10/24/24 Highlight: Varsity Football

By MICHELLE CHOO, JAYDEN OH, and FORREST ZENG

On Oct. 18, Big Red slammed Deerfield with a crushing 49-10 sweep against the team from Massachusetts. The game saw a remarkable performance from Exeter’s defensive line, which pulled off multiple jaw-dropping interceptions and soaring touchdown runs. In total, Exeter scored around three pick-sixes. 

Big Red received the kickoff to start the game, sending Deerfield back to start 25 yards into the field. Deerfield struggled to advance against Exeter’s oppressive defense, inching 20 yards forward before initiating a turnover from a penalty flag.  

Exeter immediately responded by advancing to the 49-yard line, before timing out for the first quarter. At 43 yards Deerfield failed to push past Exeter’s oppressive defense in the fourth down, sending the game into turnover and eliciting cheers from the Exeter crowd. Exeter immediately sent the ball into touchdown range with a 20-yard run by Senior Myles Craddock. After the third down, Exeter scored the first touchdown of the game with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Craddock, topping it off with an extra point kick into the field goal, upping the score to 7-0.

After a kickoff, Deerfield started at their 25-yard line but was blocked from advancing by Exeter’s fast-paced defensive game. The ball is turned over to Big Red, starting at the 20-yard line with a minute to spare. After one down Exeter pushed to 37 yards, pushing to 47 yards to end the first quarter with a 7-point lead over Big Green. 

Exeter received the ball at 47 yards, pushing quickly to 22 yards within two downs. Within passing distance of the touchdown, Craddock received a pass to bring the team within one yard. However, the clock timed out, turning the ball over to Deerfield on the porch of their touchdown zone. For a few minutes, they struggle to the 13-yard line, before deciding to punt. The ball was received by upper Luke Rodgers, who unexpectedly scored a thrilling and out-of-the-blue 61-yard touchdown on Deerfield. Exeter upped the score to 14-0 with a one-point kick, drawing loud cheers from visiting families and students.

In high spirits, Exeter fended off Deerfield’s attempt to cross the 33-yard line. Within three downs, Exeter pushed to the 15-yard line. One down later, senior JJ Bright carried the ball to the touchdown zone, upping the score yet again to 21-0 with a one-point kick. Deerfield managed to push to 28 yards before senior Tav Fenderson intercepted and ran the ball 30 yards to Exeter’s fourth touchdown and one-point kick in a deja vu moment for both teams. 

With two minutes remaining, Deerfield decided to punt to Rodgers, who dashed a terrific 45-yard return to the three-yard line. Craddock sealed the team’s fifth touchdown with a minute and 43 seconds left, leaving Exeter with 35 points and Deerfield yet to score. Exeter spectators clapped jubilantly as Exeter started their sixth kickoff. 

At the 26-yard line, Deerfield failed yet again to convert three downs, setting up for another punt to Rodgers. This time, the ball soared deep, leaving the ball rolling at the 29-yard line on Exeter’s turf. The teams ended the second half 35-0 in high spirits. 

Deerfield kicked off to start the third quarter, but due to a fumble recovery penalty, they received the first down at Exeter’s 41-yard line. Senior Levy Kinlock intercepted the ball at the third down and broke easily through Deerfield’s lines, rushing an incredible 70-yard touchdown without resistance.

Kicker and senior Charles Clavel added a point to bring the score to 42-0—though Exeter received a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration. For the next few minutes, Deerfield advanced slowly, before Craddock intercepted and stormed yet another 54 yards to touchdown to give Big Red its sixth touchdown. 

After a handful of downs, Exeter had a brief scare after Deerfield sent a soaring pass into Big Red’s 11-yard line. Only two downs and a time-out later, Big Green finally scored their first touchdown in 90 minutes, setting the score at 49-7. 

For the final few minutes, Exeter slowly inched forward into Deerfield turf, before timing out to end the third quarter at 49-7. 

For the first few minutes of the last quarter, Deerfield pushed forward into Exeter territory at the 16-yard line. At their fourth down Deerfield scored a field goal, turning the ball over at 49-10. For the rest of the quarter, the teams stalled with tight formations, ending the match at 49-10 points. 

The match was made special by the numerous times Exeter’s defense intercepted the ball. “There were a lot of interceptions,” upper Shaib Abubakar said. “There were a lot of long punt returns, and touchdowns from defensive linemen too.”

Senior Caspar Bailey commended the team’s effort that went into Big Red’s massive success in Saturday’s game. “We have a saying at Exeter from an old coach, Bill Dennehy. And he said, ‘Andover’s our rivals, but Deerfield’s our enemy,’” he explained. “So we definitely came in here wanting to make a statement and we did.”

“In all three phases of the game, I’d say we were dominant,” he continued. 

On the team’s thrilling feat in making three pick-sixes and a crucial fumble recovery, he commented, “If you have three defensive touchdowns and that many turnovers, you put yourself in a great position to win; and we did that”.

During the team’s practice leading up to the match, Bailey described Big Red’s approach to the game: “We game planned for quick short passes, because we knew [Deerfield] had a more inexperienced quarterback, and we were able to execute our defense well.”

Upper Joseph Vicente added, “Every week we’re told to prepare for an opponent that’s harder than the last. We showed that mentality today. “

Varsity Football Manager Alex Trotman attested to the team’s impeccable grit and teamwork. “I just think the hard, rigorous work hours and the good coaching, great players, and good ball management guaranteed our win,” he stated. “We just blew [Deerfield] out of the water.”

The team is looking forward to the upcoming Brunswick match. Upper Marek Jin concluded, “We’re really looking forward to Brunswick. It’s going to be a good game, with two great teams in the league. It’ll be interesting in their house.”