Photo by Chris Barber                        Blue Demons’ running back Julian Sparacino scored three touchdowns during Kennett’s 35-7 win over Sun Valley on Oct. 21.

 

By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

Last Friday evening, riding an undefeated 5-0 record in the Ches-Mont American Division and awaiting their upcoming destiny in the untangling of the PIAA playoff schedule, Head Coach Lance Frazier’s Kennett Blue Demons still had a football game to play against visiting Sun Valley at Kennett Stadium.

It served to be another exclamation point on what has become an outstanding 2022 campaign.

Behind Julian Sparacino’s three touchdowns and a defense that held the Vanguards to just 38 offensive yards in the first half, Kennett rode to a 35-7 victory in Ches-Mont American Division play.

On Sun Valley’s second possession of the game, Jacob Thompson stepped in front of a pass attempt by quarterback Stephen Eskridge for an interception with 4:31 left in the first quarter that moved the ball to the Vanguard 32- yard line. On Sparacino’s fourth carry of the possession, he ran 19 yards up the middle for the first of his three touchdowns with 2:24 remaining in the quarter, staking Kennett to an early 7-0 lead.

Frazier effectively used both Brett Kauffman and David Lillis as quarterback throughout that game, and after a superb run-back on a punt by Jackie Good set up Kennett on the 13-yard line, Lillis sprinted into the end zone with 6:40 left in the second quarter for an 8-yard carry that extended the Blue Demons’ lead to 14-0.

Inheriting the ball at midfield deep in the second quarter, the Kauffman-Lillis tandem combined for Kennett’s third TD of the first half. A Kauffman keeper got the ball to the 45-yard line, and a few plays later, Lillis’ pass to Josh Barlow set the ball on the 20-yard line. After a Kauffman pass to Xavier McGreal gave Kennett the ball inside the 10-yard line, Sparacino scored on an 8-yard carry with 38 seconds left to close out the first-half scoring.

On a 10-play drive to start the second half that was highlighted by a 42-yard run by Sparacino, Lillis’ two-yard QB keeper with 5:30 left in the third quarter gave Kennett a 28-0 lead. With 2:37 left in the third quarter, Sparacino closed out his night with a 13-yard run that tacked on the Blue Demon’s last score.

The Vanguards’ only score of the game came on a 51-yard scoring strike from back-up quarterback RJ Scharrer to Josh Yadonis with 5:24 left in the game.

Kennett, whose win gave them a 6-3 overall mark, now stands atop the Ches-Mont American Division and will close out their regular season on Oct. 28 with a home game against Great Valley. Now 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the Ches-Mont American, Sun Valley will wrap up their season with a home game against Oxford on Oct. 28. 

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].