Blue Jays win state championship with overtime win over Newark Charter

Teamwork, grind, and defense defined the winning overtime moment for the Seaford Blue Jays football team.

The Newark Charter Patriots tied the game, 14-14, with less than five minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Both teams scored from the 10 yard-line in overtime. Seaford’s Luke Metzner, who was perfect in PATs in the game, added the extra point while the Patriots lined up to play for two points and the win. Seaford sophomore Ja’Viohn Hurst and senior Doubensly Saint Jean anticipated the hand off to Austin Gbadegbe and went hard on the tackle pushing the running back down short of the goal line. Seaford celebrated, running to their coaches as state champions with the 21-20 win last Saturday at Delaware State University.

The Blue Jays’ Brendan West, who ran for 107 yards in game, busted out 56 yards on a carry in the first quarter. Seaford’s first scoring opportunity ended with an interception at the two yard-line by Maxwell Laznick and the first quarter ended with no score.

Coach Glenn Phillips speaks to the team before the start of over time play. Coach Phillips told the players, “Everything is okay, you are okay, we are going to be okay.”

After the win, West said, “My first meeting with Coach Phillips, he told me from day one he was going to have my back, which a lot of coaches say, but his was just a little different because I know he stuck through it. Throughout that whole first week, he showed me that he was a good coach. We never knew what a good coach was because we thought that our last coach was good just because that he was a coach, but Coach Phillips showed us that, and that’s one thing that I learned from him, and I am very appreciative.”

In the second quarter, Seaford returned the favor when Sincere Harris zoomed in on the quarterback and intercepted the pass at the 28 yard-line. Both Vince Evans and West carried for first down plays and with a personal foul face mask call the ball was moved to the 19 yard-line of the Patriots. Evans dropped back and targeted senior Aizyon Matthews whose long arms and strong hands pulled the ball into his body falling inside the end zone for the touchdown. Metzner added the point for the 7-0 lead. The Blue Jays held off the Patriots for the half time lead.

In the third quarter, Patriots’ quarterback Chase Kennedy showed his throwing ability connecting with Cayden Anderson for the six points. Seaford’s defense stopped the two-point conversion and led, 7-6. Seaford punted away the next possession, and the Patriots moved the ball until Ty’Aire Buffalo stopped the run to force a punt. The game was filled with close plays including the punt by Metzner, touched by the Patriots. The Blue Jays lunged to cover the ball, but it slipped through their hands and went out of bounds at the 37 yard-line. The score stood at 7-6 at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Newark Charter opened with a holding call that led to a punt on fourth and nine. On the first play of the possession, Evans’ read option play pulled the ball into his belly and broke right, down the side line, and to the end zone for a touchdown. Metzner put it through the uprights for the 14-6 lead.

Harris, who has been a defensive standout all season, pulled in a second interception of the game. The Patriots stopped the Blue Jays’ possession and, on the punt, tipped the ball, swatted it into the air and Seaford recovered it on the 16 yard-line. On the first carry, Evans fumbled the ball at the 12 yard-line, and the Patriots retook possession.

On third down, Newark Charter connected with Austin Gbadegbe for the touchdown and then scored the two points to tie the game, 14-14, with four minutes to play.

“Our motto is next play; best play and I was able to look in their eyes and tell them that they are ok,” Phillips said.

The Seaford fans screamed when on the next possession, the ball was fumbled at the 22 yard-line and Newark Charter took over. Evans said of the fumble, “It was miscommunication, a read option was the play, and I let go and he let go.”

The Blue Jays defense stood the ground on fourth down and forced the turnover with less than two minutes on the board. The excitement quickly faded when a pass intended for Buffalo was intercepted and Newark Charter now had the chance to win. The Blue Jays defense dug in again and backed up the Patriots for a stop and punt with less than a minute to play. On the punt, Evans returned the ball and was hit out of bounds for another 15 yard personal foul penalty against the Patriots. The Blue Jays fumbled the ball, Newark Charter recovered, and the game went into overtime.

In overtime, each team is set at the 10 yard-line in sudden death play. The Patriots won the coin toss and elected to go on defense for the first play. Evans broke right and with a block by Taishawn Frisby ran into the end zone. Coach Phillips sent out Metzner who scored the PAT.

The Patriots lined up at the 10 and Gbadegbe went easily into the end zone. The team lined up for the two-point conversion and Seaford set the defense. On the hand-off to Gbadegbe there was no doubt who Hurst was targeting. The line pushed Gbadegbe to the ground and the celebration began for the Blue Jays.

“I knew we hit them hard and I was looking for the line judge,” Phillips said. “This is special for these guys, and another motto is “the man in the mirror” and now they can go home, look in that mirror and say they are state champions.”

Coach Phillips congratulated Newark Charter and said their team is well coached, “Their seven front men brought it to us, and we have not had that this year. Hats off to them, they were physical and ready to go, they gave us everything they had.”

Senior quarterback Vince Evans III spoke of his return to football his senior year, “Brendan West, I really played because of him. He convinced me and we wanted to get a chip together. I also believe it is good to be a three sport athlete.”

Another championship that came through Seaford included his father Vince Evans II and Andre Matthews. “That is straight to my heart, the Evans and Matthew families will be known in Seaford for a long time,” said Evans.

Coach Phillips said there are so many to thank who lifted the team up, but he would not want to forget someone, “There are so many more put into this team.”

Seaford totaled 207 yards rushing to Wilmington’s 107 with West leading with 107 yards and Evans running for 89 yards. Harris had two interceptions, Metzner scored three extra points, Evans scored two touchdowns, and Matthews had one.

Location: DSU – Alumni Stadium

Seaford HS 21, Newark Charter School 20

Scoring Summary:

S – Matthews 18 yard pass from Evans (Metzner kick)

NC – Gbadegbe 1 yard run (pass failed)

S – Evans 41 yard run (Metzner kick)

NC – 14 yard from from Kennedy (Burrows pass from Kennedy)

S – Evans 8 yard run (Metzner kick)

NC – Gbadegbe 10 yard run (run failed)