York holds off Chester comeback

The York Cougars got a huge touchdown on a punt return from Javione Matthews and survived a lightning delay of over an hour to pull out a 28-20 victory Friday night in York over the Chester Cyclones.

The Cyclones had cut the lead to 21-20 on a 70-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Malik Williams with 9 minutes, 50 seconds left in the game. The extra point try missed, and on Chester's next possession, the York defense forced a three-and-out. On the first punt attempt, the Cyclones were called for a penalty. On the low re-kick, Matthews fielded it with a head of steam and cut to the left to easily take it to the house for the clinching score. Matthews also had a 26-yard punt return in the second quarter.

With about 11 minutes remaining in the opening half, Wally Wilmore took the ball 30 yards on fourth-and-four for the first of his pair of fourth-down touchdown runs. The subsequent two-point pass play to Kamian McClain put the Cougars up 14-7. By that point, Chester had landed the first blow on a 12-yard TD hookup from Malik Williams to Pha'Leak Brown at 5:56 in the first after a York fumble. Wilmore answered two plays later with a 52-yard scoring pass to Shandon Cobb.

Turning point

After the long fourth quarter touchdown score by Williams, the snap on the point-after appeared to be a little to the right of the holder, and the kick by John Erby was wide left to keep Chester down 21-20 and playing catch-up.

Critical

After the hour and nine minute lightning delay, York stuffed the Cyclones four times from the four after they had first-and-goal with 56 seconds left before the half when play was stopped. Chester missed an open receiver in the end zone on fourth down that could have cut their deficit to 21-14 at halftime.

Star contributions

Senior running back Brandon Garvin ran 23 times for 119 yards for the Cougars, while Malik Williams carried the ball 21 times for 130 yards for the visitors from Chester. Senior starting quarterback Cameron McKinney did not play for York due to a recurring back injury and it is not clear when he will return. Wilmore, a junior who usually plays receiver, defensive back, and returns kicks, had to start in his place and go the distance at quarterback.

Overheard

"He's a play-maker," York coach Bobby Carroll said of Matthews. "All the years we've been coaching, punt returns have been a huge part of our game."

"There's not a lot of positives in this other than we won. If there was a mistake to be made we probably made it,” said Carroll. “That's on me, man. I didn't get them ready to play. I take the blame for that."

On deck

York faces Boiling Springs on the road next Friday.

Box score

York 28, Chester 20

York 6;15;0;7; - 28

Chester 7;0;7;6; - 20

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

Chester – Pha'Leak Brown 12 pass from Malik Williams (John Erby kick) 5:56

York – Shandon Cobb 52 pass from Wally Wilmore (kick failed) 5:14

Second quarter

York - Wilmore 30 run (Kamian McClain pass from Wilmore) 10:50

York - Wilmore 1 run (Myles Prosser kick) 6:19

Third quarter

Chester - Brown 1 run (Erby kick) 0:46

Fourth quarter

Chester - Williams 70 run (kick failed) 9:50

York - Javione Matthews 43 punt return (Prosser kick) 6:42

TEAM STATISTICS

York;Chester

First downs; 16;15

Rushes-yards;52-209;38-186

Passing;8-14-0;9-27-0

Passing yards;117;116

Fumbles-lost;1-1;0-0

Penalties-yards;9-80;6-50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING York: Brandon Garvin 23-119; Paul Moore 14-62; Antonio Hardy 4-11; Wally Wilmore 11-17. Chester: Malik Williams 21-130; Pha' Leak Brown 10-37; Quay Strong 2-(-4); John Erby 2-9; Justin Sanders 1-14; Javarius Gregory 1-(-3); Jaylyn Reid 1-3.

PASSING York: Wilmore 8-14-1-0, 117 yards. Chester: Williams 9-26-1-0, 116 yards; Demetric Hardin 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING York: Shandon Cobb 3-70; Ketrael Lytle 2-25; Brandon Garvin 1-4; Javione Matthews 1-11; Paul Moore 1-7. Chester: Strong 2-(-2); Brown 2-24; Demetric Hardin 2-39; Justin Sanders 1-33; John Erby 1-11; Troy Minter 1-11.

RECORDS York: 3-1; Chester 1-3.

This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 12:48 AM with the headline "York holds off Chester comeback."