Missed Opportunities End Perfect Season for Knights
Game Summary: Official Stats | FAVC Game Recap
Game Slideshow: Mindseye Photography
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Coach Olds Corner: Still Learning
Mindseye Fan Cam Photo of the Week:
WKNG Coverage: Replay Podcast | Zac Murphy Halftime Interview | 2009 Knight Standouts – Billy Bruns and Drew Esler Halftime Interview
Pulse Journal Coverage: Harrison Hands Kings it’s First Loss
Cincinnati Enquirer Coverage: Harrison 24, Kings 21
Game Recap : (Contributed by Bret Sims, WKNG Radio)
On a night of missed opportunities, poor execution and blown assignments the Knights suffered their first loss of the season 24-21 to the Harrison Wildcats in a game that they should have, could have won.
For the third consecutive week Kings defensive unit was called upon to handle a talented running back (Zach Lonneman) who was the key to their opponent’s success. As they had the first two weeks the Knights contained and disrupted the running game but ultimately their inability to shut it down completely in the second half would be their undoing.
The first score of the game came with 1:52 on the clock in the first half when Jonny Brewster hit Nick Bird on a 4 yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone capping a 7-play 53 yard drive. Brewster’s pass allowed Bird to use his height advantage against the smaller defender on a well thrown ball.
Kings Brian Huffman started the first half at tailback and did a good job of finding the hole and moving the chains for the Knights which is the most action he has seen this season.
The only offense the Wildcat’s could muster in the first half came on a 28-yard field goal by Kyle Nowlin after the Knight’s defense stiffened to keep Harrison out of the end zone. It was a good defensive stand after Harrison had marched 67 yards, forty of those coming on one run by Lonneman.
Three times in the first half the Knights were in position to score a touchdown but overthrown passes, dropped balls and penalties kept them from hitting pay dirt and there was an unspoken nervousness on the sidelines and in the stands that Harrison wasn’t going to be kept to three points in the second half.
When Kings’ Jamire Westbrook busted off a 36-yard TD scamper to put the Knight’s up 14-3 with 9:27 to go in the third quarter it appeared that the Knights were in a position to shut the door on their opponent as they had against Lebanon and Milford but that wouldn’t be the case.
When you have Zach Lonneman on your team opposing defenses have to respect the run and Harrison took advantage of this on a well executed play action pass from QB Marcus Woefel to leading receiver Kyle Nowlin on an 80-yard touchdown strike that pulled the Wildcats to with four at 14-10 near the end of the third quarter. That play seemed to be the one that change the complexion of the game and sucked the life out of the Knights.
Trailing 14-10 in the fourth the Wildcats fired up their “Big Diesel” Zach Lonneman and his offensive lineman began to open the lanes for their star running back. Harrison moved the ball down the field on Lonneman’s hard running and capped their drive on short touchdown pass from Marcus Woelfel to Jesse Bowman. The Wildcats had gone 80 yards in eight plays to take their first lead of the game 17-10 at the 5:55 mark of the fourth quarter.
On their next possession Harrison would drive the final nail in the Knights’ coffin when Lonneman broke off a 49-yard touchdown run around the right end. Lonneman who looked like a regular running back in the first half had become unstoppable in the second as he amassed a total of 230 yards on 31 carries for the game. Time and time again he looked like a runaway train and anyone that got in his way he simply ran over.
Trailing 24-14 with less than two minutes in the final quarter the Knights showed what they were made of and refused to go quietly into the night. In less than a minute Kings would travel 74 yards on 7 plays and end the series on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jonny Brewster to Justin Crull. Crull made a great move to come back from the ball and take it away from the defender that was completely turned around on the play.
The game ended when an onside kick failed, requiring Harrison to take a couple of snaps and end the game with a hard fought 24-21 win over the Knights who may have beaten themselves more than anything.
On the bright side, Jamire Westbrook surpassed the 2,000 yard rushing mark with a 144 yard performance. He also surpassed 3,000 all purpose yards which is very impressive considering this is only the third game of his junior season.
Brady “Hammer” Vanover lead the team with 8 tackles and was very active the entire night on the defensive side of the ball.
Good teams have short memories and the Knights will have to do the same as they have to prepare for the Loveland Tigers. It was a game that the Knights could have and should have won but sometimes growth and learning come more from losses than victories and Coach Olds will use that to his advantage.