Another week, another hero.<\/p>\n
That proved to be the case again Friday night at French Field for the Kentwood football team.<\/p>\n
This time, it was Robbie Morris\u2019 turn. Morris, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound wide receiver\/defensive back, caught one touchdown pass and supplied a key fourth-quarter interception, leading the Conquerors past Kentridge in a South Puget Sound League North Division game, 14-11.<\/p>\n
Despite the win, Kentwood\u2019s fifth straight, the Conquerors (5-2 in league, 6-2 overall) still remain on the playoff bubble.<\/p>\n
The top four teams in the SPSL North advance to the postseason. Auburn (7-0 in league, 8-0 overall), Federal Way (5-2, 6-2) and Tahoma (5-3, 5-3) have already clinched playoff berths. Kentwood plays host to Kentlake (4-3, 4-4) at 7 p.m. on Friday at French Field in a loser-out game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they beat us we\u2019re out,\u201d said Kentwood coach Rex Norris.<\/p>\n
Kentlake came up big on Saturday, blanking Auburn Riverside 21-0 to remain alive for a playoff berth. If Kentwood beats Kentlake on Friday, the Conquerors would nab the division\u2019s No. 2 berth. If Kentlake wins, the Falcons will take the division\u2019s No. 4 playoff berth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe said, \u2018You know what, we\u2019ve got to win tonight and we\u2019ve got to win next week and wherever the cards fall is where they fall,\u201d said Kentlake coach Mike Shepard. \u201cAll we want is an opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Which is exactly what Kentwood was looking for Friday night against Kentridge.<\/p>\n
And Morris, one of Kentwood\u2019s many key role players this season, delivered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve just had role players (step up). Last week, it was Bryan Carlson,\u201d Norris said. \u201cIt\u2019s a no-name group of kids who just love playing football.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris made a name for himself in the second quarter against the Chargers. With Kentwood up 7-3 and less than 1:30 left in the half, Morris lined up at left guard, then found himself wide open on a 43-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Luke Angevine. Morris, completely alone in a sea of green turf, caught the ball at the 20-yard line and cruised in for the score, which proved to be all the Conquerors needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI lined up at left tackle, but I was eligible (to receive),\u201d Morris explained. \u201cI split the seam and they didn\u2019t see it coming. It was a great play, a great call by our coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris came up equally big on defense during the final minute of the game, cutting in front of a Kentridge receiver at midfield for an interception on a 4th-and-5 play. That thwarted Kentridge\u2019s final drive of the night and sealed the victory for the Conquerors.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoach came out in the timeout and said, \u2018This is our season right here,\u2019\u201d said Morris, a senior. \u201cIt was big to get that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The loss eliminated the Chargers (3-4, 4-4) from playoff contention.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tough loss,\u201d lamented Kentridge coach Marty Osborn. \u201cWe felt like we had the horses to get it done, and the kids battled. We just came up a little short.\u201d<\/p>\n
But it was Morris\u2019 touchdown reception to close the first half that left Osborn and the Chargers scratching their heads.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am going to have to watch the film,\u201d Osborn said. \u201cI don\u2019t know how the guy ended up being not covered. I don\u2019t know if they did a different formation or what they did. Generally, we don\u2019t let guys run free.\u201d<\/p>\n
The final result overshadowed another solid performance from the Kentridge defense, which has allowed just 27 points in its last three games combined. The Chargers limited Kentwood to just 150 yards of total offense and seven first downs. The Conquerors didn\u2019t manage a single first down in the second half and mustered just 14 yards of total offense during the final 24 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur defense played great tonight. We just struggled to get into the end zone,\u201d Osborn said.<\/p>\n
Kentwood played nearly as well defensively, forcing four Kentridge turnovers and keeping the Chargers outside of the red zone for almost the entire night.<\/p>\n
It was that same defense that helped the Conquerors take an early lead.<\/p>\n
Defensive back Devin St. Clair set the early tone for Kentwood, intercepting an errant pass from Kentridge quarterback Brandon Reiter, giving the Conquerors the ball at the Charger 16-yard line just three minutes into the game.<\/p>\n
Five plays later, Angevine plunged in for a 1-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead.<\/p>\n
Kentridge cut the deficit to 7-3 on a 30-yard field goal by Wes Concepcion at the end of the first quarter.<\/p>\n
Kentwood didn\u2019t answer until Angevine connected with Morris to end the second quarter, giving the Conquerors a 14-3 lead.<\/p>\n
With 5:42 remaining in the game, Kentridge running back Devin Topps responded, escaping two Kentwood defenders in the backfield, then skirting down the right sideline for a 52-yard touchdown. Reiter then found Brandon Inman on the two-point conversion, pulling the Chargers within a field goal at 14-11.<\/p>\n
But that was as close as KR could get.<\/p>\n
It was Kentwood\u2019s fifth straight win since opening the season 1-2.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had must-win games the last five weeks,\u201d Norris said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been in the playoffs the last five weeks, that\u2019s what I\u2019ve told the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
And each week, another hero seems to emerge.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
KL GETS IT DONE<\/p>\n
Facing a must-win situation, Kentlake delivered Saturday with its 21-0 shutout of Auburn Riverside. The win helped the Falcons snap a four-game losing streak and remain alive for a playoff berth.<\/p>\n
Running back Tayler Angevine rushed for 127 yards on 20 carries while linebacker Stephen Morse paced another stingy defensive performance, racking up a team-high 14 tackles and forcing a fumble.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorse was huge,\u201d said Kentlake coach Mike Shepard. \u201cDefensively, they\u2019ve been the strong part of our team all season long.\u201d<\/p>\n
In its four wins, Kentlake has allowed just 28 combined points.<\/p>\n
Travis Felchlin gave the Falcons a lead in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run. Lewi Larson added a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 14-0. Larson then hit wide receiver Tyler Wright for a 19-yard touchdown late in the third, giving the Falcons an insurmountable 21-0 lead.<\/p>\n
Larson completed 10 of 15 passes for 102 yards and the one touchdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been trying to put it together all season and they finally delivered,\u201d Shepard said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
ELSEWHERE<\/p>\n
\u2022 Auburn 21, Tahoma 9: The Bears (5-3, 5-3) hung with the fourth-ranked Trojans (7-0, 8-0), but weren\u2019t able to pull off the upset in an SPSL North loss.<\/p>\n
Jeff Gouveia led Auburn\u2019s potent rushing attack with three touchdowns.<\/p>\n
Kicker Britton Jolley and running back Josiah Anderson accounted for the Bears offense. Jolley booted a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter. Anderson tallied a 15-yard touchdown run in the third, cutting the deficit to 14-9, but that\u2019s as close as the Bears would get.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Federal Way 33, Kent-Meridian 0: The Royals (1-6, 1-7) were unable to contain Andre Barrington and the Eagles (5-2, 6-2) in an SPSL North loss. Barrington, a Washington State University-bound running back, went off for 207 yards and a touchdown in the win.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Another week, another hero.
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