Ray Kreiger scored five touchdowns and led Derby to a 42 – 20 win over the Wilby Wildcats, Friday night at DeFilippo Football Field.
All of Kreiger’s touchdowns were in the first half, but Derby’s (4 – 4) early surge was enough to see off Wilby (1 – 7).
Kreiger was animated despite last week’s loss to Ansonia.
“Ansonia was just such an awesome game; just a thrill to be a part of,” Kreiger said. “After playing in that game, we knew we were bouncing back. We are starting to build up as a team; as a program. This win today is just great.”
Kreiger connected down the left sideline with Jonathan Haydu, for a 45-yard touchdown with less than five minutes left in the second half. It was Kreiger’s longest touchdown of the night.
“We did what we had to do today. The kids played extremely hard. We’re very proud of them,” Derby head coach George French said. “We got three games left, and we don’t stop. We keep going. There was a lot of years where this team would have folded. That’s something that we don’t want to let happen. We are trying to build a program and that’s what we’ve gotta do.”
Senior running back Rashawn Hendricks was injured during a rush up the middle with 10:34 left in the second quarter. His right knee was wrapped and he was on crutches for the remainder of the game. He scored a touchdown for the Red Raiders before his exit. The score opened up the scoring for the Red Raiders, when Hendricks ran to the right-side of the field for an eight-yard touchdown with 9:38 left in the first quarter.
French did not have an update on Hendricks’ condition after the game.
“Right now it’s unknown. Right when I leave [the game] I am going to call [Hendricks] and see how he’s doing,” French said. “He took a pretty good shot and twisted up a little bit. He’s a fighter, and hopefully he will be alright.”
Later in the first quarter, Hendricks intercepted Wilby quarterback Robert Williams and returned it 54 yards. The pick set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from Kreiger to Jacob Tomczak with 6:26 left in the first to extend the lead to 14 – 0.
Tyrell Lane got the Wildcats on the board with a one-yard run with 14 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The extra point was blocked by Tomczak. 14 – 6
On the next drive, Tomczak made a leaping catch from a Kreiger pass for 20 yards into Wildcats territory. The play led to another 20-yard Kreiger pass, this time to Brian Dobek, to put the Red Raiders up 21 – 7 with 8:06 left in the first half.
Kreiger added to the Red Raiders lead when he ran a keeper 15 yards for a Derby touchdown with 4:37 left in the first half.
Derby sophomore Justin Olenoski then recovered an onside kick, starting the Red Raiders in Wilby territory. The play led to Kreiger’s touchdown to Haydu. The Red Raiders led 35 – 6 going into halftime.
“Our coaches are always very proud of us. They coach us to the best [level]. We are pretty proud of ourselves,” Kreiger said. “We’re going for our first winning season in ten years.”
Red Raiders’ defensive back Anthony Dichiara intercepted Williams with 11:08 left in the third, but fumbled the ball back to the Wildcats on the return.
Derby’s defense made a huge stop on the drive, making the Wildcats turnover on downs while in the red zone.
With 1:08 left in the third quarter, Kreiger threw his first pick to Jay’lan Mahan, who returned it 15 yards, and into Derby territory.
The turnover would set up a 46-yard touchdown run by James Ward as time expired in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was no-good, and Derby led 35 – 12.
The Red Raiders were driving midway through the fourth quarter, when Olenoski fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Emanuel Zapata.
Williams got Wilby on the scoreboard one more time. He connected with Donte Johnson for 60-yard touchdown pass with 7:09 remaining. The two-point conversion was good, making the score 35 – 20.
The Red Raiders would cap off the game’s scoring when Kreiger threw a touchdown to Eddy Velazquez with 4:10 remaining in the game.
French said he is looking for the team’s first winning season since 1990.
“I would rather us be 6 – 4, but .500 is .500.” French said. “Next week we have a tough Crosby team. They’re gonna come after us. We just gotta gear up, get ready, and go back to work.
Derby hosts Crosby (2 – 6) next week in the school’s season finale at home.
