(New Brighton, Pa)
Every fall when the varsity football teams from New Brighton and Beaver Falls square off in the “Jug Game” the stakes are always high. This year is no different with the Little Brown Jug and bragging rights on the line. Add in some Playoff implications for both teams and this cross river rivalry becomes as strong as it’s ever been. Friday evening Beaver Falls made the trip across the river for yet another Tigers and Lions showdown.
On the first play from scrimmage for New Brighton, Junior Heath Lewis hauled in a pass only to have the ball stripped away by a Tiger defender for the games first turnover. Beaver Falls would consume most of the first quarter clock on the ensuing drive before turning the ball over on downs in Lions territory. The Lions would follow suit and turn the ball over on downs on their next possession near midfield. The game was tied 0-0 at the end of the first frame.
Beaver Falls would strike first in the second quarter when Sophomore Isaiah Sellers scored on a 5 yard tote. The score was 8-0 after the Tigers converted the two point conversion. Later in the second quarter it was Beaver Falls quarterback Xavier Clark that reached the end zone on a 3 yard scamper giving his team a 14-0 lead that they would take to the locker room at the half.
The Lions came out in the second half determined not to let Beaver Falls run away with this rivalry game. Stepping up was Senior Jaxson Zahn when he pulled in a 21 yard touchdown reception. Making the score 14-6 after a failed two point conversion. With the margin only being an eight point difference after three quarters of play. This game with so much on the line had all the makings of an instant classic.
Beaver Falls had other things in mind as their Senior running back Christian Dawkins tore off three touchdown runs in the final frame of 8, 20, 21 yards. Putting his team well out ahead 32-6. Though Lions Heath Lewis found the end zone on a 3 yard run and a late touchdown run by Jamarkus Morris, it wouldn’t be enough to climb back into this years installment of the Jug Game for the New Brighton Lions. That was how the game concluded, Beaver Falls topping New Brighton by a final score of 39-24.
With their fourth straight win, Beaver Falls improved to 4-1 in the Midwestern conference. They will be on the road again next Friday when they travel to Riverside. New Brighton falls to 2-3 in conference play and will make the trek to Industry Friday to continue to fight for their playoff lives against Western Beaver.