Fox Lane Punts Away the Game Against Byram Hills
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
By Sam Federman
In a game defined more by the mistakes made than the impressive moments, Byram Hills defeated Fox Lane 21-16 on Friday night in Bedford.
The home team’s first drive was a sign of things to come, as Max Guyder’s 47 yard touchdown run for the Foxes was called back due to a holding penalty in the backfield, and the drive would then stall out. Neither team could move the ball offensively in the first quarter, as the only points came from a Byram Hills bad snap that backed the quarterback, Jon Accurso into a situation where his only option was taking a safety.
The rest of the first quarter was dominated once again by penalties, as well as a blocked punt, which wouldn’t be the only punting mishap of the game.
On 4th and 16 from their own 26 in the 2nd quarter, Byram Hills punted away to Fox Lane, but the Foxes return man couldn’t hold on, and the Bobcats recovered at the Fox Lane 45. A few plays later, Gavin Javorsky scored the first touchdown of the game on the ground, and it gave Byram the lead.
After a 3-and-out, Byram got the ball back, and Accurso picked up an east touchdown on the ground after a dropped interception by Declan Conners of Fox Lane. Byram took a 14-2 lead, and it looked like they’d be able to extend that, forcing a punt with 3:24 left in the first half. However, the punt bounced off the body of a Byram Hills player, and was picked up by Fox Lane.
A few plays later, Running Back Kevin Navarro scored a 28 yard scamper to make it a 5 point game with 2:26 left in the first half.
After a big return and a taunting penalty, Byram Hills was set up with excellent field position, and with less than a minute left, Sean Siegel scored an incredible touchdown. Accurso hit him in the back corner of the end zone where he absolutely mossed the Fox Lane defender, and the Bobcats took a 21-9 lead into the half.
On the first drive of the second half for Byram, a bad snap forced a long 4th down, where they had to punt, and the game began to turn from there. Declan Conners made up for his defensive miscues with a commanding touchdown drive on the ground bringing the game to 21-16 in the third quarter.
Still trailing by that same score in the 4th, in between true punt and field goal range, Fox Lane decided to go for a pooch punt by Max Travis, which worked like a charm, down to the 1 yard line. They were able to force a stop, and then the crucial moment.
On another 4th down, this time with less than 3 minutes left in the game, Coach Andrew Giuliano decided that the pooch punt on 4th and 6 was the right call. The Foxes never got the ball back, and they lost 21-16. When asked about the questionable decision, Giuliano said “The way they were snapping the ball all game on O, the way we had three picks slip through our hands and the way our defense played the whole game I felt better with the defense making a big play to keep us in the game at the moment.”
Javorsky finished with 22 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown to lead the way for Byram Hills in the victory. Their next game is against Hendrick Hudson on the road on Friday, while Fox Lane travels to Yorktown on Friday.
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
