Penn Wood Clinches Del Val Title

Entering Saturday afternoon’s season finale against Del-Val League rivals, the Penn Wood Patriots, the Chester Clippers had a chance to play the roll of spoiler. With a win over the Patriots, the Clippers would have eliminated their rivals from District 1 playoffs starting this week, in addition to denying the Patriots their first Del Val title since 1994.
But the day wasn’t about spoiling the Patriots’ playoff and league title hopes, it was about honoring the Clippers’ seniors on Senior Day and, unfortunately, the Patriots spoiled the game part of the day for them, leaving the A-Field with an 18-8 come from behind victory.
“I am sorry for the seniors,” an emotional Clippers Head Coach Chuck Crews said, adding that the team had 13 great seniors.
The first quarter was a defensive battle as neither team allowed points. The Clippers attempted an early 3-0 lead but Ephraim Massena’s attempted 38-yard field goal was no good. The Clippers finally got the game’s first points when Adrian Turner picked up a Darryle Neville fumble at the Patriot five yard and went in for the fumble recovery touchdown. Anthony Davis ran in for the two-point conversion, giving the Clippers the 8-0 halftime lead.
The Patriots needed a spark in the second half and got it, starting the half off with an onsides kick they recovered at the Clippers’ 35. Kavonne Nottingham took advantage of the kick when he took it from a yard out. The Clippers defense stopped the Patriots on their two-point conversion try, preserving the 8-6 lead for the Clippers. The touchdown should not have happened as on the play prior to the touchdown, Nottingham fumbled the ball and it appeared as if Da’Ryn Harris recovered, but the referees disagreed and allowed Penn Wood to keep possession.
The Patriots defense allowed them to take the lead as Neville made up for his fumble by intercepting Harris and returning it 65-yards untouched to give the Patriots the 12-6 lead.
The Patriots put away the game in the fourth quarter with a three-yard touchdown run by Nottingham to put them up 18-8 and sealing a playoff berth and a run at the Del Val League championship.
The Clippers ended the season with a record of four wins and six losses. “We came together stronger and then we just picked up too late in the season. If we had picked up our game, we could have gone farther,” Harris said, adding that he’s going to miss his teammates next season.
Crews thanked his wife for allowing him to coach and said that his team now heads to the weight room to prepare for next season.