Beaver, Amari Jackson make game’s biggest plays to knock off Westinghouse

By: Antonio Rossetti
Saturday, August 24, 2024 | 11:45 PM

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Beaver held off Westinghouse, 28-26, to cap off a season-opening tripleheader Saturday at the Wolvarena in thrilling fashion.

With Westinghouse down 28-26 late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Khalil Green took it to the Beaver 36-yard line on a 35-yard run.

On fourth-and-4, a pass interference penalty set Westinghouse up at the Beaver 15.

The Bobcats then forced a fourth-and-13 and Amari Jackson picked off a Green pass in the end zone with 3:42 left.

Nevertheless, the Bulldogs had three timeouts remaining.

Beaver got one first down, which led to the Bulldogs burning all their timeouts en route to forcing a fourth-and-4.

Beaver faked the punt with Jackson taking the direct snap and running it outside, getting the first down and winning the game.

“It wasn’t a designed run for me, but it’s like an option,” Jackson said. “When I caught the snap, I didn’t feel any pressure, so I was like, ‘I might as well take off and secure the dub officially for us.’”

And that he did. He also had the game-saving pick.

“They called pass interference on me previously,” Jackson said. “I was real upset, because I didn’t feel like it was pass interference on my part. We called a nickel formation, and I was at safety, and I knew I just got to make a play now for my team.”

Jackson came up big on offense too. He tallied six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown and also had a rushing touchdown that put Beaver up 28-18 going into the second half.

Junior Marino also came up big on defense when he picked off a pass from Green while Beaver led 28-26.

“Credit to our D-line,” Marino said. “They stepped up all the way. … They forced a bad pass to happen. Everybody, our team, the coaching staff on the calls, it was amazing. Amari with that pick. He deserves player of the game. It was amazing.”

Although the Bobcats came out with the win, the Bulldogs came out with a 12-0 lead.

There were fireworks early when K-Shawn Hawkins took a kick return 96 yards for a score.

On Westinghouse’s next drive, Green then threw a touchdown pass to Lloyd Penn on a go route. Penn ran it down and made a diving catch for a 31-yard touchdown.

Beaver, however, didn’t panic. Coach Cort Rowse said the Bobcats have been in that position before, and although they don’t want to start like that, they were slow starters last year and knew how to battle through it.

“We battled back and we found a way, and it’s a testament to their toughness,” Rowse said. “We talk about overcoming adversity and the way they overcame adversity is a testament to how you prepare and your mental toughness. I give these guys a lot of credit. They overcame a lot, and they beat a darn good football team over there.”

As for the Bulldogs, Green led the charge with 97 yards on nine carries and completing 7 out of 12 passes for 139 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Penn was their leading receiver with four catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns.

Rowse enjoyed playing Westinghouse.

“I love the way those guys play because they play the game the way it’s meant to be played,” he said. “They play it with physicality. They play it with emotion. They play it as a team. Nothing but respect for coach (Donta) Green and his staff and those kids. I wish them all the best.”

Quay Cain was Beaver’s leading rusher with 16 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Travis Clear threw for 159 yards with a touchdown and an interception, going 13 for 22.

Beaver’s specials teams played a key role, blocking a punt and recovering an onside kick before the fake punt that sealed the game.

Jackson blocked a punt in the second quarter and Beaver’s Jonah Justice fell on it at the Bulldog 13-yard line.

Travis Clear then found Jackson for six on a 6-yard slant, making it 14-12.

The Bulldogs then responded with a 30-yard screen pass for a touchdown from Green to Penn.

The Bobcats marched their way back downfield. Drey Hall punched it in from 6 yards out to retake the lead 21-18 right before the end of the half.

With 2:15 left, the Bobcats recovered an onside kick when Hall fell on the ball, surprising the Bulldogs.

Rowse said it was meant to be a squib kick, but it worked out just fine for the Bobcats.

Jackson capped off the ensuing drive with a 1-yard touchdown run out of the wildcat formation, sending the Bobcats into the second half with a 28-18 lead.

Green found Hawkins down the sideline for 51 yards, setting Westinghouse up in Beaver territory.

Khalil Mitchell then punched it in from 4 yards out later in the drive. Mitchell ran it in for the two-point conversion, cutting Westinghouse’s deficit to 28-26 in the third.

Nevertheless, Beaver shut down Westinghouse in the fourth for the win.

Tags: Beaver, Westinghouse