Jones and Avon Grove run over West Chester Henderson

LONDON GROVE >> Before its season started, Avon Grove’s head coach Harry O’Neill felt that his running back Nate Jones had made great strides since 2014. His evaluation was extremely accurate.

The junior-running back galloped for 297 yards and tallied two touchdowns leading the Red Devils to the 35-14 home victory over West Chester Henderson in Ches-Mont League National Division play on Friday night.

“It was a great team win,” Jones said. “My entire offensive line did a great job, my fullback Kevin Francis was awesome. There were holes everywhere. I give them all the credit.”

After both teams went scoreless in their first-two possessions, Avon Grove (1-2, 4-3) took control of the game at the end of the first quarter. With Henderson possessing the ball on its own 20-yard line, quarterback Matt Dinacci rolled out to his right and was intercepted by Tyler Boyd. The junior defensive back returned the ball down to the 15, setting up the first red-zone opportunity of the night.

On the first play of the second quarter the Red Devils claimed a 7-0 lead after their fullback Francis pounded his way into the end zone on a 5-yard handoff.

After stuffing the visitors on a 4th and two on their ensuing possession, the Red Devils offense struck again. They marched 65 yards and extended their lead on Jones’ first touchdown of the evening.

With less than 50 seconds left in the half, Jones struck again. This time he snapped off an 86-yard touchdown run along the left side.

“The coaches deserve all the credit there,” the junior running back said. “They made an excellent play call. There wasn’t really anyone over the left side when I lined up and it was wide open when I hit the hole.”

In the first-two frames the Red Devils recorded 206 yards on the ground.

“Our offensive linemen are a bunch of grinders,” O’Neill said. “Offensively our identity is running the football. Those kids wear that like badge of honor.”

They made it 28-unanswered points 50 seconds into the third stanza. Quarterback Shane McLaughlin hurled a beautiful pass to receiver Henry Buchanan for the 40-yard score.

The Warriors did responded with a run of their own. Touchdowns by Dinacci and CJ Preston trimmed Avon Grove’s lead to 28-14 in the middle of the third.

“We played flat in the first half, Dinacci said. “We started to play for each other in the second half and we were able to generate some success. Hopefully we learn from tonight and take the lessons with us moving forward.”

That’s as close as Henderson would get in the Ches-Mont National affair.

Next week, the Warriors will travel to Downingtown West, while the Red Devils will look to make it three wins in a row on the road against Coatesville.

W.C. Henderson 0 0 14 0 — 14

Avon Grove 0 21 14 0 — 35

First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter

AG — Francis 5 run (Sheehan kick)

AG — Jones 4 run (Sheehan kick)

AG — Jones 86 run (Sheehan kick)

Third Quarter

AG — Buchanan 40 pass from McLaughlin (Sheehan kick)

WCH — Preston 8 run (Angle kick)

WCH — Dinacci 32 run (Angle kick)

AG — Francis 5 run TD (Sheehan kick)

Fourth Quarter

No scoring

team statistics

WCHAG

First downs 8 13

Rushes-yards 31-163 38-337

Passing 5-11-2 3-6-0

Passing yards 76 63

Total yards 239 400

Punts 2-34.5 1-36

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 5-45 9-60

Individual statistics

Rushing — W.C. Henderson: Preston 18-66, TD, Mascetti 6-20, Dinacci 7-77, TD. Avon Grove: Jones 28-297, 2TD, Francis 7-30, 2TD, McLaughlin 3-10.

Passing — W.C. Henderson: Dinacci 5-11-2, 76yds. Avon Grove: McLaughlin 3-6-0, 63yds, TD.

Receiving — W.C. Henderson: DePhillips 4-26, Walton 1-50. Avon Grove: Buchanan 1-40, TD, Arhontakis 1-16, Francis 1-7.

Interceptions — Avon Grove: Boyd, Connelly.

Sacks — W.C. Henderson: none. Avon Grove: none.