Blue Demons recover from a rocky first half to outlast the Braves, 32-20
By Emily Adelman, Staff Writer, The Times
Kennett sophomore quarterback Nick Dunlevy helped lead his team to a 32-20 over Octorara, Friday night.
KENNETT — With the school and the players clad in bright pink in recognition of those battling breast cancer, the Kennett High School football team (3-5) was the survivors in the battle with the Octorara (1-7) to bring home their third victory of the season.
While the Blue Demons won the contest 32-20, the first half was plagued by numerous penalties, one of which resulted in a Kennett touchdown being called back early in the second quarter for holding.
“We need to minimize the penalties,” Kennett head coach Scott Green stated, “we need to tackle better and the unnecessary stalling during the drive needs to stop.”
Although Kennett started the game with the ball, they wouldn’t have it for long. In Kennett’s first series, sophomore quarterback Nick Dunlevy threw an interception to Octorara senior defensive back Terrel Thompson that landed Octorara on Kennett’s nine-yard line. Braves junior quarterback Alex Gooden would take it in himself for the nine-yard touchdown. With the missed extra point, the Braves were up 6-0.
The Blue Demons, however, would capitalize on their next few possessions. After a 53-yard run by Dunlevy, Brett Rose would convert a 26-yard field goal. The Braves would then go three-and-out and the Demons would find themselves with a short field after returning the punt to Octorara’s 34-yard line. After a five-yard penalty and facing fourth down, Dunlevy hit senior tight-end Liam Clarke for a 30-yard touchdown.
Kennett’s Brett Rose looks for running room, Friday, against Octorara.
The half would end after Kennett kicked a field goal to lead the Braves, 13-3.
The Demons would do a better job in the second half, minimizing their penalties and improving their execution.
“That was a big topic for us at halftime–penalties,” Green said. “We didn’t have to change the philosophy of how we played, we just had to play better and minimize the unnecessary stalling.”
Octorara scored on their first drive of the second half, with junior running back Corey Cooper rushing for a 39 yard touchdown. After the made extra point, Octorara was tied with Kennett 13-13.
Dunlevy, seemingly more comfortable in his QB role, ran for a 29 yard touchdown in the middle of the third quarter, giving the Blue Demons a 20-13 lead over the Braves after a made extra point.
During the second half, Octorara couldn’t get their offense in sync. On third and long deep in their own territory, Octorara’s Gooden dropped back into the end zone to find an open receiver but Kennett junior linebacker Thomas Wessels barreled into the backfield and took down Gooden for Kennett’s first safety of the season.
After a successful Kennett field goal, Octorara showed some signs of life late in the third quarter with Gooden rushing for a one-yard touchdown, cutting Kennett’s lead to five, 25-20.
That would be all the scoring for Octorara as Kennett would go on to seal their victory with a 30 yard touchdown run by senior Brett Rose.
Kennett will have to continue to minimize penalties and maximize execution when they take on undefeated Bayard Rustin (8-0) next Friday night at 7:00 pm.
