Tonight, the Unionville Indians won a tribal battle with the Octorara Braves, by a score of 49-6. The Indians’ win improves their record to 5-2 on the season and sets up a crucial week eight showdown at Rustin high school with the 6-1 Golden Knights.
It was a night where Unionville could do no wrong. They converted 14 points off two special teams plays, scored 14 points off of defensive turnovers in plus territory, and hit big plays in their offense.
After Octorara lost a fumble on their first possession, it took all of six plays for Alex Pechin and the Indians to strike first, on a 65 yard pass to Brandon Boon on third and 20.
Octorara was able to establish a running game with Alex Gooden and Corey Cooper for a couple first downs, but Unionville forced a punt. Five plays later, Austin Hoffmann-Reardon dashed 39 yards to pay dirt, and a 14-0 lead.
Then Unionville’s special teams joined the fun. Thinking that Alex Pechin’s kick was going out of bounds, the Octorara kick returner delayed a decision on fielding the ball, and Unionville capitalized on the uncertainty in the red zone. The next play Pechin to Boon struck from 16 yards, and the rout was on.
The Braves cut the lead to 21-6, on their lone bright spot, Corey Cooper’s 4 yard run. The Braves did have some success using the single wing offense.
Any momentum quickly evaporated into a 71 yard kickoff return by Tyler Marmo, to put the Indians up 28-6 at half. It was clear that Octorara didn’t have the athletes to compete, as Unionville ran a 16 play drive to start the second half, capped off by Boon’s third score.
The mercy rule kicked in with 4.6 seconds left in the third, as Austin Hoffmann-Reardon scored on a 1 yard plunge.
Dylan Thompson ended the scoring on a nine yard run.
Corey Cooper rushed for 71 yards and a score on the night for Octorara.
Alex Pechin threw for 99 yards & two scores, Hoffmann-Reardon ran for 81, Brendan Boyle added 69, Boon 30, and Thompson added 46.
