KENNETT SQUARE – It was the kind of rivalry football game that had everything you could possibly hope for.
The ‘Battle of Route 52’ on Friday had big plays, the lead went back and forth in the second half, and there was lots of drama. In the end, host Kennett made two huge back-to-back plays down the stretch that proved to be the difference in a 24-21 classic against hard-luck Unionville.
“This is a battle that everyone looks forward to,” said Blue Demons’ head coach Lance Frazier. “Our guys showed tonight some of the lessons they’ve learned throughout the season.
“We knew this one was going to be tough, but they stepped up to the challenge. We almost let it get away from us. But we are young in some areas, and I’m hoping that this night propels us forward for the rest of the season.”
The victory moves Kennett to 2-0 in the Ches-Mont South Division, and 7-1 overall. The Longhorns fall to 1-2 in the division, 4-4 overall, and the four losses have been by a total of 10 points.
“I told them that this is a life lesson,” Unionville head coach Tim Murphy said. “There are going to be times in their lives where things don’t go their way. But if you fight to the end, you never know what can happen.”
Trailing 17-0 at the half, the ’Horns scored 21 straight points to take their only lead heading into the final period. But that’s when the game-changing plays occurred. With Unionville on the doorstep threatening to increase the lead, Demons’ sophomore defensive back Hayden Schumacher forced a fumble by ’Horns quarterback Tommy McGinnis near the goal line and recovered the loose ball.
“Momentum is a real thing,” Frazier said. “We talk to our guys about riding that wave. We needed somebody to make a play, and that kid is just a sophomore who hasn’t played a lot. We’ve been putting more and more on his plate, and he’s improved.
“And in the biggest game of the year, he made a huge play and gave us an opportunity to win the game. If we don’t get that play, we probably end up losing.”
And then two plays later, Kennett quarterback Garrett McCracken hit junior wideout Hunter Taylor for a pass that ultimately covered 80 yards for what wound up being the winning points. Taylor caught the ball near midfield and then outran a couple defenders to the end zone with 5:50 on the clock.
“If you time Hunter in the 40, he’s probably four-ever,” joked Frazier. “But he’s a gamer. He did shock all of us. We thought he would get caught around the 40 but he pulled away.”
It was Taylor’s only reception of the game, and the longest of his career.
“I like to say I have game speed. My adrenaline really kicked in there,” Taylor said.
“I told our coach that the guy covering me was playing a soft cover two. So I just gave him a cut inside and went back outside. Garrett (McCracken) delivered a perfectly thrown ball, and I was gone.”
The Longhorns got the ball back two more times, but the Demons’ defense stiffened.
“Tommy (McGinnis) was playing really well and we were going to put the ball in the hands of the kids we trust,” Murphy said. “Unfortunately (the fumble) happened, and a couple plays later we gave away a big one over the top.
“But we had opportunities after that as well.”
Receiver Joalex Carabajal sparked Kennett’s first series with a 35-yard catch that led to a 21-yard field goal by Shay Barker. The Demons then broke open a defensive struggle with two TDs in the final 2:14 of the first half, and both were big plays by Carabajal.
The junior capped the first drive with a 17-yard scoring reception from McCracken to make it 10-0. And then on the next possession, Demons’ Matthew Reidenberg intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 37 yards. On the next play, McCracken found Carabajal all alone in the end zone for a 21-yard strike with 1:03 to go, and suddenly it was 17-0.
“We came out slow in the second half – we’ll admit that,” Taylor acknowledged. “But we came back with some big plays to win the game.
“This team plays off of really good momentum plays. Right after Hayden (Schumacher) got the strip fumble, another huge play happened.”
Unionville began its comeback with an excellent third quarter, and star runner Brody McLaughlin played a major role. Injured a week earlier, McLaughlin did not touch the ball in limited action in the first half. But early in the third he caught a 46-yard TD toss from McGinnis, and then found the end zone on a five-yard run on the next series to make it 17-14.
“We talked to Brody and let him make the decision on how he was feeling,” Murphy said. “He’s a senior and a captain and he deserves it. We used him however we could.”
Just before the end of the quarter, McGinnis scored on a 23-yard keeper, and the Longhorns found themselves in the lead. But on the next possession, McLaughlin limped off apparently re-injuring his right ankle, and moments later Schumacher forced the McGinnis fumble.
“It was the play of the game,” Taylor said. “A lot of guys were down so we just had to keep each other up. We just have to stay positive. That’s how we win games.”
Kennett managed just 71 yards on the ground for the game but McCracken threw for 220 and three touchdowns. His favorite target was Carabajal, who grabbed four catches for 74 yards.
“It’s hard to teach a team that we have work to do when you are 6-1,” Frazier pointed out. “Some of the things we’ve been harping on showed up in the second half today. We have to continue to learn and apply what we’ve been learning.”
Unionville outgained the Demons 337-291, and McGinnis accounted for 262 yards of total offense – 174 through the air and 88 on the ground.
“Tommy has a nice skill set of throwing it and running it,” Murphy said. “It’s difficult for opposing teams to defend both of those guys (McGinnis and McLaughlin) when they are in there and healthy.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the effort my kids have shown week in and week out,” Murphy said. “It’s a testament to the type of kids they are to fight back and never think we are ever out of it.”
The Longhorns, however, were whistled for a dozen penalties for 105 yards.
“It changed field position and put us in bad situations,” Murphy said. “It was a big factor in the first half. In the second we were a little cleaner, but we had some (penalties) at bad times.”
Kennett 24, Unionville 21
Unionville 0 0 21 0 – 21
Kennett 3 14 0 7 – 24
Scoring
K – Barker 21 FG
K – Carabajal 17 pass from McCracken (Barker kick)
K – Carabajal 21 pass from McCracken (Barker kick)
U – McLaughlin 46 pass from McGinnis (Keaveney kick)
U – McLaughlin 3 run (Keaveney kick)
U – McGinnis 23 run (Keaveney kick)
K – Taylor 80 pass from McCracken (Barker kick)
Team statistics U K
First downs 17 8
Rushing yards 163 71
Passing yards 174 220
Total yards 337 291
Complete-Att-Int 12-22-1 7-19-0
Fumbles-lost 4-1 3-0
Punts-ave. 5-29.2 5-41
Penalties 12-105 7-55
Individual statistics
RUSHING – U: McLaughlin 7-46, TD; Puleo 3-12; McGinnis 21-88, TD; Gonzalez 4-9; Gilday 3-8. K: Carabajal 3-13; Reidenberg 8-30; McCracken 9-19; Ritch 2-6; Dougherty 2-3.
PASSING – U: McGinnis 12-22, 174 yards, TD, Int. K: McCracken 7-19, 220 yards, 3 TDs.
RECEIVING – U: Wenturine 5-61; Gilday 3-55; Puleo 2-10; McLaughlin 1-46, TD; Steenrod 1-2. K: Carabajal 4-74, 2 TDs; Kise 1-48; Ritch 1-9; Reidenberg 1-10; Taylor 1-80, TD.
Interceptions – K: Reidenberg.
Sacks – U: Rassias. K: Kise 3, Oscar.
Source: Berkshire mont
Be First to Comment