Late Trojans’ blunder allows York to escape with 24-17 win

New Kent’s Jordan Howard (12) pursues York quarterback Landon Buffin, eventually causing a strip sack and recovering the ball.

Robb Johnson photo

Coming off their first win of the year after a trip to Jamestown, New Kent’s Trojans looked to continue that momentum in a Friday night football contest against the visiting York Falcons. And just when it looked like the hosts would force a game into overtime, a miscue derailed their chances to put together a winning streak.

A fumble inside the 10-yard line by the Trojans as time wound down late in the fourth proved to be the deciding factor as the visiting York Falcons escaped with a 24-17 victory in the Bay Rivers District match-up.

New Kent placed the first points on the board. A fumble by the Falcons allowed the hosts to recover, leading to Andrew Wallace’s scamper down the sideline and a 7-0 lead for the hosts. York countered on the next drive, marching down the field for a score and successfully converting a two-point try to take an 8-7 lead. The guests doubled that score at the 7:16 mark in the second quarter, orchestrating a 66-yard drive to take a 16-7 advantage that would remain the same to the halftime intermission.

In the third quarter, Trojan signal-caller Khoen Christian was sacked, coughing up the ball. The end result was a fumble recovery by the Falcons. The guests took advantage of the short field with a 35-yard touchdown run and increased their lead to 24-7.

The hosts began finding their offensive connectivity. After a York penalty for pass interference, Christian connected with Josiah Reedy on an 18-yard pass play. Christian called his own number, scoring on a one-yard plunge to cut the Trojan deficit to 10 (24-14).

On the ensuing kickoff, York fumbled the ball on the return, resulting in New Kent’s Chase Wiles recovering the ball. The recovery resulted in a Tayten Hybiak field goal, cutting the Falcons’ lead down to a one-score game (24-17).

York’s offense continued to sputter on offense, settling for a punt to play the field position game. However, New Kent blocked the punt attempt, recovering the ball at the Falcons’ 25-yard line with 2:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Christian and Reedy connected for a seven-yard hook-up, getting down to the 18-yard line. On third and three, the pair connected again, but as Reedy turned the corner, the ball was punched out of his hands, rolling down to the one-yard line where York jumped on top of the ball. The visitors forced their way out of the end zone and converted a first down, resulting in time expiring off the clock and escaping New Kent with a win.

After the contest, New Kent Head Coach John McCauley spoke about his team’s ability to not give up in the contest.

“The kids wanted it and they still want it,” he commented. “We have been looking to keep fighting and get better each week.

“Youth has been our Achilles heel all year,” McCauley continued. “It’s something we can build off, but I hate it for all these seniors out here. But we have to get better, and I am proud of what our seniors are doing to build this foundation.”

New Kent’s record falls to 1-6 on the season.