Hatton’s big second half lifts Rustin past Oxford

WESTTOWN >> Without Daimon Jacobs for the second week, the West Chester Rustin football team needed a spark, and the return of Chase Hatton provided just that.

Hatton, coming back after missing three games with a toe injury, scored three second-half touchdowns to give the Golden Knights a 28-20 Ches-Mont League American Division victory over Oxford on Friday.

“He’s tough as nails,” said Oxford coach Mike Means. “We knew they had some kids out and we didn’t know who was or wasn’t playing, but we knew he was playing. We knew from his tape last year, he’s one of the toughest players they have and he showed it on both sides of the ball.”

On Rustin’s first possession of the second half in a 7-7 game, Hatton took a handoff on second down, went off right tackle, and rumbled 44 yards, breaking a tackle during the run. The extra point was wide and the Golden Knights (3-1 American, 4-2), were up, 13-7.

“I have to give [credit] to all of the offensive lineman,” said Hatton. “I’m just doing what they give me.”

“It was a nice little sweep,” Hatton said of his scoring play. “I got some nice down blocks, I read my blocks and took it from there.”

After an exchange of turnovers, Rustin had a chance to add to the lead, but Griffin Strunk’s 37-yard field goal attempt missed, keeping Oxford (1-3, 2-5) just six points down.

The Hornets took over and went on a long 13-play, 80-yard drive that took the remaining five minutes of the third quarter. On the first play of the fourth, Oxford quarterback Dustin Long snuck in from the one to give the Hornets a 14-13 lead.

Rustin went on a methodical march of its own when they touched the ball again. They went 10 plays ­— all runs — to go 80 yards to retake the lead. The drive culminated in Hatton going over from the three to make it 21-14 with 7:08 left.

Oxford’s chance to take the lead was snubbed out when Long was stopped one yard short on a 4th-and-4 just shy of midfield.

“The defense came up strong,” said Hatton. “It was a team win.”

“We were lucky enough to make some plays and stop them on a couple,” said Rustin coach Mike St. Clair. “They have a couple of dangerous players. They run a good offense and were able to survive.”

Rustin took over and leaned on Hatton. He carried the ball for seven of the eight plays on the drive, accounting for 42 yards, including the final four, to bump the Golden Knights’ advantage to 28-14.

Hatton carried the ball 15 times in the second half for 107 yards. For the game, he posted 177 yards on 25 carries.

“Chase missed the last three games with turf toe, so he’s not even 100 percent,” said St. Clair. “He’s just a very, very good running back, a very good corner. When he’s on the field, we get things done.”

Hatton added to his impressive night with a 37-yard run on a fake punt for a first down in the first quarter.

Oxford scored on the final play of the game as Long hit Justin Tyre for a four-yard TD strike. Long was held relatively in check by the Rustin defense. He was 17-for-28 for 168 yards and two interceptions.

“I think our defensive coordinator, Steve Walsh, put a really good game plan together to take away what they do best with their RPOs,” added St. Clair. “We tried to limit their quarterback (Long). He is a very dangerous weapon.”

The fake punt run for Hatton set up Rustin’s first score in the first quarter – a 12-yard run by quarterback David McClain.

Oxford came right back to tie the score on a 19-yard pass from Long to Corey Dantonio.

“We made some mistakes,” said Means. “We have taken some very tough losses this year, We’re 2-5 and we can go in two different directions. I think my leadership is good enough [that] we can win these last three games and let the [playoff] chips fall where they may.”

WC Rustin 28, Oxford 20
Oxford 7 0 0 13 — 20
WC Rustin 7 0 7 14 — 28
Scoring
First Quarter
WC Rustin — McClain 12 run (Strunk kick)
Oxford — Dantonio 19 pass from Long (Smith kick)
Third Quarter
WC Rustin — Hatton 44 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
Oxford — Long 1 run (Smith kick)
WC Rustin — Hatton 3 run (Hatton run)
WC Rustin — Hatton 4 run (Strunk kick)
Oxford — Tyre 7 pass from Long (no extra point)
team statistics
O WCR
First downs 16 14
Rushes-yards 28-100 47-292
Passing 17-28-2 2-2-0
Passing yards 168 37
Total yards 268 329
Punts 1-29.0 1-47.0
Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 6-60 11-131
Individual statistics
Rushing — Oxford: Long 25-91 TD; Dantonio 2-2; Tyre 1-7; WC Rustin: Hatton 25-177 3TD; McClain 6-53 TD; Santangelo 9-38; Pechin 7-24.
Passing — Oxford: Long 17-28-2 168 yards 2 TD; WC Rustin: McClain 2-2-0 37 yards.
Receiving — Oxford: Evans 5-42; Dantonio 4-39; Boyer 3-34; Tyre 2-17 TD; Vance 2-16; Anderson 1-3; WC Rustin: Murray 2-37.
Interceptions — WC Rustin: Hatton, Seaman.
Sacks — Oxford: Craft.