After Slow Start, Football Cruises Past Rival Choate

WALLINGFORD, CT - Exeter’s varsity football made the three-hour trek down to Choate Rosemary Hall on Saturday, coming off a dominant 36-7 win against Worcester last week. While Exeter looked to improve to 2-0, the team came out sluggish for much of the first half. Exeter found their stride in the second half despite being down 7-6 at halftime, scoring 18 unanswered points. Although Big Red was unable to come out strong at first, with superior endurance Exeter was able to take home a 24-7 victory.Slow starts can often get a team down, but senior captain David Ayscue said that Big Red “never relented” in the game. Lower Jeff MacArthur added that Saturday’s game “was a game that brings a team together; we had a humbling first half that led to a great second half.”Coming out a little too confident after a dominant performance against Worcester, Exeter fell behind thanks to unforced errors, which included three penalties on Big Red’s D. “We knew we were a better team all around, but our mistakes in the first half put us behind 7-6,” MacArthur said.The lack of decisiveness in the score gave Exeter the wake-up call they needed. “After half time, it set in that although we were only down one point, we were still technically losing,” post-graduate Stone Hart said. “We basically had had enough of not playing to our full ability.”Exeter’s offense finally came alive in the second half, putting up 30 points and turning the game into a solid victory.All in all, Big Red has had a great start to the season, thus far following the footsteps of last year’s squad. MacArthur addressed the hopes and expectations stemming from last year’s team. “Overall, we learned that there’s only one way that we can look back on this season and feel satisfied: as champions.”He further elaborated on the team’s expectations. “Especially as a member of last year’s team and remembering that play when Salisbury kicked the game-winning field goal with two seconds left, I’ve never wanted something more than to win a championship. We have the coaching, the players, the support and the heart to do it. All we need to do is play smart, hard and together and let the cards fall where they may.”Ayscue, a wide receiver and defensive back, noted that Exeter’s passing game as a whole still has to be fine-tuned. “It usually takes passing longer than running to perfect, so we’re still working on our passing game to make our offense more dynamic,” he said.This year’s quarterback, post-graduate Vincent Sansone, is shaping up to fill the role well. Besides having a strong and accurate arm, Sansone also supports a dangerous running ability, rushing for two of Exeter’s touchdowns on Saturday.Exeter’s offense has been very explosive across the board, scoring a combined 60 points in the first two games of the season. The team is not ready to settle, though. “Everyone needs to work for that extra inch, whether that be hustling at practice or studying and focusing during lifts and film time; our team needs that extra inch to bring us to that championship game,” MacArthur said.With high hopes for the rest of the season, Big Red’s next challenge will take place at Loomis Chaffee this Saturday. After winning by a 24-point margin last year, Exeter will hope to repeat their success on both sides of the ball as they shoot for 3-0.