the Cafe
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(below) Ivory Richardson caps off a good run
Any concerns about Indian River suffering an emotional letdown after last
week's stunning upset of Sussex Central were expelled less than five
minutes into the first quarter Friday night in Frankford.
With the Indians set up on first down from their own 38 yard line, quarterback Shawn Watkins rolled right and fired a perfect pass to Brock Dean, who raced nearly untouched to the end zone. The 62-yard scoring pass gave the Indians a 7-0 lead and Sussex Tech never recovered.
The eventual 21-0 victory gave the IR its first 2-0 start since 1992.
"We were fearful of a letdown but we thought they came out like gangbusters," IR coach Pat Kelly said. "I think our offense played super in the first half. Coach (assistant Phil DiSabatino) has a team that's hard to defend because we have so many backs that can carry the ball. We throw the ball, we run the ball."
IR overcame a fumble on its first series to score on three of its next four possessions and build a commanding halftime lead. The Indians racked up 239 yards total offense in the first two quarters, then turned things over to the defense, which pitched it's first shutout since 1996.
"We came out and the kids had a great week of practice. I think all the coaches tuned the kids in to what they were going to see and in the first half, there it was," said DiSabatino, the team's offensive coordinator. "I think they're playing with a lot more intensity than in the last couple years."
The Indians again unleashed a balanced attack as Watkins completed 4 of 10 passes for 113 yards and Ryan Shelton and Antoine Stratton rushed for 73 and 71 yards respectively.
An emotional boost was also provided by coach George Bethard, who visited the team in the locker room before the game and was present on the sideline during the first half.
Bethard was the team's head coach during the preseason before suffering complications from surgery last spring to remove a malignant brain tumor. Shortly before last week's opener, Bethard decided to take a 90-day leave of absence and turn the team over to Kelly for the remainder of the season.
"Coach Bethard came in before the game and that did it for us again, just seeing him," Watkins said. "It really touched our hearts to see him in there because he's been through a lot in the past week. That was nice to see him on the sidelines."
IR's defense turned in an outstanding effort for the second straight week, forcing five Sussex Tech turnovers, including a pair of second-half interceptions by Brandon Reese. Five times the Ravens drove inside the IR 30 and each time they came away empty.
A Tech fumble gave IR a first down at its own 23 early in the first quarter and the Indians needed just three plays to take the lead. After runs of nine yards by Ivory Richardson and six yards by Stratton, Watkins hooked up with Dean on a 62-yard scoring pass.
"It was a waggle, and I rolled out and the ends came in kind of quick so I just set up and I saw Brock had a step on him and I kind of just threw it like a timing pass like we do in practice," Watkins said. "I didn't even see it. I was on my back. They blitzed a couple guys so we couldn't pick them all up but the line held real good and Brock made a great catch and took it all the way."
The Ravens drove to the IR 23 on their next possession but a devastating
hit by Shane Phillips on running back Greg Sturgis and a sack by Jason
Winterling forced them to turn the ball over on downs.
IR then moved 65 yards on eight plays to take a 14-0 lead. A 27-yard scamper by Shelton set up Stratton's 10-yard touchdown run with 8:25 left in the first half. Stratton rushed three times for 29 yards on the drive.
IR extended its lead after taking over at the Tech 47 with 5:17 left in the half. A 32-yard run by Shelton got IR inside the Tech 10 before Stratton scored from two yards out on fourth and goal. George Cole's extra point made it 21-0 at halftime.
"I've just got to give it to the (offensive) line and their blocking," Stratton said. "We've got a hell of a line."
The IR offense stalled in the second half, picking up just 48 total yards, but the defense forced three more Tech turnovers, including both of Reese's interceptions. Deangelo Eley rushed for 118 yards on 25 carries in a losing cause for the Ravens.
"Those are both Division I schools and that gives us a lot of points for the state tournament because that's our main goal," Watkins said of IR's 2-0 start. "Everybody has to keep working hard and if coach Bethard keeps making progress that will pick our spirits up even more. With hard work and determination, this team can go anywhere it wants."
Watkins also heaped praised on an offensive line that has been outstanding the first two weeks.
"The line is unbelievable. They're giving the running backs great time, they're giving me great time on play action and waggles and things like that," he said. "The running backs are running so hard - Antoine, Ryan and Ivory. We've got a lot of weapons."
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