Bayard Rustin is out to prove that last year’s 8-4 record was no fluke.
They may have just proved that as the Golden Knights avenged their only loss in the division last year with a 7-6 win over Unionville in Unionville Friday nite,
“In our short history, yes, this is our biggest win,” said Rustin coach Mike St. Clair. “We have played great defense all year.,” he added.
“We got beat in 2 of the 3 phases of the game, defense and special teams,” said Unionville head coach Pat Clark. “Doesn’t matter what we did on offense, you can’t get beat in 2 of the 3 phases like what we did and expect to win.”
On defense, Rustin (1-0 division, 3-1 overall) stopped Unionville when they had to. Unionville was stuffing the stat box, racking up, 233 yards on the ground and another 52 through the air, to go along with 13 first downs. Rustin stopped quarterback Connor Gades twice on the 1 yard line with time running out in the first half and the Indians out of time outs. Then in the second half with Unionville starting on their 18 yard line, they marched all the way to the Rustin 16 but the Golden Knghts held on downs. Then following a 31 yard punt by Rondell White, the Indians (0-1 division, 2-2 overall) marched again to the 17 yard line and on 4th and 2, Greg Carroll (20 carries 80 yards) tried to jump over the line but was stopped short.
“We made stops when we had to make stops,” said St. Clair. “We do have to get better on offense and we will work on that.’ Rustin was held to 79 total yards.
The second phase where Unionville got beat was on special teams. Unionville had just taken a 6-0 lead when Gades hit Mike Johnson on a 6 yard fade pattern to the far left of the end zone with 2:04 left in the first quarter. Joe Lisicky’s extra point attempt was wide, not knowing at the time it would eventually haunt the Indians.
On the ensuing kickoff, White needed just 17 seconds to give Rustin what turned out to be the winning score. He took the kickoff on the 5 yardline, fumbled it, picked it up, broke 3 or 4 tackles and raced 95 yards for the touchdown. Will Mau’s extra point turned out to be the difference in the game.
“Our game plan coming in was not to kick the ball to him,” said Clark. “I guess we as coaches didn’t do enough to emphaise that.”
With the win, Rustin now steps out of league to play Chichester next Friday nite at Henderson, while Unionville has to regroup and face Coatesville in a Ches-Mont cross-over game at home Saturday afternoon for homecoming.
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