With a 42-6 victory over Rye Country Day School on Nov. 9, the Kingswood Oxford football team won its fifth game in a row plus a piece of its league championship -- the first since KO joined the Fairchester Athletic Association in 2004. Click here for photos.
KO is co-champ with Hamden Hall, which beat Hopkins School on the same day.
“I am so proud of all this team has accomplished this season and the growth they have made over the past three years,” said KO Athletic Director Susan Cabot. “It’s a true testament as to how an emphasis on hard work and building character helped bring the team together and helped the boys realize what they were capable of. This was a great season for KO football and a moment of real Wyvern pride for the whole community.”
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The Wyverns were led by quarterback and co-captain Dante Cioffi '14, who was 15 for 20 (319 yards) with four touchdowns – three of which were caught by co-captain Elijah Langston '14, who had seven receptions for 205 yards. Sharrieff Grice '15 led the rushing attack with 143 yards on the ground and one touchdown, while wide receiver Isaiah Wright '16 electrified the crowd with a 24-yard TD reception on which he broke several tackles.
Defensively, Koby Quansah '16 had an astounding 25 tackles, three of which were for a loss. Collin Brantner '14 had 11 tackles (three for a loss), and co-captain Fen Deskus '14 had a stellar day at outside linebacker with eight tackles.
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Kicker Spencer Martin '14 was perfect on extra-point attempts, and also scampered in for a touchdown himself late in the fourth quarter.
The league title caps a multi-year turnaround for the KO football program under Head Coach Jason Martinez, who is finishing his third season with the Wyverns. The team was 0-8 two years ago and 2-6 last year.
The Wyverns, who finished 6-2 for the season, played the championship game in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd of KO students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. Trustees Emeriti and KO gridiron veterans Greg Hickey '47 and Jim Lyon '48 kicked off the festivities by treating the crowd to a barbecue just before the game.
