Sparacino, defense lead Kennett to dominant win over Oxford

KENNETT SQUARE—Last week’s loss at the hands of Upper Dublin in a non-league game left a bad taste in the mouths of the Kennett Blue Demon football team. That proved to be bad news for visiting Oxford Friday night in the Ches-Mont opener for both teams. Kennett (1-1 overall, 1-0 league) was on the board in the first two minutes of the game, and never looked back, posting a convincing 42-14 win over the Hornets (1-1, 0-1).

“We took our lumps last week and challenged the guys all week in practice to be better,” said Kennett coach Lance Frazer. “We came out and punched them in the mouth, followed the game plan to a T, and played an attack style defense.”

Kennett caught the first big break in the game almost before it started, as the Hornets fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. The Blue Demons recovered, and three plays later, Julian Sparacino notched the first of two touchdowns on the day.

After the Blue Demon defense did its job on the next Oxford series, Kennett needed just three plays to cover the 42 yards for another touchdown. This time, it was quarterback Brett Kauffman finding Matthew McQueen for an 8-yard scoring pass.

“Today the ball bounced our way,” said Frazer. “The fumble swung things our way, we got it done offensively, the defense played tough, and our kicking game kept Oxford from ever getting good field position to start a drive.”

Kennett kicker Ryan Barker had seven kick-offs on the night. All seven resulted in a touchback.

“Ryan is headed to Penn State next year,” said Frazer. “Our first Power Five recruit is a special teamer, and we couldn’t be more excited for him.”

Down 21-0 after Kennett tacked on a TD run from Kauffman late in the first quarter, Oxford finally got on the board with a little less than two minutes to go in the half. Taking over at their own 20, the Hornets covered the 80 yards in just two plays, capped by a 46-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Long to Ryan Evans.

But the high for Oxford was short-lived, as Kennett answered right back with a touchdown of their own, a 10-yard scamper by Kauffman with 11-seconds to play in the half.

“We got out coached, we got out physicalled, and we got out matched,” said Oxford coach Mike Means. “Our kids came in confident after our win last week, and I hope this opened some eyes. We told them coming in we were going to have to match physicality, and we didn’t do it. We just need to be much better.”

The Blue Demons added two more scores in the second half, a 28-yard pass from Kauffman (10-17, 151 yards, 3 TD) to Colin Jung, and a 20-yard strike from Kauffman to Sparacino.

Kennett kept the Oxford attack in check the rest of the way, save for a touchdown pass from Long to Justin Tyre in the game’s waning moments and the outcome not in doubt.

“We bounced back well, because last week we did not play good defense and gave up 37 points,” said Frazer. “Our defensive coordinator took it personally, the players took it personally, and everyone stepped it up big time today.”

Sparacino led the Kennett offensive attack, piling up 158 yards on 27 carries.

“Last week, I don’t think we were really feeling football yet,” said Sparacino. “But this week, we really went at them and took it took them. We really set the tone right away with forcing that fumble. We were talking before the game about setting the tone. You do it right early on, it’ll affect the rest of the game.”

Kennett 42 Oxford 14

Oxford 0 7 0 7–14
Kennett 21 7 7 7—42
First Quarter
KEN—Sparacino 1-run (Barker Kick) 7-0
KEN—McQueen 8-pass from Kauffman (Barker Kick) 14-0
KEN—Kauffman 5-run (Barker Kick) 21-0

Second Quarter
OX—Evans 55-pass from Long (Smith kick) 21-7
KEN—Kauffman 10-run (Barker Kick) 28-7
Third Quarter
KEN–Jung 28- pass from Kauffman (Barker Kick) 35-7

Fourth Quarter
KEN—Sparacino 20-pass from Kauffman (Barker Kick) 42-7
OX—Tyre 55-pass from Long (Smith kick)

Team statistics

OX—KEN
First downs 4—15
Rushes-yards 19-50 38-203
Passing 7-18 10-17
Passing yards 210 151
Total yards 260 354
Punts/avg 3-29.3 1-41
Fumbles-lost 3-1 4-1
Penalties-yards 7-60 7-45

Individual statistics

Rushing—OX—Long 10-54, Piksun 5-(-8), Dantonio 2-2 Kruger 1-1 Evans 1-1 KEN—Sparacino 27-158, TD, Kauffman 8-33, 2 TD, Guyer 3-15
Passing — OX—Long 7-18, 210, 2TD, INT KEN—Kauffman 10-17, 151, 3 TD
Receiving—OX—Evans 3-69, TD, Dantonio 2-61, Tyre 1-55, TD, Piksun 1-25 KEN—McGreal 4-24, TD, McQueen 2-23, TD, Guyer 1-26, Sparacino 1-20, TD
INT—KEN–McGreal