Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Patriots score 34 unanswered points to dump Octorara
GREAT VALLEY 41, OCTORARA 6
EAST FALLOWFIELD » Octoara found the end zone early in the second quarter against favored Great Valley. The score energized one team, but unfortunately for the Braves, it wasn’t them.
The Patriots scored 34 unanswered points to break open a close game and go on to roll to a 41-6 Ches-Mont League American Division win Friday.
“You never want to see your team come out slow like we did,” said Great Valley coach Dan Ellis. “As much as you talk, and as much as you try to get them ready to go, it just doesn’t happen, but that comes with coaching high school kids. But after the first seven minutes or so, I thought we settled in and started playing well, which speaks to the growth of this team and the maturity of the kids.”
Neither team got a whole lot of offense going early. The two traded punts before the Patriots (4-0, 5-3) finally put together a long, 82-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard plunge from Damian Carter for a 7-0 lead just before the end of the period.
But the Braves (0-4, 2-6) answered right back with a drive of their own. Octorara cut the lead to one when Sye Hall ran it in from 8- yards out. The extra point was blocked, and Octorara trailed, 7-6.
Hall had a nice night for Octorara, rushing for 116 yards on 16 carries and the touchdown.
“We did some nice things tonight,” said Octorara coach Jedd King. “But, we just can’t seem to find a way to string them together. Great Valley has a tough team, and you can’t win if you can’t find consistency.”
Great Valley put together a nicely balanced attack, with Alex Crouse (11 carries, 68 yards, TD) and Carter (9 carries, 63 yards, TD) shouldering the load on the ground, and quarterback Jake Prevost hitting his receivers for big plays when called upon.
Prevost finished the night with 133 yards and three touchdowns — to three different receivers — on 10 of 18 passing.
“Jake’s doing well for us,” said Ellis. “We wanted to throw the ball a bit because there are going to be times with our upcoming schedule where we’re going really need to convert a third down, or just throw the ball and hit a spot in a tight game.”
The QB connected with Josh Burgess (2 catches, 34 yards), Owen Banavitch (3-20) and Carter (1-42) for scores.
“This was a great team effort, with everybody contributing,” said Prevost. “It was great that we kept our composure after coming out flat. But we did what we needed to do to get it done.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots tightened up after the Braves’ score, and pitched a shutout the rest of the way, forcing a pair of fumbles and picking off a pass.
“We just talked as a defense on the sideline, and just woke up as a unit and shut them down,” said Crouse. “To be able to adjust the way we did and play shutdown defense was big for us, especially knowing the kinds of game we have coming up against Unionville and Rustin. We can’t repeat that slow start and have to play tough all night.”