Blue Demons drop tough 7-6 decision to Avon Grove
By Emily Adelman, Corespondent, The Times
KENNETT SQUARE — The electricity in the air wasn’t just the newly installed Kennett High School football field lights. With those new lights shining, full coverage by NBC10, and the stadium packed, the Blue Demons had high hopes to bring home a victory to the more than the 1,000 fans in attendance.
And if that didn’t set the stage for a dramatic opening night, the match-up was the “Game of the Week” on NBC10’s “High School Blitz.” Together, Kennett and Avon Grove fans cast almost half of the 55,000 votes entered in the NBC10 contest to win this honor, which included pre- and post-game coverage and a featured spot on the “High School Blitz” program airing Saturday at 7 p.m.
Unfortunately Kennett was unable to quite live up to the pre-game excitement and a clearly improved Avon Grove won, 7-6.
On paper, this should have been a favorable match up for Kennett. The Blue Demons had high hopes coming off of their best season in 2012, where they came up one victory short of reaching the district playoffs. In contrast, the Red Devils won just one game last year, losing by an average of 28 points per game, and were hoping to reverse their miserable 2012 season.
But a new season means new realities.
Avon Grove defense was outstanding but it was the offense that truly impressed. Senior quarterback Tanner Peck went 13 of 21 for 166 yards including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Beau Kush, sophomore receiver. Kush pulled in 9 receptions for a total of 129 yards. On the other side of the ball, Zack Mann and Andrey Green both had sacks, and the Red Devils defense held Kennett to only 41 total passing yards.
The Blue Demons only score came early in the second quarter when senior quarterback Jordan Jones connected with senior wide receiver Brett Rose for a 13- yard touchdown pass. Rose was then asked to kick the point after which ended up just left of the uprights, leaving the Blue Demons with a 6-0 lead. That miss coupled with an errant field-goal attempt early in the first quarter was the difference in the game.
Avon Grove needed just one score to come away with a victory. In the second quarter, Peck led the Devils 58 yards down the field in less than 60 seconds. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 31-yard run by junior Taylor Kim. Kush received a 10-yard touchdown pass with 2:08 left in the half to give the Devils a 7-6 lead.
That score would remain until the new lights were turned off.
Kennett offensive inconsistencies and Red Devil defense dominated the game in the second half. The Blue Demon offense was plagued by frequent fumbles. The last one, and the only one resulting in a turnover, was the most costly. With 2:04 remaining, Kennett took possession on its own 18-yard line. After a bungled snap and loss of yardage, Jones hit Rose with a screen pass. Avon Grove’s Bashom Haith spoiled any chance for a last-minute victory as he slammed Rose to the ground, knocking the ball out of his hands and into the Red Devils’.
Kennett quarterback Jordan Jones, who would end up with 67 rushing yards and 41 passing yards, was realistic about the team’s performance but optimistic about the season. “I wish we would have won,” Jones said, “I want to thank everyone for coming out. I played my heart out. We were sloppy as a group, but we will fix it up and get better.”
