Miscues break open close game in final quarter
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Unionville’s Brendan Boyle fights for yardage against the stout West Chester Henderson defense, Friday night. The Indians fell 30-12. Jim Gill photo.
EAST MARLBOROUGH — The slow, almost imperceptible shake of the head of Unionville high School Head Football Coach Pat Clark told the story.
Mistakes. No team can make mistakes against a good football team and not pay the price. Clark’s Indians did make a handful of mistakes at key times, which turned a tight, tense contest against West Chester Henderson into a one-sided contest late, as Unionville fell 30-12, Friday night.
“We made so many mistakes,” Clark said. “Henderson is a great team and Tre Green is a phenomenal running back, they’re tough, they’re a physical team and you can’t help ‘em out. They’re going to create their own opportunities and you can’t give them any. In every phase of the game, we just weren’t good enough tonight.”
While the loss doesn’t put a damper on Unionville’s (3-2, 1-0) Ches Mont American Division Title or District 1 playoff hopes — the lapses, which were less of an issue in recent games against less stout teams, were a glaring reminder that this team is still a bit of a work in progress.
Unionville’s Alex Pechin kicks a 46-yard field goal, one of two he hit in the contest. Jim Gill photo.
The whole game appeared to turn on a snap, a poor snap, the resulted in a safety. With the score 14-12, Unionville lined up on its own 13 — after stopping the 4-1 Warriors dead cold deep in Indians’ territory, but the snap was low and went past quarterback Alex Pechin, rolling back into the end zone to make it 16-14 in the final moments of the third quarter.
“That’s a big change of momentum play,” Clark said. “We come down, get the field goal blocked, and then get the safety. It’s a game of momentum against good teams.”
That appeared to take the wind out of the sails of the Indians — who appeared to be matching the Warriors big play for big play until that point.
Henderson took the ensuing kickoff and marched right down the field, going 53 yards on nine plays, with Tre Green scoring from six yards out to make it 23-12 — effectively putting the game out of reach. Pechin fumbled on its next possession, again the Warriors made them pay, after Jason Dephillips recovered for Henderson on the Unionville 17. Three plays later, Green scored again and that was it for Unionville.
Unionville’s Elan Nash looks for open space after catching a pass from Alex Pechin. Jim Gill photo.
Green, coming off a stellar 232 yard performance against powerful Downingtown West, scored three touchdowns and ran for 130 yards, boosting his argument that he might be the best back in Chester County in 2014.
The lone Unionville touchdown came in the final seconds of the first half when Austin Hofman-Reardon scored from 7 yards out to make the score 14-12 at the half. The Indians had a shot to take the lead in the third quarter, after an impressive drive to the Henderson 12, but Pechin’s 29-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Brian Armstrong.
On the plus side for the Indians, Pechin finished the night 12 of 22 for 129 yards, and kicked field goals of 46 and 39 yards, while Brendan Boyle led the Indians with 43 yards rushing.
