Utica defense digs deep, stifles Green Wave for historic triumph
UTICA ― Dylan Cooperrider wasn't sure if he made one of the biggest tackles in Utica history Friday night, but he was pretty certain.
"I think it was me. I definitely moved in there and got my weight on him," the Redskins' 300-pound senior defensive tackle said after Newark Catholic's Mikey Hess was stopped a yard short of a first down on fourth-and-3 from the Utica 12, preserving a history-making 14-7 Licking County League-Cardinal Division win.
A jubilant homecoming crowd not only saw the resurgent Redskins (5-1, 1-0) get their fifth consecutive victory, their best start since 2000, but they beat the Green Wave for the first time since 1974. Ironically, that was also a low-scoring 8-6 slugfest, and on this night Utica intercepted three passes and held NC (1-5, 0-1) to 195 yards total offense, including 70 in the first half.
After being outplayed in the first two quarters as Utica led 14-0, nearly making it 21-0, NC chopped it to 14-7 in the third quarter and embarked on a 71-yard, 13-play drive to a third-and-1 at the Redskins' 10 in the waning moments. Miller Hutchison connected with Cooper Fink for 20 yards on third down to keep it alive.
But Chase Bennett dropped Hess for a 2-yard loss, forcing fourth down. NC coach Josh Hendershot then took two timeouts before trying to catch the Redskins off guard with a run.
"I thought they were going to pass it, so I was going to pressure the quarterback as hard as I could," Cooperrider said. "I was just in the right spot at the right time."
Utica coach Charlie Rowley also was expecting pass, but was not surprised his team got the stop. NC got the ball back, but the Redskins forced four straight incompletions including a third-down breakup by Carson Meek.
"They were doing a really good job with those short flat passes, and I was really expecting that," Rowley said. "But our kids keep making plays. We're a confident team, not over confident or cocky. Their preparation has been awesome, but the bottom line is our kids are having fun. Fun with each other, fun playing the game, fun during the week. We always tell them to enjoy what they're doing. Football is supposed to be fun."
Utica's Gavin Tussey set the tone early when he intercepted Hutchison at his own 2, ending a promising NC drive. He then had a 27-yard punt return, and the Redskins methodically moved 61 yards in 13 plays, capped by quarterback Hayden Piper's 5-yard TD keeper early in the second quarter for a 7-0 lead after Logen Fisher's PAT kick.
A short field set up a 1-yard TD run by Piper with 5:34 before half, after Gavin Chinn ran 15 yards on a reverse and caught a 12-yard pass from Piper. Nick Drumm's interception had Utica in business again, and Piper found tight end Anthony Roenker for 14. But freshman Jaxon Holman pounced on a fumble at the NC 20.
That seemed to give the Green Wave life, as they drove 68 yards in 14 plays capped by a 3-yard Hess TD run and Jose Lopez's kick at 4:33 of the third, slicing it to 14-7. Hutchison lofted a 25-yard pass to Joey Couzins in the march. NC, which held Utica to only three first downs and 45 second-half yards, then stopped the Redskins on fourth down at the Green Wave 25.
But Utica's defense held firm, and two seniors who had to overcome injury and had suffered through the Redskins' lean times played key roles. Cooperrider tore an ACL last year, while Tyler Collura injured a knee during Week 1 this season only to return in Week 4 with a brace on the knee. He had an interception from his linebacker spot Friday.
"We played mean and nasty all night," Collura said. "We always talk about playing hard, playing fast, playing mean. We play hard-nosed football. This means so much, and I'm so proud of everyone. I'm so happy to be a part of this. It's been a long time coming. This atmosphere, in front of so many people."
Added Cooperrider: "This is like a dream come true. Getting to enjoy a win like this, with all my brothers that I play with."
Piper led Utica's ground attack with 101 yards on 23 carries, including 76 yards in the first half, and he completed 8 of 11 passes for 60 yards with no interceptions.
"Our mentality all week was, 'Why not us beating Catholic?' " Piper said. "There was not a single doubt all week, that we could get this done. Our defensive line improved a lot from last year, and tonight they rose to the occasion."
Justin Giffin added 50 yards in 15 attempts, while Chinn, crowned homecoming king before the game, caught five passes for 35 yards, all in the first half.
Utica held NC to a net 65 yards rushing, and Hutchison to 14-of-33 passing for 130 yards with three interceptions. Theo Talbott had seven carries for 31 yards and hauled in eight passes for 54 yards, while Fink added three grabs for 36 yards.
Hendershot was proud of his team fighting back in the second half, but said they still are making too many mistakes.
"Self-inflicted wounds. The consistency has to get better," he said. "We left a lot out there in that first half and got behind the 8-ball. Utica played really tough tonight, and that clock seemed to constantly run."
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Utica defense digs deep, stifles Green Wave for historic triumph
