Oxford offense too much for Demons’ defense
By Emily Adelman, Correspondent, The Times
Kennett Quarterback Nick Dunlevy looks for running room against Oxford, Friday night.
KENNETT SQUARE — Forty-seven points was not enough for the Kennett High School football team as it fell to Oxford, Friday night for a third consecutive loss, 53-37.
After winning their first game over Avon Grove, the Blue Demons have given up a total of 130 points in their last three games. Scoring would be the name of the game again on Friday with Kennett (1-3) and Oxford (1-3) combining for a total of 100 points in 48 minutes of play in this contest. Kennett was in the game to the final tick of the clock, though, and led 20-18 midway through a second quarter that saw an incredible seven combined touchdowns.
The key to Oxford’s explosive offense was 6’3 senior wide receiver Ryan Hubley. Hubley snared five touchdown passes from quarterback Danny Green as Oxford notched their first win of the season. Outstanding protection from Oxford’s O-line and pinpoint accuracy from Green resulted in an impressive 13 receptions for 244 yards for Hubley’s best performance of his career.
“He’s [Hubley] a special type of player,” Kennett Head Coach Scott Green said. “We knew he was going to be good and he made some great plays. We tried to control him in the second half and only keep him to a few catches, but he’s a special player.”
The Hornets’ Green-Hubley show started early, with Green connecting with Hubley on a 7-yard TD pass on Oxford’s first possessionQuarterback Nick Dunleavy would return the favor with a three-yard rushing TD after marching the team 65-yards down the field. With the extra point, the Demon’s would take their first lead of the game 7-6.
Kennett’s Myles Robinson looks for running room against Oxford, Friday night.
Oxford retaliated and scored another touchdown 2 minutes later to begin the high-scoring second quarter. Junior quarterback Dan Green found Hubley in the end zone and with a missed PAT, Oxford had retaken the lead 12-7. Kennett would answer right back, however, as sophomore Myles Robinson received the kickoff and ran the ball 80 yards to Oxfords end zone to make the score 14-12. Robinson accounted for four of the Blue Demons’ scores.
The Hornets and Blue Demons then traded touchdown possesions, with Oxford’s Hubley hauling in a four yard TD pass from Green and Kennett’s Robinson scorching in a 39-yard run, making the score 20-18 in favor of Kennett. Oxford scored on their next two possessions. A 50-yard touchdown pass from Green to Hubley and a successful two point conversion had Oxford 26-20.
Oxford defense made one game changing play, and it came in the second quarter. Oxford’s junior cornerback Michael Williams intercepted Dunleavy at the 25-yard line and Oxford would end up converting the turnover into a touchdown. With another missed PAT, Oxford was up by two possessions, 34-20 and Kennett would never catch up.
Oxford Zach Deasey looks to evade Kennett’s John Finfrock (22) and Jake Rose (33) during Friday night’s contest.
When asked about Kennett’s fiery offense, Coach Green said, “We were well prepared for the defense they showed us. We minimized mistakes and made good plays.”
Oxford controlled the game in the second half, scoring on their opening drive as the Green-Hubley dance continued. This time they connected for 19 yards to put Oxford up 40-26. After a fumble on Oxford’s next possession, Kennett defenseman John Finfrock recovered the ball at the 19 yard line, and the Dunlevy completed touchdown drive with a two-yard rush into the end zone to bring Kennett within 8, 40-32
Oxford soon retaliated when senior running back Zach Deasey ran for a 37 yard touchdown to keep Kennett down by 14 points. Kennett came back and scored a touchdown completed with a 10 yard touchdown pass from Dunlevy to Robinson and a completed two point conversion. Oxford answered with a 25 yard touchdown pass from Green to Hubley, and Oxford was up 53-40.
Kennett would score once more with a 1 yard TD run by Dunleavy to make the score 53-47 in favor of Oxford.
The score would remain 53-47, and Oxford received their first victory of the season.
Green, who was making just the fourth start of his career, finished the night with 338 yards on 21 of 28 passing, with five of those being TDs to Hubley.
The Blue Demons try to stop the skid when they travel to Sun Valley, which lost to Unionville, 38-0 Friday, to take on the Vanguards at 7pm this Friday night.
