Jones runs for five TD, 241 yards for Red Devils
By Matt Cassidy, Staff Writer, The Times
Kennett High School’s offense is set to run a play out of the shotgun, Friday. The Blue Demons struggled against a tough Avon Grove defense, losing 42-7.
KENNETT SQUARE – Putting on an absolute show on the ground, senior running back Nate Jones led Avon Grove past the Kennett, 42-7, in a Ches-Mont inter-division game to open the two school’s respective seasons.
“I don’t want to make any predictions but 1-0 is definitely a big step up from last year,” Jones said. “I think it could be a pretty good season.”
On 16 carries, Jones averaged just over 15 yards per attempt and amassed 241 yards with five touchdowns.
“I give all the credit to my teammates,” Jones said. “With the wide receivers throwing blocks and the offensive line opening holes, it made it easier for me.”
The win snapped a long losing streak for the Red Devils which head coach Harry O’Neill believes will mark a turning point for the program.
“Everything we’ve been doing has been completely different than the first year that I got here,” O’Neill said. “You can just feel that the culture’s starting to change. I mean I have 80 guys. Last year, I had 56 and only six seniors. This year I have 16. You win in this league with seniors.”
On the second play from scrimmage, Jones took a 45-yard run into the endzone to kick off the scoring. And after a Blue Demon punt on the ensuing possession, Jones cashed in on a 36-yard touchdown run to put the Red Devils up by two scores midway through the first quarter.
Coaches — including Kennett first year coach Doug Langley and second year Avon Grove coach Harry O’Neil — meet up at midfield prior to Friday night’s contest between the two teams.
Starting at their own 37-yard-line, the Blue Demons showed the home crowd that they had some fight in them yet. Four first downs and 63 yards later, sophomore quarterback Jacob Dilcher took a hand-off and bulled through the defensive line for a 6-yard score to get the Blue Demons on the board.
The Blue Demons were helped early on that drive by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty against the Red Devils. In fact, Avon Grove collected 80 yards in total on nine penalties throughout the evening. Compared to only 20 yards surrendered by their opponent, the Red Devils were lucky that their lack of discipline did not cost them on the scoreboard.
With a 14-7 lead, Avon Grove committed a four-and-out and was forced to punt. But this stop would prove to be the high point of the evening for the Blue Demons. On fourth and nine, Kennett botched a punt and gave the Red Devils the ball at their own 33-yard-line. Jones would take four carries to get into the endzone from there and the gap only widened from there.
“It’s week one,” said Kennett Blue Demons first-year head coach Doug Langley. “We’re a young team with a lot of work to do.”
Langley had previously coached at Avon Grove and was familiar with running back Nate Jones.
“I coached Jones for a couple years there and I knew that when he would be a senior, he’d be a player,” Langley said. “He’s a great kid and I can’t say enough good things about him. “
Avon Grove 42, Kennett 7
Avon Grove 14 14 14 0 – 42
Kennett 7 0 0 0 – 7
First Quarter
AG – Jone 45 run (Sheehan kick)
AG – Jones 36 run (Sheehan kick)
K – Dilcher 6 run (Tuley kick)
Second Quarter
AG – Jones 1 run (Sheehan kick)
AG – Jones 46 run (Sheehan kick)
Third Quarter
AG – Jones 25 run (kick failed)
AG – Yurkovich 51 pass from McLaughlin (Vahey pass)
Passing
AG – McLaughlin: 3/6, 83 yards, TD
K – Dunlevy: 5/10, 47 yards; Dilcher: 2/7, 14 yards, INT
Rushing
AG – Jones: 16 carries, 241 yards, 5 TD; Francis: 9 carries, 47 yards; Arrell: 3 carries, 10 yards; McLaughlin: 4 carries, 2 yards
K – Dunlevy: 11 carries, 22 yards; Robinson: 8 carries, 21 yards; Dilcher: 6 carries, 17 yards, TD; Perigo: 1 carry, 4 yards; Wessels: 1 carry, -1 yard
Receiving
AG – Yurkovich: 2 receptions, 66 yards, TD; Buchanan: 1 reception, 17 yards
K – Finfrock: 2 receptions, 22 yards; Boyle: 1 reception, 11 yards; Robinson: 3 receptions, 9 yards; Dunlevy: 1 reception, 8 yards; Perigo: 1 reception, 3 yards
Total Yards
AG – Passing: 83 yards; Rushing: 300 yards; Overall: 383 yards
K – Passing: 61 yards; Rushing: 63 yards; Overall: 124 yards
Penalties
AG – 9, 80 yards
K – 4, 20 yards
Sacks
AG – Burritt 1
K – Oscar 1
Interceptions
AG – Jones 1
K – none
