1 and 7 yards for scores in the last 4:04 of the quarter.
Parker Bolesta surpassed 100 yards rushing for Dallas and twice pulled the Mountaineers within a score with second-quarter touchdowns.
Bolesta, who finished with three rushing touchdowns, sandwiched touchdown runs around a 51-yard scoring pass from Lonczynski to Bo Sheptock.
The Bulldogs added to their 20-14 halftime lead on a 16-yard run by Lonczynski midway through the third quarter.
Liam Carroll’s fumble recovery in the end zone with 10:12 remaining increased the lead to 32-14.
Bolesta answered with a 15-yard run 1:17 later and Brady Zapoticky passed to Dylan Geskey for a two-pointer to cut the deficit to 10, but Dallas could not get any closer.
Berwick’s Drey Wilk closed the scoring on a 25-yard run with 3:18 remaining.
