Hear my entire “5 Questions” interview Podcast with Achey right here!
Two things in one post. Wow!
Click the ‘play’ button above to listen to my full interview with Arron — and continue reading the post for my story on Achey’s big game against Hamburg … and why he was the choice for New Era Player of the Week. Yeah! I’ll have a story in the paper (Wednesday).
If you’d like to download the Podcast to listen to on your mp3 player, click here.
MYERSTOWN — Things were looking mighty bleak for Elco’s football team last Friday night in its season opener at home against Hamburg.
It was pouring down rain.
There were only two more quarters left to play.
And Elco trailed 20-0.
Arron Achey to the rescue.
The Raiders’ junior quarterback scored three second-half touchdowns — including the game-tying score with 1:58 to go in regulation — to lift Elco to an improbable 21-20 non-league victory.
“Great start for us,” said Achey, who piled up 174 yards on 15 keepers and scored on a 57-yard run in the third quarter, and had a 23-yard TD run and the game-tying score on a 6-yard keeper in the final quarter.
Kyle Wenger’s extra-point kick gave Elco the lead for good.
For his efforts, Achey is this season’s first New Era Player of the Week.
“I have to compliment my whole team,” Elco coach Mark Evans said. “They really could have packed it in at the half but they didn’t. They stayed with it, and they realized they could play better than they did.”
Particularly Achey, the Raiders’ third-year starter and dual-threat signal-caller.
Because of the constant rain his passing stats weren’t particularly pretty — 3-for-15 with an interception for 18 yards — but Achey did plenty of damage with his happy feet out of Elco’s Pro Set attack.
Ben Arnold, who rushed for 116 of Elco’s 349 rushing yards, set up Achey’s game-tying TD with a 70-yard run after Elco was pinned at its own 4-yard-line late in the game.
Achey took it from there, going the final 6 yards to cap Elco’s incredible comeback.
Achey took a break from a film session Monday morning to answer the New Era’s 5 Questions:
WINNING THE OPENER — ESPECIALLY IN THAT FASHION — HAD TO FEEL GREAT, EH?
“It’s absolutely a great start for us. Winning that first game always gives you confidence, which we need. This has got to help us, and I know it will give us confidence as the season goes on.”
YOU WERE LOSING 20-0 AT THE HALF. SET THE SCENE IN THE LOCKER ROOM FOR US:
“When we went in at the half, the players talked a little and the coaches made adjustments and Coach Evans gave us a little speech. He asked us if we were with him. We came out with a lot of confidence, and nobody was going to give up. … It was definitely nice getting that win.”
FRIDAY NIGHT IN MYERSTOWN — WHERE ARE WE GOING?
“Most of the time we go to the Ice Shack. They have ice cream and great food there. We usually go after games. We went last Friday — and Saturday, actually.”
WHAT’S THE LAST MOVIE YOU SAW?
“Last Thursday night before the game we had a Pride Night, and we watched Gladiator. That’s the movie the team used to watch back in 2000, which was the last time we won the section. We got together and watched it in the school auditorium. It was a really good time.”
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE NFL TEAM?
“The Tennessee Titans — plus I really like Vince Young. I loved Vince Young when he was at Texas, and Texas is my favorite college team. And then he got drafted by my favorite NFL team, which was pretty awesome.”
