Berwick rolls past North Vermilion 38-6

The Berwick High School Panthers eased by the North Vermilion High School Patriots 38-6 in both teams’ District 8-3A finale Friday in Berwick.
Berwick (7-3 overall, 3-2 in district) led 7-0 after a quarter, 21-0 at the half and 38-0 after three periods of play.
The Panthers’ offense was led by quarterback Mitchell Sanford and running back Josh Jones. Sanford rushed 14 times for 141 yards and three touchdowns and completed 12 of 24 passes for 142 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Jones rushed 13 times for 155 yards and a score and caught six passes for 64 yards.
Berwick totaled 430 yards of offense (288 rushing and 142c passing).
While North Vermilion (6-4, 2-3) held Berwick out of the end zone on its first offensive possession, stopping the Panthers on fourth and goal from the Patriots 3-yard line to begin the game, Berwick scored on its next three offensive possessions.
The Panthers’ first scoring drive was set up after Berwick’s Keyon Singleton recovered a North Vermilion fumble at the Patriots’ 22-yard-line.
The Panthers’ five-play drive concluded with Sanford running eight yards for a touchdown with 4:21 remaining in the opening quarter. Seth Canty, who was five-for-five on point-after-attempts, made his first for a 7-0 Berwick lead.
While North Vermilion had its deepest drive of the first half on its ensuing possession, moving the ball from its own 11 to the Berwick 10, the Patriots were unable to score as Hunter Hulin’s 27-yard field goal attempt was no good.
Berwick quickly responded as Sanford kept the ball on the first play of the Panthers’ next drive and ran up the middle and past the Patriots’ defense for an 80-yard score with 10:51 remaining in the second quarter for a 14-0 Berwick lead.
The Panthers added a touchdown on their next drive as Jones outran the Patriots for an 85-yard touchdown with 8:40 remaining in the opening half for a 21-0 lead.
While North Vermilion was to receive the ball to begin the second half, Berwick’s Singleton recovered the loose football on the opening kickoff at the North Vermilion 26.
Five plays later, Sanford connected with Denver Jenkins for a 7-yard touchdown completion with 10:18 remaining in the third quarter for a 28-0 Berwick lead.
The Panthers scored points on their next two offensive possessions as Sanford rushed for a 15-yard score with 5:19 left in the third quarter and Canty converted on a 25-yard field goal with 1:05 remaining in the third quarter.
North Vermilion avoided a shut out with a scoring drive on its ensuing possession as the Patriots moved the ball 79 yards in 13 plays. Quarterback Garrett Becker capped the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Darius Gilliam with 5:13 left in the ball game. Hulin’s extra point was no good for the final margin.
North Vermilion totaled 269 yards of offense (201 rushing and 68 passing).
Malik Criner led the squad with 22 carries for 143 yards, while Creed Rudd had 15 carries for 47 yards.
Becker completed 6 of 13 passes for 68 yards and a score.
Daylon Deculus led the receivers with two receptions for 39 yards, while Gilliam had a 19-yard touchdown reception.