HS FOOTBALL: Briskie leads North Pocono over Berwick in opener

MOSCOW – Joe Briskie waited a long time for this season’s opener, and he wasn’t about to let some cramping muscles keep him from finishing off a win.

While he played a big part in North Pocono’s run to the District 2 Class 4A championship, he missed most of the second half of the season with an injury.

He looked determined to make up for the lost experience for the Trojans, rushing for 149 yards on 18 carries and scoring two touchdowns, including the final one in a 36-20 win over Berwick on Friday night in a Week 1 nonleague showdown.

“I have had a huge chip on my shoulder,” Briskie said. “Ever since the week of the Valley View game when I got hurt last year, I have had a huge chip on my shoulder.” I came into this game wanting to do the best that I could to help us win.”

North Pocono overcame an abundance of athletes leaving the game due to cramps and staved off a comeback by the Bulldogs.

Cole West, a Cornell commit, started the season with an emphatic kickoff return for a 93-yard touchdown after Berwick sailed the first kickoff out of bounds.

“I just think that showed what kind of a team we can be this season,” West said. “We are an explosive team, and that carried through the rest of the first half.”

That start ignited a dominant first half by the Trojans, who built a 30-0 lead.

On Briskie’s first carry of the season, he too gave the fans a reason to leap to their feet. He burst through Berwick’s defensive front and sprinted 37 yards to set up his 6-yard scoring run. North Pocono led 14-0 with 8:58 left in the first quarter.

“That helped get us going too,” Briskie said. “My first run was big, and two more runs after that, I was in the end zone. That was big for us.”

North Pocono pushed the advantage to 27-0 in another quick surge in the second quarter. Jayden Taylor, who had an outstanding game defensively with six tackles and five for loss, capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard run with 8:39 left in the half.

On Berwick’s first play of the ensuing drive, Trojans’ defensive lineman Mikey Hatala intercepted a tipped pass, then fumbled into the end zone. Henry Wolff pounced on the loose ball for a touchdown and a 27-0 lead.

North Pocono capped the strong first half when Shane Youngblood drilled a 47-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, however, North Pocono lost several starters, including West, to cramping issues.

Berwick sophomore quarterback Brayden Cleaver had a big second half and rallied the team.

The Bulldogs had just 63 yards on 23 plays in the first half. Brayden Cleaver hit his brother, Bryce, for a 78-yard touchdown, and he scored a 76-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Brayden Cleaver finished with 217 passing yards and a touchdown and added 145 rushing yards and a touchdown for Berwick.

Jorge Retana also had a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth for the Bulldogs.

North Pocono had players, including West and Briskie, return to the lineup after Berwick closed to within 30-20 with 4:44 remaining.

Turning to Briskie, he slammed the door with a 20-yard run and finally a 2-yard score with 1:28 remaining.

“I wasn’t going to lose our first game, especially at home,” Briskie said. “I just toughened up and fought through it.”

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →