Beth-Center football team will lean on young core
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Monday, August 19, 2019 | 11:26 PM
Beth-Center sophomore offensive/defensive lineman Nathan Zelnis during a July 10, 2019 preseason practice.
Beth-Center senior running back/linebacker Ryan Lynch during a July 10, 2019 preseason practice.
Beth-Center senior offensive/defensive lineman Dalton White during a July 10, 2019 preseason practice.
Beth-Center sophomore quarterback Colby Kuhns during a July 10, 2019 preseason practice.
Beth-Center sophomore running back/linebacker Aiden Symcheck during a July 10, 2019 preseason practice.
Beth-Center senior wide reciever Devyn Dingle during a July 10, 2019 preseason practice.
Beth-Center junior tight end/defensive end Blayze Vilcoss poses during a July 10, 2019 preseason practice.
Beth-Center junior tight end/defensive end Blayze Vilcoss during a July 10, 2019 preseason practice.
When it comes to the WPIAL playoffs, Beth-Center football is a familiar face.
After routing Frazier, 36-0, in last year’s regular-season finale, the Bulldogs made their 16th straight WPIAL Class 2A playoff appearance.
The Bulldogs carried a 7-4 record into the first round, where they lost 49-0 to Steel Valley (13-2).
“We’ve been growing together as a team for three years now, and I couldn’t have been more proud of our boys last season for what they accomplished,” fourth-year coach Joe Kuhns said.
“The offense really clicked last season, and we fed off that.”
Bailey Lincoski threw for more than 1,000 yards and had 10 touchdown passes last season. However, Lincoski, who started 10 of 11 games, graduated.
He couldn’t have put up these numbers without a little help. Wide receiver Devin Dingle caught 31 of Bailey’s 55 completions and had 704 yards receiving last year in his junior season. Nine of those were touchdowns.
Sophomore Colby Kuhns is expected to step in under center to replace Lincoski.
While Bailey was getting things done with his aerial attack, now-graduated Dominic Fundy was a major part of the fast-paced offense. Fundy rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground while averaging 8.0 yards per carry. He had seven games in which he gained more than 100 yards from scrimmage.
“We had our health and a great group of guys willing to put in the work to succeed on offense,” Kuhns said. “That definitely showed in our first six games of the season.”
The Bulldogs started last season 6-0.
Despite losing the majority of last season’s starters to graduation, the Bulldogs will continue to strive for excellence.
“Our goal for this year is to get better every week,” Kuhns said. “Most of our conference (Interstate) got hit hard with graduation last season, so we’ll see where we match up come September.”
Schedule
Coach: Joe Kuhns
2018 record: 7-4, 5-2
All-time record: 362-224-16
Date, Opponent, Time
8.23, California, 7
8.30, at Carmichaels*, 7
9.6, Brownsville*, 7
9.13, Southmoreland*, 7
9.20, at McGuffey*, 7
9.27, at Charleroi*, 7
10.4, East Allegheny, 7
10.11, at Washington*, 7
10.18, Imani Christian, 7
10.25, at Frazier*, 7
*Class 2A Interstate Conference game
Statistical leaders
Passing: Bailey Lincoski*
55-99, 1,044 yards, 10 TDs
Receiving: Devyn Dingle
31-704 yards, 8 TDs
Rushing: Dom Fundy*
158-1,264 yards, 11 TDs
*Graduated
Tags: Beth-Center
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