With an impressive 36-6 win against Austin Prep on Saturday, Oct. 1, and a very close 24-21 loss to St. Luke’s School on Saturday, Sept. 24, the boy’s varsity football team opened their season with determined goals and a strong work effort, showcasing their talent. The team is ready to continue playing at a high level, proving their skills and passion for the game.
Head Coach Brandon Batory thinks that a highlight for the season was the under-the-lights game against St. Luke’s. “The night game was fantastic,” he said. “The incredible crowd and atmosphere; it was just a great and fun matchup to be in.”
Senior defensive end Geordan Robertson loves getting to play for the team, and a highlight this season for him is the family aspect of the football team. “We have each other’s back, and push each other to make everyone better,” Robertson said.
So far, Coach Batory’s favorite memories from the team are seeing the kids come together. “There’s not necessarily one specific thing, but I see this group of guys, they like playing with each other, they like playing for each other and they really have bought into caring for each other,” Coach Batory said. “And that’s to me been my favorite thing that I’ve seen so far with this team.”
Senior Co-captain wide receiver and safety Dalton Grant thinks that the season has gone well. “Our boys fought hard, and a huge accomplishment was winning an undefeated team: Canterbury,” Grant said. One of his favorite memories for Grant so far was the home opener when he scored the first touchdown of the game. He can’t wait for the excitement that the end of the season will bring.
Junior defensive line Chief Ebana’s favorite memory from the season so far is beating Canterbury on Hewett Day. Junior quarterback Nate Bowes agreed, noting that the team has come together really well.
Ebana loves playing for KO because of the coaches. “Our coaches put a lot of effort into everything,” Ebana said. “They help us to know all the formations, they help us succeed and they teach us new things every day.” The best part of the team for Ebana, though, is that everyone plays for each other. “While we also play for ourselves, we play together as a team and want each other to succeed as well,” he said.
On Oct. 8, the Wyverns competed against Canterbury School, with a tough loss of 27-19; however, the Wyverns played very well. The Berkshire offense was strong, running the ball all game, and got out to a 13-0 halftime lead. However, the Wyverns did not quit and came charging back. Sophomore quarterback Stephen Bailey hit senior wide receiver Ben Stengel on multiple big passing plays to get the offense going. The scoring started with Bailey hitting junior wide receiver and safety Rhandyn Bair in stride, and Bair did the rest to score the first of the game with a 49-yard touchdown. Next, Stengel hit a brilliant short kick, and it was recovered by Fountain. The KO offense then marched down the field scoring on a 10-yard touchdown strike from Bailey to Grant to tie the game at 13 late in the third quarter. The scoring would then alternate the rest of the way with Berkshire getting the final score. Defensively, sophomore Evan Tyler and Bowes led the way for the Wyverns with seven tackles each.
On Oct. 15, the Wyverns played Canterbury School at home on Hewett Day and had a thrilling win in overtime with a score of 38-37. It was an incredible game of grit and perseverance as the scoring alternated the entire game with no team being able to pull away. In overtime tied 30-30, the Saints started with the ball. They scored on a 37-yard touchdown pass on a 4th and 20 to go, up 37-30. The Wyverns refused to quit, knowing they would get a chance with the ball. The offense just needed two plays with an incredible run by Bowes from 25 yards out to get the score to 37-36. With the extra point looming, the Wyverns went for it all, going for two points in a win-or-lose play situation. Bowes’ number was called again, scoring on a quarterback run from three yards out to secure the win 38-37 in walk-off fashion.
Offensively Bowes was electric accounting for over 450 yards of offense and five touchdowns. The offensive line of Tyler, senior Jaedan Curcio, sophomore Julian Przecioska, Ebana, and Robertson, were incredible all game in the pass and run blocking helping the offense amass over 500 yards on the day. Bair was incredible all game, leading the team with nine receptions, scoring two touchdowns, and two key interceptions defensively. Fountain was fantastic guarding their best player all game, and made one of the plays of the game going for a 90-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter. Defensively, Ebana led the way with six tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack, and blocked the potential Canterbury game-winning extra point in the fourth quarter. Junior quarterback and linebacker Dom Dinuzzo made two crucial defensive plays, sniffing out a screen pass and stopping a runner, late in the fourth that would have been sure touchdowns.
The biggest highlight of the season so far for Fountain was the win against Canterbury. “We struggled sometimes throughout the game, but we stayed resilient and battled hard to the end, and we had some impressive solo performances from Bair and Bowes,” Fountain said.
On Oct. 22, the Wyverns took a long bus ride up to Concord, New Hampshire to play the Big Red of St. Paul on a gorgeous sunny fall day. Unfortunately, the Wyverns lost 46-12 but the Wyverns started hot. Defensively, the team stopped St. Paul on their first three offensive drives. Offensively the Wyverns scored on their first two drives with big plays. First, Bowes threw a laser to Fountain who caught it and made the safety miss, taking it all the way for a touchdown from 71 yards out. Next, Bowes scrambled out of the pocket and threw a deep ball to Grant who came down with it, and broke a tackle to go for another huge touchdown from 76 yards out. A few key turnovers helped shift the momentum St. Paul’s way, and the Wyverns could never recover. Defensively, Fountain led the way with 11 tackles, two tackles for a loss, and two passes defended. Ebana and Przecioska were tough all day on the interior defensive line, fighting through blocks and making plays. It was a valiant effort against the best team in the league. The player of the game was Fountain. “Fountain was fantastic for us in every way,” Coach Batory said. “Leading us on the field, making big plays on offense, leading the defense in tackles and passes defended. He stepped up in a big way for us during a big game.”
On Oct. 29, the team competed against Albany Academies and won with a score of 26-22. It was a great victory for the Wyverns at home on a gorgeous fall afternoon. Much like many games the team has played this year, it was close throughout, with the two teams alternating scoring the whole day. The offensive line of Curcio, Tyler, Przecioska, sophomore Will Keegan and Ebana were tremendous all day, paving the way for 197 yards on the ground and excellent in pass protection. The scoring was started by Bowes who took a quarterback sweep play left and cut it back across the entire defense, outrunning them all for a 63-yard touchdown score. Next Bowes hit Fountain for a seven-yard touchdown on a fourth and goal to extend the lead. The last two scores were all offensive lines with the assistance of senior Captain tight end and defensive endJacob Amburn and Roberston, with tremendous blocks, running quarterback sneak for two touchdowns. The quarterback was untouched on both plays. Defensively, sophomore Sanford Cloud led the way with eight tackles. Amburn and Ebana were tremendous on the defensive line, accounting for multiple tackles for a loss, sacks, and five quarterback hits. Albany was able to move the ball into the red zone six times but only came away with three scores. With the lead 26-22 late in the fourth quarter, the defense came up with two consecutive red zone stops to end the game.
Looking back over the games of the season, Coach Batory thinks that Fountain has been an absolute leader for the team. “He’s been tremendous offensively and defensively for us and has been exactly what we want; what Kingswood Oxford football players should be,” Coach Batory said. “He has resembled that [what KO football players should be] perfectly, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
As the team moves through their season, they will continue to grow together as a team to meet their individual and group goals. With a future game against New Hampton School, the team is sure to do well and continue improving their skills.
