W.C. Rustin rolls over Oxford

OXFORD >> Maybe it was the oddity of playing under the “Monday Night Lights” instead of Friday, but West Chester Rustin didn’t get off to a great start against Oxford, and only led by a point midway through the second period.

Then something snapped them to attention.

A five-yard touchdown run from Ty Pringle started a string of 27 unanswered points, and the Golden Knights cruised to a 54-19 victory in a Ches-Mont American Division matchup.

“I don’t know what happened in the beginning,” said Pringle. “But once we started, we weren’t going to be stopped.”

A game Oxford squad held the Knights (1-1 league, 3-2 overall) in check for much of the first quarter before their ground game really started rolling in earnest, finally getting on the board following a 91-yard drive, capped by a 7-yard run from Alex Rotelli to make it 7-0.

But the Hornets (1-1, 1-4) answered right back, marching off a 75-yard drive of its own, capped by a four-yard run from Dan Green to make it 7-6.

“We’re getting some guys back, and we’re seeing some progress,” said Oxford coach Mike Means. “But it seems like we get one guy back, another two go down.  We are doing a lot of things right, and we are making progress, but we’re too up and down.  We’ve got to find the consistency.”

The Hornets were threatening again on their next drive, but Brandon Frazier picked off a Green pass and returned it to midfield. Five plays later, Rustin was in the end zone with a Pringle’s five-yard score to make it 14-6. Pringle would score again just before the half to make it 20-6 at the break.

Pringle led all rushers with 23 carries for 177 yards and three touchdowns, including one 71-yard scoring scamper in the third quarter to pad Rustin’s lead at 41-13. As a team, the Knights had 332 yards on the ground.

“The job the offensive line was doing tonight was just great,” said Pringle. “The whole team just really decided they wanted it.”

In the second half, Rustin added to the lead with a one yard run from Evan Wlock to make it 27-6 and a 29-yard pass play from Wlock to Frazier for a 34-6 lead.

After Pringle’s run iced it, Nick Benoit had a 84-yard interception return to make it 54-19 late in the game.

“I knew even when I was still in the air I was going to take it all the way,” said Benoit.

Pringle’s counterpart for the Hornets, Tim Davis, had a pretty solid night of his own, with 141 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Green added 178 yards through the air, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

“Mike (Means) has a tough team over there,” said Rustin coach Mike St. Clair. “We knew they were going to come out and play tough. We just had to do what we needed to do. It’s a nice win, but now we’ve got a short week to get ready for Great Valley, so we can’t think about this one too much, and just have to get right to work for the next game.”

WCR: Rotelli 7 run (Gallagher kick)

O: Green 4 run (kick failed)

WCR: Pringle 5 run (kick failed)

WCR: Pringle 2 run (Gallagher kick)

WCR: Wlock 1 run (Gallagher kick)

WCR: Frazier 29 pass from Wlock (Gallagher kick)

O: Davis 43 run (Hannum kick)

WCR: Pringle 71 run (kick failed)

O: Hilaman 29 pass from Green (kick failed)

WCR: Rotelli 7 run (Gallagher kick)

WCR: Benoit 84 interception return (Gallagher kick)

WCRO

First downs 12 16

Rushes-yards 43-332 27-165

Passing 2-4-0 22-35-2

Passing yards 43 178

Total yards 375 343

Punts 2-17.0 6-14.8

Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 9-45 4-25

Rushing — West Chester Rustin: Pringle 23-177, 3 TD; Wlock 7-64, TD; Rotelli 6-45, 2 TD; Frazier 4-36; Benoit 2-10, Celucci 1-0. Oxford: Davis 19-141, TD; Green 4-19; Holz 3-7; Williams 1-(-2).

Passing — West Chester Rustin: Wlock 2-4-0, 47 yds, TD. Oxford: Green 22-35-2, 178 yds., TD.

Receiving — West Chester Rustin: Frazier 1-29, TD; Benoit 1-14. Oxford: Hilaman 7-81, TD; Williams 3-29; DeShields 9-61; Holz 3-7.

Interceptions — West Chester Rustin: Frazier, Benoit. Oxford: None.