Henderson Blows Out Avon Grove

After coming of a big defensive win against Coatesville last week the Henderson Warriors Offense exploded this Friday against a struggling Avon Grove team. The Henderson Office was headed by senior Jake Richards who collected 3 touchdowns by the middle of the 3rd Quarter for the Warriors. With the Warriors on the verge of winning the Ches-Mont National Division, the Warriors came out firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball.

The game started with Avon Grove winning the toss and electing to receive. They came out hot but would soon fizzle out with the kick off being returned to West Chester’s 35 yard line. After a quick 3 downs and being shut down by the intense Henderson’s defensive line, Avon Grove attempted a field goal from Henderson’s 26 yard line but would come up short. Henderson’s offense started slow having to convert a 4th and 1 to keep their first drive alive. After converting the 4th and short, Henderson went on to run a few options not only moving the ball but also eating up 8 minutes of the clock before going #9 Strafford Foster completed a 23 yard pass to #12 Alex Sontag putting the Warriors in Avon Grove territory. After a few more run plays, #7 Jake Richards ran the ball into the endzone for his first touch down of the night. The next series Avon Grove couldn’t bounce back fumbeling the ball in their territory with West Chester recovering. West Chester couldn’t capatilize on their next possession fumbeling the ball on 3rd and 1 in Avon Grove Territory. With the first quarter ending 7-0 it looked like it would be a close game.

During the second quarter Henderson’s offense came to life with #8 Spencer Rymiszeski returning a punt for 53 yards putting the offense in Avon Grove territory for the first possession of the 2nd quarter. After a few plays, #7 Jake Richards runs the option and keeps it for a 5 yard TD to put Henderson up 14-0. The Henderson stingy defense gave up it’s first, first down with 8 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. As #9 Strattford Foster came back to the quarterback position after sitting the last series with an injury, he threw a 52 yard pass to #8 Spencer Rymiszeski for another West Chester’s  3rd touchdown in the first half giving them a 21-0 lead. The next series proved to be yet another big turnover for the Henderson defense forcing a fumble in Avon Grove territory. The offense went on to score yet again with Strattford Foster taking a 9 yard run into the endzone to end the half with a 28-0 lead over Avon Grove. At half time the Warriors offense had 211 yards while only giving up 61 to Avon Grove.

The Warriors received the kick in the second half and was ended by yet another 39 yard touchdown by Jake Richards to end the scoring frenzy by Henderson Warriors. Soon after the Warriors took out their starters and let their subs get some reps to end the night against Avon Grove. The Warriors defense never let Avon Grove get it started on offense.

“Just did my job today, it was a good team win and we came out hungry and ready to get ready for next week,” Jake Richards went on to say about his three touchdown performance, “Next week we have big game ahead of us, and I expect us to come out firing on all cylinders and if we can play the way I know we can I feel we can come out with a win next week.”

Next week Henderson hosts Downingtown East at Henderson High School with play off implication. Both teams are very talented and very hungry to win the Ches-Mont. With West Chester’s offense and defense finally beginning to click together it looks like it will be a slugfest when both teams line up across the ball ready to put it all on the line to see who truly is the best team in the Ches-Mont. After the game Coach Joe Walsh gave his team an aspiring speech letting his team know how proud he was of them but that their job was not yet over. He went on to let them know that next week will be the biggest game of their life thus far with them hosting Downingtown East at home.

 “It felt good today to see our offense and defense play at such a high level and have such a level of success,” Coach Walsh went onto say, “ Next week we have an opponent who can run the ball as well as throw the ball. They are a very talented team on both sides of the ball and I feel we match up well against each other. It will be a good game but ultimately I feel if we can have our offense and defense playing at a high level, we have a good chance at coming out on top.”