Jaguars Win Without Throwing A Pass

Both the Conestoga Pioneers and the Garnet Valley Jaguars entered Thursday night’s game at Conestoga undefeated (2-0). Last year the Pioneers shocked the Jaguars and won at Garnet Valley 14-7. The Jaguars wanted revenge for last year’s game and they knew it was going to be a tough test on a rainy night.

To start the game the Pioneers scored in just 14 seconds as senior Brian Dailey returned the kickoff for a touchdown. The Pioneers wanted to go up not just by 7, but 8. On the two-point conversion senior quarterback Bill Flatley was sacked by the Jaguars.

Garnet Valley senior Jeremy Irving almost followed up for a touchdown on his return but after a long run reached Conestoga’s 35 yard line. The Jaguars’ offense took advantage of the good field position. Garnet Valley senior quarterback Jake Helmes helped get the Jaguars near the end zone. On the one yard line, second and goal, Jaguars senior running back Alex Warden dove for a touchdown to put the Jaguars on top after the extra point, 7-6.

The running game continued for the Jaguars. Warden found the end zone again for a second time in the game scoring on a four yard touchdown run. Jaguars junior running back Justin Pyle scored on a three yard touchdown carry.

To start the second half the Jaguars put together a six minute and thirty five second scoring drive. This time Jaguars junior running back Kyle Keyser added into the running game along with Pyle and Warden. Helmes found some room at the line and ran into the end zone to put the Jaguars up 27-6.

The Jaguars defense gave the Pioneers a headache. The Pioneers began to drive down the field using their senior running back Blair Brooks. As Flatley threw to the right corner of the end zone his pass was intercepted by senior David Arkus. Flatley also fumbled the football as it was knocked out by Jaguars linebacker Ryan Van Horn. The Pioneers quarterback also felt the pressure and was sacked later in the game by Jeremy Irving. Head Coach of the Pioneers John Vogan said “They flat out beat us tonight; they deserve a lot of credit. Their players are strong and quick.”

Halfway through the fourth quarter the Pioneers cut the score to 27-14. After the touchdown the Jaguars botched the kickoff and started their drive on their own four yard line. The Jags went on a 96 yard scoring drive and scored on Pyle’s second touchdown of the game.

Believe it or not, the Jaguars did not throw the ball once, the whole game. The Jaguars rushed the entire game with their three running backs, Warden, Pyle, and Keyser. None of those three though rushed as more as quarterback Helmes. The quarterback rushed for just over a 130 yards. After a big 34-14 win Helmes is saving his arm for next week, another tough opponent on the road against Radnor. Head Coach of the Garnet Valley Jaguars Mike Ricci said “Radnor is going to be another tough test for us; the whole Central League has become tough.” Next week’s game starts at 6:30 pm. at Radnor. Conestoga will try to get back on a winning streak as they travel to Harriton for a 7 pm. game.