Academy Park Takes Down Chichester for the 16th Straight Time

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News

Dylan Johnson | September 17, 2022

Correction: Academy Park has beat Chichester 16 straight times, not the originally stated 14 times.

BOOTHWYN, PA – As it finally begins to feel like fall, Chichester hosted Academy Park for the first Del Val game of the season. Both teams entered the game with a 1-2 record, but in the end, Academy Park came out on top 15-6. This was the first time the two teams met since the spring 2021 season.

In a tradition as old as time, the coin takes flight in the air, Chichester won the toss and elected to defer. As the national anthem fades in the distance it is time for Friday Night Lights.

Academy Park received the opening kick-off. Their offense was led onto the field by Darrell Fields. Whether it is through the air or on the ground, his two-way playmaking makes a huge impact on the game. Chichester’s defense came out strong and forced a 3 and out to start the game, which would begin a plethora of 3 and outs for both teams through the first quarter. The only memorable thing from the first quarter is the flashes of Academy Park’s RB, Terrence Oliver. He would go on to be a deciding factor in the win. The end of the first comes with a score of 0-0.

In a very fast-paced game that ended up lasting roughly only two hours, quarter two came in the blink of an eye. Finally, we see some action. Eventually, Chichester’s defense dug in, specifically their defensive line who is led by DT, Eyan Thomas. After an incomplete pass, a run for a negative gain and a one-yard rush, Academy Park was forced to punt away. In punt formation, Academy Park’s Darrell Fields receives the snap but is met face to face with Chichester defenders, he is forced to tuck the ball and run. The pile-up begins, and out pops the ball for a fumble. The ball begins tumbling and in comes Chichester’s, Erskine Wilson. With no man to beat he takes it to the house. Chichester takes the lead late in the 2nd, it is 6-0 after the PAT was no good.

AP on 4th and 9 muffs punt and #1 Darrell Fields fumbles the ball. Chichester’s #12 picks up the ball and takes it the other way to the house!!!!!

TD CHICHESTER!!!!!

AP – 0
Chichester – 6

PAT by Chi is no good.

@PaFootballNews #delcofootball

— Dylan Johnson (@theonlydylanj) September 16, 2022

Chichester then kicked off and a fumble recovery by their special teams would give them possession. Unable to capitalize on the fumble recovery, they went for it on 4th but it is a turnover on downs. Academy Park, wastingno time, marched down the field. They found themselves in a 4th and 2 scenario. Lined up in punt formation, they fake the punt, and Daishon Billops turned up field for a huge gain and the first. After a red zone push, they meet Chichester’s goal-line defense on 3rd and 1. Again Chichester’s Eyan Thomas makes his impact and stuffs the run, it is now 4th and 1. After a presnap penalty on Academy Park, it is now 4th and 6. An incomplete pass forced a turnover on downs. Neither team put anything together until the half was coming to a close. A blocked punt by Academy Park set them up with a short field to try and eliminate a scoreless first half. With one play and one play only QB, Darrell Fields hit Anis Hunter with a pass that would lead to a 20-yard touchdown. With a good PAT, it is 7-6 Academy park heading into the half.

With a close game and both sides of the ball being played very well by each team, Chichester got ready to receive to start the second half. It was a fast and weak third-quarter all around. Both teams struggled to move the ball as both red zones were left untouched for a majority of the 3rd. Chichester’s Derrick Robinson did show his aggressiveness with a sack to set up a 4th and 15. Other than that it was just two very good defenses and two subpar offenses until Terrance Oliver takes his ground game to another level. Heading into the 4th, it is 7-6 Academy Park.

The 4th begins with Academy Park on Chichester’s three-yard line. The unit, that is Terrance Oliver, was not finished writing his story for the night. He took the ball, tucked it and 7 yards later he was in the endzone celebrating with his teammates. With a 2pt attempt converted by Anis Hunter, who also would be a deciding factor of this game racking up 114 total yards, with 11 minutes remaining in the game. The score now sits at 15-6 Academy Park.

Chichester soon became desperate as they were down three possessions and the clock was rapidly winding down. Try and try again they kept falling short of a score. After a tuck and run on a fake punt by Dominic Nardini that took it 18 yards downfield, but unfortunately, he was put in a 4th and 20 situation, turnover on downs.

With 19 seconds left on the clock, Academy Park took the knee to improve to 2-2 on the season. They will go on the road next week to face the undefeated Great Valley Patriots, in the hope to erase that undefeated in front of their name. Chichester falls to 1-3 but will try to bounce back against the 2-1 West Chester Rustin Golden Knights, at home, on senior night.