If New Oxford hopes to make some noise in the upcoming District 3 football playoffs, there are certainly things it will still need to work on.
Quick start is not one of them.
The Colonials used a quick-hitting offense and a bevy of opportunistic turnovers to score at will in a stunning 57-21 victory over Eastern York on Friday night.
The win not only clinched the YAIAA-2 championship for New Oxford, but also secured the Colonials the top seed in Class 5A District 3, a possible first-round bye and a game on their home court.
“When we start the season, we have what we call our pyramid of success, and at the top of that list for us is a league title,” New Oxford head coach Jason Warner said.
According to Warner, the championship was just the third in the history of the Colonials football program.
“These guys don’t know how special it is right now,” Warner added. “They are in a very tight fraternity of people who have made it (here). This is something to be proud of and we are very happy.”
New Oxford (8-2, 6-0 YAIAA-2) scored four touchdowns in less than as many minutes as the game went on.
Eastern York (2-8, 1-5) fumbled the ball for its first touchdown of the night, and the Colonials recovered at the 15-yard line. In the next game, Idriz Akhmetovic took a direct shot and covered the distance to score the first goal in New Oxford.
The second play of the game was even more disastrous for the Golden Knights when Evan Shriver stepped in front of an Austin Billet pass and returned the interception 22 yards for a score. Akhmetovic passed to Tyler Arrigo on the conversion attempt and the Oaks led 15-0 just 29 seconds into the game.
After a 3rd-and-out and a short Eastern York punt, the Colonials needed just five plays for Riley Killen to score from 9 yards out.
Another defensive gem was New Oxford’s opening blitz. Senior linebacker Elias Ernst made a perfect read of Billet’s pass over the middle and intercepted it 26 yards the other way for a pick-6 of his own.
Although the Colonials fell short of the 48-touchdown pace, Warner was clearly pleased with the impressive start.
“I think the main thing is that our kids did their homework,” he said. “(The interceptions) we had there, we learn those things and our kids were prepared. When you make games like this, it (preparation) shows. It’s a credit to these kids for not only taking the time for physical repetitions in practice, but for taking mental repetitions while watching film.”
After another three-and-out, Colonials quarterback Jett Moore scored the first of three points in the first half with a 23-yard strike to Brennan Holmes that capped a 7-play drive that spanned 35 yards.
In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Moore had a 1-yard run for a score and then connected with Trevor Yerk from 4 yards out to extend the Colonials’ lead to 50-0.
It was a banner night for the New Oxford defense. Along with a fumble recovery and an early interception for a touchdown in the first four minutes of the game, the Colonials completed three more passes. Gavin Muren, Jarrett Bitzer and Zion Codling all caught interceptions for Vol, while Ernst and Bitzer recorded sacks that snuffed out Eastern York drives.
The final stats showed Eastern York with 264 yards of offense and more first downs than the Colonials, but almost all of the Golden Knights’ scoring came after the Colonials took over and began switching teams liberally in the second quarter.
Sophomore Ryan Vargas scored for New Oxford, catching a pass from sophomore Carter Hawk for a 60-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The next game for the Colonials in the district playoffs is likely at home in two weeks. With his team firing on all cylinders, Warner didn’t seem too concerned about the dismissal.
“It’s going to help us get healthy,” Warner said. “We’ve got some guys back so hopefully that helps in that sense. But we have a plan to help everyone stay informed. I know everyone says that a week off can get you out of your routine and things like that, but it’s important for us to stay healthy and it gives us a chance to see our opponent live next week. Plus to play the game at home is something we are very happy about.”
New Oxford 36 14 0 7 — 0
Eastern York 0 8 6 7 — 0
NO-Idriz Akhmetavich 15 drive (kick by Akhmetavich) 11:39
NO-Evan Shriver 22 interception return (Akhmetovic pass to Tyler Origo) 11:31
NO-Riley Killen 9 early (Akhmetovic kick) 8:55
NO – Elias Ernst 26 interception return (Akhmetovic kick) 8:05
NO-Brennan Holmes, 23 pass from Jett Moore (Akhmetovic kick) 4:09
NE-Moore 1 drive (Akhmetavich kick) 9:23
NE-Trevor Yerka, 4 pass from Moore (Akhmetovic kick) 2:36
EY-Robinson 6 pass from Billet (Billet pass to Becknald) 1:10
EY-Becknauld 20 pass from Billet (kick failed) 2:08
NO-Ryan Vargas, 60 pass from Carter Hoke (Akhmetovic kick) 11:06
EY-Robinson 9 pass from Rambo (Crumling) 4:46
Penalty yards 6-35 1-11
In a hurry: NO-Killen 13-95, Akhmetavich 2-22, Bryce Clank 4-14, Derek Price 5-12, Jett Moore 2-6, Carter Hawk 1-4, Cruz Moore 1-(-3); EY-Billet 10-55, Crumling 9-23, Ayala 4-6, Rambo 1-(-2).
Walkthrough: NOT-Jet Moore 5-9-0-96, Cruise Moore 1-2-0-15, Hawke 1-1-0-60; EY-Billet 15-27-4-113, Rambo 7-12-1-69.
Getting: NO-Holmes 3-90, Vargas 1-60, Price 1-15, Yerka 1-4, Carson Heaney 1-2; EY-Becknauld 6-59, Robinson 4-30, Sgrignoli 4-28, Billet 3-33, Crumling 2-20, Altamirano 1-5, Knaub 1-(-1).
https://www.gettysburgtimes.com/sports/article_4435e9f0-853a-55df-845a-c4251e6f6281.html
