WC East gets first win in dramatic fashion

OXFORD>>When West Chester East called a timeout with 0:03.1 showing on the clock, and the game with Oxford tied at 14-14, 65 yards stood between them and their first victory of the season. Everyone in the stadium, including the Oxford defense, knew a pass was all but assured.

That pass came, as Viking quarterback Nate DeRosa connected with Brady Laird for just about 25 of those remaining yards. Laird quickly lateraled to Tyler Wileczek on the hook-and-ladder play.  Wileczek covered the remaining 40 yards unscathed, thanks in no small part to a huge downfield block from Landon Goodwin on the last Hornet defensive back with a shot to send the game to overtime, and West Chester East (1-8) picked up its first win of the season, 20-14, over the host Hornets (3-6).

“You practice the end of game plays at the end of practice every week, and you don’t know if it’s something you’re ever going to use,” said Vikings’ coach Scott Stephen. “Then to see the guys execute it when there was just one more play in a hard fought game was really gratifying.”

Even after he got the ball on the lateral, Wileczek wasn’t sure he’d reach paydirt. 

“It might be the greatest feeling I’ve ever had in my life,” said Wileczek. “I wasn’t sure I was going to get to the end zone until I got that great block from Number 19 (Goodwin.). Much as I’d love to take the credit, if that block isn’t there, I wasn’t getting in the end zone.”

Wileczek, who also had a pair of interceptions in the game, was also quick to give credit to his defensive teammates, who effectively corralled a Hornet offense that can be explosive.

“Last we really started to click on defense when we held Kennett to 14 points,” said Wileczek. So we knew we could play tough defense. We came out and played tough the whole first half. We gave up a couple of touchdowns late, and I really wish we could have that second one back, but we made it work in the end.”

The Vikings broke open a scoreless tie with a pair of touchdowns in the second period. The first came on an eight-play, 67-yard drive, capped by a two-yard run from Fenton Kulp. 

Kulp, who led all rushers with 103 yards on 26 carries, scored again just before the half, this time on a one-yard plunge, to give the Vikings a 14-0 halftime lead.

“It’s important for us, just to try to improve each week, no matter who the opponent is,” said Stephen. “Mike (Means runs a great program here at Oxford, and anytime you can get a win in the Ches-Mont American, it’s a great thing.”

The two touchdown lead held until the fourth period, when the Hornets worked their way back into it. With the Vikings pinned deep in their own territory, Oxford forced a fumble and took over at the ten. Hornet quarterback Dustin Long ran it in on a keeper on first down to cut the lead in half.

The Oxford defense continued to get the job done, stopping the Vikings cold on the next several possessions, and then the Hornet offense had their best drive of the night.

Taking over at their own 37, Long connected with Justin Tyre for 37 yards, then picked up another 20 on a keeper. Several more Long runs gave the Hornets a first and goal from the eight. The WCE defense stiffened, and Oxford faced a fourth and eight. But Long found Ryan Evans in the back corner of the end zone for the TD, and the game was tied at 14-14, setting up the exciting final scenario.

“I’m so excited right now,” said DeRosa. “It’s a play we practice all the time, and I’m just glad we were able to find space to make the lateral happen. We had a few missteps in the second half, but we got past them. Now we just have to do it next week against Henderson.”

West Chester East 20 Oxford 14

WC East 0 14 0 6—20
Oxford 0 0 0 14—14

Scoring
Second Quarter
WCE—Kulp 2-run (Gilbert kick) 7-0
WCE—Kulp 1-run (Gilbert kick) 14-0

Fourth Quarter
OX—Long 10-run (Smith kick) 14-7
OX—Evans 8-pass from Long (Smith kick) 14-14
WCE—Wileczek 40-pass from Laird (no conversion att) 20-14
Team statistics
WCE—OX
First downs 14—13
Rushes-yards 37-108 34-114
Passing 10-18 10-24
Passing yards 133 113
Total yards 241 227
Punts/avg 4-34 2-37
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-55 5-50
Individual statistics
Rushing—WCE Kulp 26-103, 2 TD, DeRosa 11-5 OX—Long 28-101, Dantonio 4-13, Evans 1-(-2) Tyre 1-2
Passing — WCE DeRosa 9-17-69, Renzi 1-1-24 OX Long 10-24-113, TD, 3 INT
Receiving—WCE Wileczek 7-78, TD, Kulp 1-4, Laird 1-25, Trubiano 1-6 OX Tyre 4-52, Boyer 1-8, Vance 1-8, Evans 3-22, Dantonio 1-24
Sacks—WCE Grear OX Vance (2) Turk
Interceptions—WCE—Wileczek (2) Laird