By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

Moments before the start of last Friday night’s Kennett-Avon Grove varsity football game at Kennett Stadium, it was reported that the water tower overlooking the east end of the stadium – emblazoned with the large blue ‘K’ – would not be lit due to a power outage to its light source.

The loss of a traditional signature of Kennett football mattered very little to the Blue Demons’ fortunes, however, as evidenced by their resounding 17-0 victory over visiting Avon Grove.

From the opening kick-off, returned by Bue Demon Gavin Ritch to the Avon Grove 45-yard line – a 50-yard return – the game’s momentum swung heavily in Kennett’s direction, as quarterback Garrett McCracken engineered an opening drive that ended with a 25-yard field goal by kicker Shay Barker with 4:34 left in the first quarter.

As the game got underway, it became apparent that one Blue Demon would dominate the defensive side of the ball. Outside linebacker Frazier hounded Avon Grove quarterback Frank Hoogerwerff for four sacks and several tackles in the game. He certainly had a lot of help; while Avon Grove’s defense held the Bue Demons scoreless for the remainder of the first half, they were nullified offensively as well, as the Kennett defense attacked Hoogerwerff with a heavy pass rush that included second quarter sacks by Frazier and Jack Sheridan. With 1:16 remaining in the first half, Hoogerwerff’s pass was picked off by Gavin Ritch to end AG’s only serious first half scoring threat. 

“We challenged the defense and offense at the half to be physical and fly around and make plays, and Eli took it to heart, but they all did,” said Blue Demon Head Coach Lance Frazier. “As a senior on Senior Night, Eli played with the type of passion and leadership you want to see.”

By the time both teams kicked off the second half with Kennett ahead 3-0, another Blue Demon would emerge, this time on offense -- Aiden Ritch, who bulldozed his way to a 162-yard rushing performance. On Kennett’s first possession of the third quarter, a run by Joalex Carabajal set up a 26-yard run by Ritch that moved the ball to the four-yard line that gave Kennett its first touchdown on a short run by Ian Guyer with 6:08 left in the third quarter. 

With time slipping away in the third quarter and down 10-0, Avon Grove began possession on their 29-yard line and moved the ball to the 46-yard line on a 17-yard run by Alexander Binstead, who was then wrapped up for no gain by Frazier on the next two plays. On third-and-seven at midfield, Hoogerwerff was sacked for a ten-yard loss by Jacon Thompson that forced Avon Grove to punt. The ensuing kick was fumbled and recovered by Dylan Anderson at the Kennett 33-yard line with 3:50 remaining in the quarter, giving the Red Devils great scoring position.

On Avon Grove’s second snap, however, Hoogerwerff was sacked for a ten-yard loss by Pierre Duckworth that soon forced the Red Devils to punt. Inheriting the ball on their own 9-yard line, Kennett started what became a 91-yard touchdown drive that ended on a 65-yard TD run by Ritch with 10:29 left in the fourth quarter that rounded out the Bue Demons’ scoring effort.

The win gives the Blue Demons a 5-3 overall record and pushes them to 2-1 in the Ches-Mont American division, as they prepare for an Oct. 25 game at Oxford. After a 38-3 loss to 8-1 Bayard Rustin on Sept. 20, the Blue Demons have reeled off a four-game winning streak and held their opponents to just 30 points. 

“I am a am a proud man right now and our staff is super proud,” Frazier said of his team’s performance over the last four games. “It’s about making a statement and doing it one game at a time. I told them that this is the best we are right now and that we control our own destiny, and how good you want to be is completely up to you.” 

Now 2-7 overall and 0-2 in the Ches-Mont American, Avon Grove will host Sun Valley on Oct. 25.

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