Oxford downs Phoenixville, 42-26
EAST NOTTINGHAM » Senior quarterback Chandler England and the Oxford Hornets found themselves in an unusual spot for their third game of the season Friday night.
Unusual, as in this week didn’t require a fourth quarter comeback to win.
England and the Hornets, ranked 20th in this week’s Pa. Prep Live Top 20, took the lead early and would not relinquish it in a 42-26 win over Phoenixville.
During the first couple of plays, the Hornets were locked in. Until the third play of the game when England would throw an interception within the first 30 seconds. It would be his first of two interceptions both being tipped by Phoenixville’s defensive linemen.
But the next offensive series England needed just one play to forget his mistake by throwing a 76-yard pass to a wide-open Brandon DeShields down the middle.
This would be England’s first of four touchdown passes he threw on the Phoenixville defense. He finished the game throwing 12-for-19 with 263 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
While looking calm and collected in the pocket, England also showed off his running game by attempting 10 rushes for 52 yards and a 2-yard quarterback sneak in the third quarter.
The only thing stopping the senior quarterback was Phoenixville’s defensive back Zion Small who picked off England twice while returning one for a 50yard touchdown.
But the passing attack was not the only thing Oxford had going during the game.
Oxford used a three-headed rushing attack from England, Tim Faber and Brandon Holz. Together they rushed for 30 attempts for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Sophomore tailback Faber, who stepped up for an injured Holz last week, seems to have gained some more of the coach’s trust. Faber lead the team with 11 rushes, 81 yards and added a touchdown. He scored the second touchdown for the hornets on a 15yard rush up the middle to make the game 14-0 with 8:00 minutes in the first.
Special teams may be a problem for the Hornets going forward. As penalties, muffed punts and poorly executed extra points could lead to bigger problems in especially with conference games coming up.