Sun Valley Vanguards Seal A Win On Senior Night Against Kennett Blue Demons
Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News
Ted Podberesky | October 21, 2023
Sun Valley Vanguards hosted the Kennett Blue Demons tonight at Dr.Wally field. The Vanguards came into this game (2-6) looking to get a win on senior night against the Blue Demons (3-5). Sun Valley did exactly as planned and took home a win 35-12.
The Vanguards started with the ball to start the first quarter with a new quarterback at the helm, Ben Romanoski. Sun Valley started off slow, knowing the run game was going to be their advantage all night. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case on the first drive of the game and Sun Valley punted.
Kennett started off the same way trying to run the ball up the middle, but couldn’t find room to keep the chains moving. Linebackers Rocco Radico and Braden Kmett had career nights in tackles, shutting down the Blue Demons multiple times in the run game.
Kennett quickly punted and on the first play of the drive senior running back Noah Griffin exploded to the outside and ran down the sideline for an 83 rushing touchdown. This run ended up pushing Griffin over a thousand yards on the season.
With seven minutes remaining in the 1st quarter, Kennett started to look towards the pass game more. Quarterback Garrett McCracken started to sling the ball connecting on a couple passes, until on a third down play the ball was tipped into the air and cornerback Jack Penzone intercepted it and ran 68 yards to the endzone.
Five minutes remained in the quarter with the Blue Demons down 14-0, when Kennett received the ball back, running back Ian Guyer started to carry the workload. Picking up big chunks of yards before being finally tangled up by a group of Sun Valley defenders on third down.
Kennett punted and Sun Valley brought the ball into the 2nd quarter after a couple good runs. The first play of the quarter Noah Griffin stopped, looked downfield and connected with his tight end Aidan Cook who scored on a 24 yard touchdown catch and throw pushing the Vanguards lead to 21-0.
After the score the Blue Demons started to pick up some tempo, mixing in some good pass and run plays bringing them into Sun Valley territory. After a missed opportunity on third down Kennett elected to kick a field goal, but the snap was fumbled and cornerback Jack Penzone recovered for the Vanguards with under eight minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The rest of the quarter was back and forth with both defenses making great stops on each other. Eventually, this sent the teams into halftime with Sun Valley leading 21 to the Kennett Blue Demons 0.
Kennett started the 3rd quarter with the ball and immediately went back into their pass game, picking up first down after first down. That was until linebacker Ryan Creegan leaped into the air and snagged his second interception of the season.
After the interception Sun Valley decided to pass, and ironically enough Ian Guyer for Kennett came up with an interception. Soon enough the Blue Demons were inside Vanguard’s territory and punched in a 1 yard rushing touchdown from Aiden Ritch on 4th and goal. Unfortunately, the extra point was missed and the Vanguards led 21-6 with four minutes remaining in the quarter.
Sun Valley decided to keep it on the ground after getting the ball back, letting running backs Noah Griffin and Jack Penzone rush for multiple first downs. Noah Griffin got the ball again, this time as quarterback and dropped back to find wide receiver Josh Yanonis but was instead intercepted by safety Xavier McGreal, which led both teams to the end of the quarter.
Kennett started with the ball in the fourth quarter, going back and forth between running and passing. Eventually, the Blue Demons faced a fourth down and the Vanguards forced an incomplete pass giving Sun Valley the ball back with under nine minutes to go.
After getting the ball back Sun Valley played slow and methodical, giving the rock off play after play to Griffin and Penzone. Jack Penzone added to his stats for the night, after rushing in for an 11 yard touchdown, afterwards safety Matt Jackson connected to linebacker Ryan Creegan in the back of the endzone for the two point conversion.
Kennett quickly went into their no huddle offense trying to air the ball out, which worked out in their favor when McCracken found his man Xavier McGreal over the middle for a 46 yard touchdown, the two point conversion was no good however and Sun Valley lead 29-6 with under five minutes remaining in the 4th quarter.
Sun Valley kept the ball on the ground after getting it back, trying to waste time and bring the game to an end. Running back Noah Griffin had other plans in mind however when he broke free up the middle and rallied his way into the endzone for a 45 yard touchdown. Sun Valley went for the two point conversion again and this time it was no good.
Kennett tried to get things going again on offense but had little time, after a turnover on downs the Vanguards let the clock run and took home a win for their senior players against the Kennett Blue Demons 35-12.
Senior running back Noah Griffin for Sun Valley who rushed for 227 yards with 2 touchdowns on the ground and 1 through the air, who broke his record of back to back 1,000 seasons states that, “ This was the best part of the season for me, not only did I meet my goal of another 1k season but I got a huge win on senior night with my brothers “.
Running back Ian Guyer for Kennett, who rushed for 114 yards and had an interception on defense states that, “ We’re a really young team and there’s always gonna be stuff to improve on. We just have to play as a team and get back on track to end the season with a win “.
Sun Valley travels to play Oxford next week, while Kennett faces Great Valley
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