Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News, pfn
Ted Podberesky | September 21, 2024
The Sun Valley Vanguards (1-3) hosted the Oxford Hornets (2-2) tonight under the lights at Dr Wally stadium. Sun Valley lost last week to Wissahickon while Oxford was coming off a fresh victory over Pottstown. Oxford’s momentum seemed to carry over in this one, coming to Sun Valleys stadium and winning 29-14 over the Vanguards.
Jhamil Smith started it out for the Vanguards returning the opening kick 47 yards downfield. Quarterback RJ Scharrer led his offense out onto the field for the first drive of the game. The Hornets defense didn’t allow much, forcing Sun Valley to a 4th down and eventually a quick turnover on downs.
On the other side of the field, quarterback Aidan Kane commands Oxford’s offense. The Hornets started out on the ground game imposing their will to run the football. Joel McClain racked up a couple of short runs until getting stopped on third down and punting to Sun Valley.
Scharrer and the Vanguards had a promising second drive after completing three consecutive passes. However, it wasn’t for Nate Winters who picked off Scharrer, and ran down to Sun Valley’s 17 yard line just a play after.
Oxford kept it simple inside scoring distance, giving the rock back to Joel McClain. McClain eventually busted through an opening, stiff armed a defender, and ran for a 16 yard touchdown. The Hornets were the first on the board leading Sun Valley 7-0 with six minutes remaining in the 1st quarter.
It seemed to be a wake up call for the Vanguards, as the next drive ended with RJ Scharrer finding his strong handed receiver, Josh Yanonis, on a 6 yard touchdown to tie up the game 7-7. Sun Valley made sure to play strategic, milking the clock down and giving Oxford the ball back with little time remaining in the 1st quarter.
The Hornets started with the ball at mid field to start the second quarter. Kane tried to cut up and keep the chains moving, but was wrapped up by Ben Romanoski on 3rd down; just short of the marker. After a punt, it wasn’t long before Oxford received the ball back making another defensive stop on the Vanguards.
Oxford’s offensive line started to get moving again, opening holes up and down the field for Joel McClain; who scored another touchdown from four yards out. After the extra point, the Hornets led the Vanguards 14-7 with five minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter.
Sun Valley responded and put together a nice drive, pushing the ball downfield and into Oxford’s red zone. Escaping pressure, Scharrer rolled out right and fired to the sideline for receiver, Jhamil Smith. Hornets defensive back, Nate Winters, made a break on the ball however and just got his hands in front of Smiths to end Sun Valleys drive in an interception.
Kane took a knee for the Oxford offense after the interception bringing his team into halftime 14-7 over the Vanguards.
The Hornets offense came out red hot in the second half, Kane found his man Nate Winters over the middle on a 32 yard gain. Followed by a few runs from Kane and McClain, Winters was given his shot again. He used his speed on the outside and ran in for a 2 yard touchdown. Afterwards, Aidan Kane used his wheels to run in for a two point conversion, pushing their lead to 22-7 with eight minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter.
After the last drive from Sun Valley, they kept it simple this time using their playmakers in the backfield such as Jack Penzone and even getting Tight End Aidan Cook involved in the pass game. Josh Yanonis also picked up a clutch 3rd down to bring his team closer to Oxford’s territory.
Inside the ten, Scharrer decided to keep it on a run before being stuffed and stripped of the ball by linebacker Braden Hunt; the Hornets defense recovered.
McClain and Kane put together some good yardage after the turnover. They churned the clock all the way down to zero in the 3rd quarter, leading Sun Valley 22-7 heading into the fourth.
Hornets offense eventually found themselves on third down looking to pick up the first through the air. Kane rolled to his left side and tried to fire a bullet into a tight window. Cornerback, Jhamil Smith, read him intercepting the ball, and headed to the meadowlands on a 55 yard pick six; shortening Oxford’s lead to 22-14.
With ten minutes remaining in the game Aidan Kane took it upon himself to lead a victory sealing drive after his interception. McClain and Kane shared the rock back and forth all the way down the field, before setting up and slowing down inside Sun Valley’s ten yard line.
Though, eventually Kane would find an opening behind his offensive line and break the plain for a 5 yard rushing touchdown. Oxford now had a controlling lead over the Vanguards 29-14 with very little time remaining.
The Vanguards tried to get something going with three minutes left but fell short on a turnover on downs. The Oxford Hornets took over and quarterback Aidan Kane took one final knee to secure their victory over Sun Valley 29-14.
Oxford moves onto 3-2 hosting Unionville next week at home. While Sun Valley drops to 1-4 hosting Kennett next week at home as well.
Oxford Hornets Wide Receiver and Cornerback Nate Winters who recorded a touchdown to pare with two defensive interceptions speaks on his teams victory tonight stating, ” The guys up front deserve all the credit, they do the dirty work and kept our QB clean all night and wrecked havoc on the defensive side. we just have to keep that same mentality through next week and prepare for homecoming night “. Winters also said about his position that, ” To me playing receiver and defensive back is the best of both worlds because I can be dynamic all over the field and make big time plays for my team.
Sun Valley Vanguards Linebacker Ben Romanoski who finished the game with 6 solo tackles and 2 tackles for loss spoke highly about his team after their loss saying that, ” We absolutely have the talent on both ends to compete with anyone we play, it comes down to wanting it more and digging deep. We are our brothers keepers and we have to hold ourselves to that statement. “
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