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By Alanna Dvorak
Special to VivaLoudoun
Nokesville (Nov. 18, 2011) - Tuscarora High School’s unlikely playoff run ended suddenly Friday as Kettle Run High School shut out the Huskies 32-0.
The second-year Huskies (9-3) faced a formidable Cougar (12-0) defense that became only more potent when Tuscarora lost guard Brandon Chirinos and tight end Drew Davidson in the first quarter.
“We made some mistakes early that I think hurt us,” said Tuscarora coach Mike Burnett. “We also lost offensive linemen in the first quarter. With a new program, we just aren’t very deep.”
The Huskies struggled to produce offensively, as Kettle Run held Division 3 Dulles District Offensive Player of the Year Cameron Molina to just 12 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Chad Carrera completed just five passes for 53 yards and threw two interceptions. The Huskies had just 125 yards total offense, with only 25 on the ground.
“We just weren’t able to throw the football,” said Burnett. “We couldn’t keep the game honest. When you can’t throw the ball, it makes stopping the run easier.”
Kettle Run coach Jeff Lloyd earned much of his 100th win on the ground, as the Cougars rushed for 202 yards.
The first quarter of Friday’s contest was kept scoreless, but the Cougars exploded in the second quarter, scoring 19 of their 32 points.
Cougar Michael Parker scored five seconds into the second quarter on a ten-yard romp to the endzone. After a quick Tuscarora possession, Kettle Run once again marched down the field, culminating in a one-yard Josh Wicka touchdown on fourth down. After missing the extra point after the first touchdown, the Cougars attempted a 2-point conversion but failed.
The third Cougar touchdown came just 3 minutes later off quarterback Mac Graham’s 16-yard run. Though Graham threw for only 100-yards total, he earned a game-high 102 yards on the ground. Kettle Run was able to convert the extra point, and the first half ended 19-0.
The Huskies were held to just one first down in the first half.
The second half remained scoreless until an 11-yard run by Kettle Run junior Josh Tapscott. Kettle Run defense was in full swing as well, as D.J. Whitney intercepted Carrera in the third quarter.
Kettle Run scored on three plays less than a minute into the fourth quarter, after a 39-yard Graham pass to Tapscott.
The fourth quarter was riddled with turnovers for the Huskies. Carrera threw his second interception of the game to Julian Drakeford a the ten-minute mark. On the Huskies next possession, they put in backup Tyler Dietrich. Though Dietrich was able to complete a thirty-yard pass to Edwin Mends, he too was intercepted by Drakeford.
Tuscarora fumbled with less than two minutes left on the clock. However, the Huskies gained the ball back after senior Alden Carpenter intercepted Graham with 1:11 seconds remaining. However, the Huskies were unable to convert on the possession, and the game ended 32-0.
The win puts the fourth-year Kettle Run in the region finals Friday against Liberty and marks the Cougars fifth shut-out of the year.
Burnett is proud of his relatively new squad, despite a rocky ending.
“We belonged in the playoffs, and we are better than we played that last game,” said Burnett. “But now that it’s all said and done, it’s a testament to the kids. To gel that fast is a testament to them.”
Kettle Run 32, Tuscarora 0
THS 0 0 0 0 - 0
KR 0 19 6 7 - 32
2 KR TD Parker 10 yard run (kick failed) 11:55
2 KR TD Wicka 1 yard run (run failed) 7:25
2 KR TD Graham 16 yard run (kick good) 4:33
3 KR TD Tapscott 11 yard run (kick failed) 3:47
4 KR TD Tapscott 39 yard reception from Graham (kick good) 11:09
RUSHING:
THS: Barker 3 for 21, Molina 11 for 12, Mends 3 for 4, Middleton 2 for 3, Holoman 1 for 3, Stinger 4 for 1, Carrera 4 for -19.
KRHS: Graham 15 for 102, 1 TD; Tapscott 17 for 63 1 TD; Parker 4 for 26, 1 TD; Wicka 8 for 9, 1 TD; Crosby 3 for 5; Gohlmann 3 for -3.
Passing:
THS: Carrera 5 for 13 , 53 yards, 2 interceptions, Dietrich 2 for 5, 47 yards, 1 interception
KRHS: Graham 5 for 10, 100 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception.
Receiving:
THS: Holoman 2 for 49, Mends 1 for 38, Boris 1 for 9, Carpenter 1 for 1, Molina 1 for -2
KRHS: Tapscott 2 for 60, 1 TD; Parker 2 for 35; Drakeford 1 for 5
Saturday, November 19, 2011
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Kettle Run defense ruled the game, interceptions, recoveries and quarterback sacks!
ReplyDeleteThe defense carried the day again, quarterback sacks and 3 interceptions.
ReplyDeleteLiberty is gonna whoop on Kettle Korn.
ReplyDeleteLiberty lost to Kettle Run twice.. Liberty lost to Kettle Run on their own field, and They lost to Kettle Run in the championship when KR was home. Kettle Run's 2011-12 season was truly remarkable! their seniors and juniors made it special. Those kids are as tough as they come. That team was foreal last year
ReplyDeleteKettle Run's defense was amazing this year. 6 total shutouts the for the season...woah. I watch them closely, their coaches get them fired up, and they fly to the football! Great team speed, and They run in and hit people like they just don't care about their lives. Their seniors were prime examples of that in DE Skylar Brownlow, DE Argeny Melendez, OLB Nashon Johnson, MLB Johnny Piette, and Cornerback...Yes cornerback Julian Drakeford. You all need to follow these guys in their college careers, look them up.It will be interesting to see how they will replace those seniors they had in 2011-12 season. KR will make playoffs again but I dont know if they will go as far as they did this year
ReplyDelete