Bethel Christian rolls past Pungo Christian on Cody Dunk Night
Bethel Christian’s Cody Dunk may have had this interception return for a touchdown called back, but he scored three touchdowns offensively in the Trojans’ win over Pungo Christian. Photo by William “Bud” Hardy / Neuse News
Bethel Christian made sure Cody Dunk Night was a memorable one.
The Trojans defeated Pungo Christian 54-0 Friday in the regular-season finale, one where the team's lone senior was honored. Dunk played a prominent part on the field with 171 yards of offense on five touches, including a 67-yard touchdown reception to start the game.
“It's been great,” Dunk said. “It brightened me up, especially to win tonight on my night — they called it 'Cody Dunk Night' because I was the only senior. (On the first play) I just saw open field.”
Bethel Christian coach Brick Crowder said he had nothing but high praise for Dunk, the school's leader in receiving touchdowns and a key member of the Trojans' 2016 NCISAA 1A championship squad.
“He's done everything the right way,” Crowder said. “He's probably got the highest GPA on the team and he's done it on the field. I love Cody Dunk, love his family and I'm proud we got to send him out (as) a winner on Senior Night.”
Bethel Christian (4-3) turned the game into a rout early as Connor Williams — who threw the pass to Dunk on the game's opening play — had a pair of interceptions for touchdowns and a second touchdown connection with the senior to put Bethel Christian ahead 28-0 midway in the first quarter. Pungo Christian (3-4) would find life with a drive highlighted by a 53-yard pass from Nate Vanstaalduinen to Benjamin Simmons to get the ball to the Trojans' 1 yard line to close the frame.
On the first play of the second quarter, Williams scooped up a fumble and returned it 99 yards for his third defensive touchdown.
“We just tried to put pressure on the quarterback,” Williams said. “He doesn't throw (as well) under pressure and our D-line did a great job doing that, putting me in the position to get interceptions.”
Zack Boyd and Dunk would score touchdowns in the second, forcing a running clock midway through the quarter. From there, the Trojans would continue to stifle the Raiders' attack — Pungo Christian wouldn't make it near the Bethel Christian 35 in the final three quarters — and Logan Bullock added a touchdown in the fourth.
Bethel Christian's next game will be on the road Oct. 26 in the NCISAA 1A state playoffs against an opponent to be determined. Crowder said the Trojans, who have won four of their last five, have matured greatly and could be a factor heading into the postseason.
“I think I was telling (everyone) early on before the season started 'let's keep expectations at a minimum right now,'” Crowder said. “Let's just work this young team and by the end, I think we'll have a chance. I think we've got a chance heading into the state playoffs because this team's grown week by week.”
BETHEL CHRISTIAN 54, PUNGO CHRISTIAN 0
PCA 0 0 0 0 — 0
BCA 28 20 0 6 — 54
First Quarter
BCA — Cody Dunk 67 pass from Connor Williams (run failed), 11:45
BCA — Williams 55 interception return (Josh Sutton run), 10:33
BCA — Williams 40 interception return (pass failed), 10:19
BCA — Dunk 55 pass from Williams (Jeremiah Washington from Williams), 6:30
Second Quarter
BCA — Williams 99 fumble return (pass failed), 11:40
BCA — Zack Boyd 2 run (Sutton run), 7:29
BCA — Dunk 31 run (run failed), 6:19
Fourth Quarter
BCA — Logan Bullock 33 run (pass failed), 11:45
PC BCA
First Downs 8 8
Rushes 20--5 19-95
Passing 9-28-2 2-5-0
Passing Yards 120 122
Total Yards 115 217
Punts 2-17.5 0-0.0
Fumbles 3-2 0-0
Penalties 4-35 14-108
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Pungo Christian: Benjamin Simmons 6-5, Nate Vanstaalduinen 7-1, Allen Mason 1-0, Edward Credle 3-minus 5, Ryan Bishop 3-minus 6. Bethel Christian: Cody Dunk 3-49, Logan Bullock 5-43, Josh Sutton 2-25, Connor Williams 2-16, Rodney Warren 3-6, Zack Boyd 2-4, Easton Truett 1-2, Gabe Gurley 1-minus 1.
PASSING — Pungo Christian: Vanstaalduinen 8-23-2, 116; Stephen Pugh 1-2-0, 4; Tristan Mann 0-2-0, 0; Credel 0-1-0, 0. Bethel Christian: Williams 2-4-0, 122; Dunk 0-1-0, 0.
RECEIVING — Pungo Christian: Simmons 5-73, Bishop 3-46, Mason 1-1. Bethel Christian: Dunk 2-122.
