Glen Mills flags down a big play late to top Chichester

UPPER CHICHESTER — It was a screen pass that prompted a scream fest that was passed from one sideline to the other.

Robert Hill of Glen Mills grabbed a short toss from Clentrell George and raced 77 yards for a touchdown with 3:55 to play, lifting the Bulls (2-3, 1-0) to a 6-3 Del Val League decision over Chichester (3-2, 0-1) at Anthony Apichella Memorial Field Friday night.

During the play, a penalty flag was thrown. The Glen Mills’ bench, thinking the play would be called back, expressed a negative opinion of the call, which prompted a second flag.

Before long, the officials held a conference and both flags were waved off, signaling the beginning of Chi coach Ryan Smith’s rant.

The Eagles had two possessions after Glen Mills scored, but completed only two passes in eight attempts. When DaquonéTay Henderson sacked Chi quarterback Nate Decenzi with 1:52 to play, the Bulls were three snaps from beginning league play with a victory.

“This is great, and it’s unbelievable,” Glen Mills coach Kevin Owens said. “We know how tough every Del Val League game is going to be.

“This one wasn’t pretty, but it’s a league win and we needed it. Our defense did a nice job tonight. Now we’ve got some things to work on to get ready to play Chester next week.”

Smith, on the other hand, was still seething long after his dejected players had headed for home.

“The explanation I got was that they didn’t have a number for the player they said blocked in the back,” Smith said. “That’s unacceptable. I asked him how many times in his career he had to tell a coach that he had a penalty but he didn’t have the number.

“That’s just not right.”

Chichester took advantage of a Glen Mills fumble inside the Bulls’ 15 to get its only points with 9:06 remaining in the first quarter. Sophomore Zach Taylor delivered on a 30-yard field goal attempt, but the Eagles had first-half drives stall on a sack by Glen Mills’ Juan Duncan and a fumble recovery by Try Blamo, who also had three tackles for a loss.

Junior Antonio Perez helped the Eagles keep the Bulls from threatening with three first-half interceptions, then Glen Mills had a pair of snaps sail over the quarterback’s head for big losses in the second half.

Blamo was to blame for a Chichester drive ending at the Glen Mills’ 22 with just over four minutes to play. It took the Bulls one play to claim the lead.

“We called the screen,” George said. “After (Hill) caught it, I was running down the sidelines watching him getting down the field.”

Hill ran into some opposition early and late in the play.

“A couple of their players were hanging on to my legs,” Hill said. “I broke those tackles, but I still thought I might get caught before I got to the end zone. I knew somebody was there, but I got the touchdown.”

After he did, things got interesting with flags flying and then being tucked away.

“That just can’t happen,” Smith said.