Berwick holds off Varnado for a 3-0 start to season

Berwick remained undefeated Friday, improving to 3-0 this season with a 30-23 victory against Varnado in Berwick.
But it certainly didn’t come without some tense moments late.
Varnado (1-2) entered the fourth quarter down 30-7 but clawed within seven points within the last 6 minutes of the game.
It took a late defensive stand by the Panthers (3-0) to secure the victory.
“Defense played well,” Berwick Coach Eric Holden said. “Offense played well. We’ve got to be more consistent. The same thing I said last time. We’re just a young team, even though we’ve got some older kids. They’re new to the system, and they’re growing. They’re getting better.
“We did some different things this week,” Holden added. “Tried to work some different guys in some different (rotations), and I thought it was fairly successfully. I think we’ll get better at that next week. Try to make sure that we’ve got eight wide receivers that we can role in and out. Varnado came prepared like I said they would. Coach always puts a good product out on the field. Game went pretty much like I figured.”
While Berwick already had totaled 30 points just two minutes into the second quarter, the Panthers couldn’t find the end zone the remainder of the contest
However, the Panthers’ defense was up to the challenge for much of the game, limiting its damage in the first three quarters to a long touchdown pass in the first quarter on Varnado’s first drive.
Varnado started to gain some momentum, though, in the fourth quarter after Errol Varnado intercepted a pass by Collin Louviere and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown with 5:50 remaining. Jadarrell Magee’s two-point run was good to cut the deficit to 30-15.
After forcing a Berwick three-and-out on its next possession, Varnado moved 63 yards in eight plays, capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Armontee Kemp to Errol Varnado with 1:59 remaining. Magee again ran in the two-point conversion to cut Berwick’s lead to 30-23.
While Varnado’s defense again forced a Berwick punt, the Panthers defense rose to the occasion, preventing the Wildcats from much movement on its final drive.
Facing a second-and-eight situation at the Varnado 39, the Panthers defense sacked Kemp for a nine-yard loss.

BHS VHS
First Downs: 11 17
Rushing yards: 60 85
Passing Yards: 253 154
A-C-HI: 26-10-2 27-13-2
Total Yards: 313 239
Penalties-yds: 8-75 7-45

Score by Quarter
BHS 22 8 0 0 -- 30
VHS 7 0 0 16 -- 23

Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Varnado: James Williams 57-yd. pass to Armontee Kemp (Kemp kick) 10:20

Berwick: Collin Louviere 20-yd. pass to Josh Carver (Louviere run) 5:45

Berwick: Louviere 40-yd. pass to Kenan Jones (Run fails) 2:00

Second Quarter
Berwick: Larenz Clark 70-yd. punt return. (Louviere pass to Carver) 10:11

Fourth Quarter
Varnado: Errol Varnado 80-yd. interception return. (Jadarrell Magee 2 pt. run) 5:50

Varnado: Kemp 17-yd. pass to Varnado (Magee run) 1:59

Berwick Individual Stats
Rushing
Josh Jones, 5-45; Collin Louviere, 8-23; Cooper Roussel, 1-5; Josh Carver, 1-4; Mitchell Sanford, 2-(-17).

Passing
Collin Louviere, 9-22-2, 246 yds., 3 TDs; Mitchell Sanford, 1-4-0, 7 yds.

Receiving
Kenan Jones, 6-118, 1 TD; Josh Carver, 3-101, 2 TDs; Toby Everage, 1-34.
On fourth down, Kemp again was sacked for a 10-yard loss, which ended the game.
Varnado took an early 7-0 lead after a costly Berwick penalty during a punting situation for the Wildcats allowed it to net a first down.
Varnado took advantage as on the first play after the penalty, quarterback James Williams connected with Kemp for a 57-yard touchdown pass. Kemp’s extra point was good for a 7-0 Varnado lead.
Berwick got on the board later in the first quarter after blocking a Varnado punt and taking over at the Varnado 20.
The one-play drive consisted of Louviere connecting with Josh Carver for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 5:45 left in the first quarter. Louviere was successful on the two-point run for an 8-7 Berwick lead.
On Varnado’s next drive, Berwick recovered a fumble and needed just one play to score.
From the Varnado 40, Louviere connected with Carver again for a 40-yard score with 2 minutes left in the first quarter. The two-point run by Louviere failed, but Berwick led 14-7.
Berwick’s next scoring drive, another one-play possession, was set up by a Lucas Hatch interception.
From the Varnado 46, Louviere connected with Kenan Jones on a 54-yard pass for a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the first quarter. Louviere and Toby Everage hooked up for the two-point conversion and a 22-7 Berwick lead.
Varnado was forced to punt on its next possession, and Larenz Clark fielded the punt for Berwick, returning it 70-yards for a touchdown with 10:11 remaining in the second quarter.
Louviere connected with Carver on the two-point conversion pass for a 30-7 lead.
Berwick finished the game with 313 yards of offense (253 passing and 60 rushing).
Louviere completed 9 of 22 passes for 231 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Jones led the Berwick receivers with six catches for 118 yards and a score, while Carver had three catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Josh Jones led the ground game with five carries for 45 yards.
Defensively, Berwick limited Varnado to 239 yards (85 rushing and 154 passing).
Berwick will return to action Friday when it opens District 8-3A play. The Panthers will host Franklin for homecoming.