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Led by Wiggins, York County Tech grabs first YAIAA Division III win of season


Since the numbers indicated as much, someone was going to walk away from York County Tech with YAIAA Division III victory No. 1 of the season.

And a wound-up Damarius Wiggins was determined to make certain the host Spartans were the ones celebrating when the final whistle sounded.

Let's just say Wiggins was mighty pleased when things ended.

Although Wiggins rushed for 140 yards and two first-half touchdowns, he also threw for 108 yards and a second-half score as Brian Hanson's Spartans drummed Fairfield by a 30-14 count on Homecoming Saturday, ending a five-game skid.

"Going out there today, I told myself, 'I'm not leaving this field without a win,'" Wiggins said. "And like after losing the games we know that we should have [won], I was tired of this losing mentality and this is my last homecoming Game.

"I just wanted to go out there with my team and get a big win."

Wiggins wheeled 74 yards for his first score and bounced over from the 6 for his second as York Tech (2-5, 1-3) opened a 14-0 lead — both of the 6-foot, 160-pound quarterback's TDs came on option keepers — midway through the second quarter.

"We practice it a lot," Wiggins said of his first score. "Coach is always telling me, 'Get vertical.' With the read option, if they crash hard pull it and if the pitch is not there — but the pitch is usually there — he was kind of wide so he split the difference.

"When he split the difference, I just got vertical and once I saw green grass, I was like, 'I'm out. I can't get caught from there.'"

"They play sort of a weird offense, but you have to take care of the option first," Green Knights head coach Darwin Seiler said. "It's assignment football and sometimes that's tough for 16 and 17 year olds."

While Fairfield (1-6, 0-4) was able to slice into the Spartans' advantage before the halftime break arrived, Wiggins was back at it in the third quarter, hooking up with Jordan Ray on a fade route to the left boundary that turned into a 24-yard score.

"Just tremendous effort. Tremendous effort, desire," Hanson said of his senior quarterback. "His willingness to win is his greatest asset. Great athlete. Like I've said before, I think pound for pound he's the best true athlete in our league.

"His heart and willingness to win is what puts him over the top."

And on one breezy Saturday, he left for home a winner.

"Now I have something to remember with my teammates," Wiggins said.

"It just feels great."

Fairfield0680—14York Tech6888—30

First Quarter

YT — Damarius Wiggins 74 run (pass failed), 1:35

Second Quarter

YT — Wiggins 6 run (Isaiah Colon run), 5:52

F — Aaron Moore 39 pass from Darian Mort (run failed), 2:28

Third Quarter

YT — Jordan Ray 24 pass from Wiggins (Wiggins run), 7:38

F — Charlie Burnett 2 run (Mort run), 2:19

Fourth Quarter

YT — Matt Rossi 3 run (Rossi run), 5:14

FYTFirst downs1315Rushes-yards33-9439-260Passing10-24-14-11-0Passing yards151108Total yards245368Punts5-37.44-18.8Fumbles-lost2-14-2Penalties-yards3-205-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — Fairfield, Tyler Karsteter 14-57, Darian Mort 7-21, Dylan Cree 2-6, Matt Petrie 1-5, Charlie Burnett 9-5. York Tech, Damarius Wiggins 14-140, Matt Rossi 17-90, Isaiah Colon 4-21, Benjamin Jackson 2-9, Josiah Smallwood 1-1, David Porter 1-(-1).

Passing — Fairfield, Mort 8-22-1-119, Karsteter 2-2-0-32. York Tech, Wiggins 4-8-0-108, Smallwood 0-3-0-0.

Receiving — Fairfield, Aaron Moore 7-110, Petrie 2-30, Burnett 1-11. York Tech, Ray 3-87, Colon 1-21.