Great Valley bottles up Kelly, outscores Sun Valley

EAST WHITELAND — Great Valley’s football team has experienced some tough luck in recent weeks.

But Friday night, the Patriots got the breaks to go their way as they celebrated Senior Night with a wild 49-41 shootout victory over Sun Valley at Valley Stadium.

“This was nice to see,” Great Valley coach Dan Ellis said. “We have faced some adversity the last few weeks. We have lost some close games. But they battled, they fought and they won.”

Although the Great Valley defense allowed 41 points, Ellis thought the Patriots took away some of what the Vanguards like to do with their running game.

“We’re not happy about giving up 41 points, but they have been averaging a ton of points,” Ellis said. “They put up points like there is no tomorrow. But we got them out of their running game.”

Kelly rushed for only 28 yards on 11 carries Friday, the Patriots the first team to slow the star senior down. He did catch a 60-yard touchdown from Anthony Ellis, who threw for 296 yards and four TDs.

Dayon Belgrave had 11 catches for 146 yards and two TDs. He also had two interceptions on defense. Lance Stone had eight catches for 79 yards and a TD.

Sun Valley coach Greg Bernhardt said it was a matter of the same old story for his Vanguards.

“That is the story of our season,” Bernhardt said. “Every game is like this. We just can’t seem to make the plays we need to defensively. We miss tackles or interceptions that cost us.”

Bernhardt used the example of how Sun Valley was within 36-33 and had the chance to make an interception that could have been a pick-six that could have turned the game around.

Instead, it became a deflected touchdown pass for Great Valley. Gavin Frankenheimer caught the deflected aerial from quarterback Jake Prevost. It was one of five touchdown passes Prevost threw on the night.

Prevost found Josh Burgess on a 71-yard score to put Great Valley on the scoreboard. Then Amani Christopher ran for a 3-yard TD for a second first-period score and a 14-0 lead.

The Patriots held a 36-27 lead at halftime and by 10 after three quarters.

Prevost completed 17 of 33 passes for 376 yards. Burgess had a big night with 11 receptions for 271 yards and three TDs. Adam Brophy had a 64-yard TD catch. Brendan O’Donnell also had three grabs plus an interception. James Thompson was also involved in the GV rushing game and on defense.