Kennett unable to capitalize on impressive Rose performance as Oxford goes to 4-0
By Emily Adelman, Correspondent, The Times
Miscues cost Kennett, as it dropped a tough 13-9 decision at Oxford, Friday night.
OXFORD — Homecoming Weekend for the Oxford Hornets (4-0) was not very welcoming for the Kennett Blue Demons (1-3) as the Hornets were able to take advantage of Kennett mistakes to stay perfect on the year, and give Kennett its first loss in Ches-Mont League play.
The Hornets played solid football on both sides of the ball, while the Blue Demons squandered crucial opportunities resulting from careless execution. Focus seemed to be lacking for the Blue Demons on Friday night, with a couple of careless penalties being the difference in the game for Kennett.
“Discipline is a hard thing to coach,” said Kennett High School Head Coach Scott Green, “we need to challenge the team mentally, which needs to transfer into the game.”
Kennett was first in the scoring column when, early in the first quarter, senior quarterback Jordan Jones (7-11, 162 yards) connected with senior wide receiver Brett Rose for a 53-yard completion that would take the Blue Demons deep into Hornet territory. Rose would finish up the scoring drive with a six-yard TD run. Rose would again be called on to score but came up short on the point after attempt and Kennett led 6-0 in the first quarter.
The euphoria did not last long, however, as Kennett’s special teams allowed a 40-yard kickoff return, with Oxford landing at the Blue Demon’s 25 yard line. After moving his team deep into Kennett territory, Oxford senior quarterback Ethan Herb barreled in two yards for the touchdown, giving Oxford its first points of the game and the lead at 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Brett Rose would again score the only points for Kennett in the second quarter with a 20 yard field goal to end the half.
If Kennett hoped to rectify its first-half missteps in the second half, and look like the team that trounced Twin Valley the week before, that hope would be misplaced.
Kennett unfortunately succumbed to careless mistakes in the second half that would prove their undoing. The Blue Demons first possession of the second half ended with a three and out for Kennett after a false start penalty pushed Kennett deep into their own territory. Later on in the half, Kennett put together a solid drive that put Kennett on the Hornet’s 25 yard line. After back-to-back false starts, Kennett unsuccessfully attempted a fourth down conversion, which resulted in a turnover on downs for Oxford. Hornet QB Ethan Herb proceeded then to march down the field to score the only Oxford points in the third quarter and the points that would win them the game. This drive saw Herb hit senior wide receiver Cameron Williams for an important third down conversion and complete a 30 yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Ryan Hubley. After a failed two point conversion, Oxford would lead 13-6.
Oxford would do an impressive job of eating time off the clock in the fourth quarter and ultimately handing Kennett its third loss in its first four games.
Despite the disappointing start to the season, Green said he is not discouraged, “I believe in this team, even more since the day we started camp.”
Kennett hopes to bounce back from this loss at its own Homecoming when it takes on the Sun Valley Vanguards — coming off a 38-13 loss last night to Unionville — on Friday Sept. 27 under the lights.
