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Game Summary: Stats
The Wilmington Hurricane played host to the JV Knights at Alumni Field Saturday for the 2010 season finale for Kings. The Knights played well enough to win against an opponent that only fielded fourteen players, but an effort that lacked any real emotion from the squad, ultimately did them in as they lost 20-14. With the loss, Kings ended the season with a 5-4 record.
The Knights opened the game on offense after Willie Strosnider’s kick-off return to the Kings 38-yard line. RB’s Colt Perry and Josh Mathias got things started off quickly, covering 22-yards in two plays. Kings ultimately moved to the Hurricane 23-yard line before a fumble ended the drive.
The teams exchanged their next two possessions as the Knights defense forced Wilmington into two three and out’s while the Kings offense struggled. The Knights went for a first down on 4th & 1 on their side of the field as the 1st quarter came to a close but were denied as Perry’s carry fell short. Wilmington would score three plays later on a 31-yard touchdown pass on blown secondary coverage by the Knights. The Hurricane 2-point conversion was no good as Wilmington took a 6-0 lead a minute into the 2nd quarter.
After the Knights went three and out, Wilmington started their next drive at their 35-yard line. The defensive secondary rebounded as Willie Strosnider intercepted a pass giving the offense excellent field position on the Hurricane 32-yard line. QB Zach Mueller hit WR Alex Rice for a 20-yard gain, and a few plays later connected with Mathias on an 18-yard scoring strike. Mueller would take the ball in on the 2-point conversion and the Knights jumped to an 8-6 lead, which was the score at half.
The 3rd quarter was all Hurricane. Wilmington took the 2nd half kick-off and marched 69 yards over the next seven minutes, reaching the Knights 3-yard line. Penalties stopped the ‘Cane as they eventually turned the ball over on downs at the Knights 5-yard line. Unfortunately on the next two plays the Knights offense went backwards as Wilmington’s defense recorded a safety, knotting the score at 8-8. After Tommy Grosso’s kick-off, the Hurricane were immediately knocking on the door once more. They would reach the Knight 27-yard line before being stopped by LB Jake Hogue’s interception. Kings offensive woes continued though as a bad snap on the ensuing punt was recovered by Wilmington at the Kings 16-yard line. Two plays later they scored and the score stood Wilmington 14, Kings 8. Net, over the first eleven minutes of the 2nd half, Wilmington held the ball for nine minutes, had 90 yards of offense, recorded a safety and scored a touchdown. Kings, though registering two interceptions, had the ball for just two minutes and had negative yardage. The good news though was we were still in the ballgame.
Things got better as the 4th quarter got underway. WR Parker Phipps got the offense jump-started with a kick-off return to the Hurricane 40-yard line. A Wilmington penalty moved the ball another 5 yards. From there, Perry picked up 15 yards and Mueller would do the rest, rushing on three consecutive plays for the score. After a five-minute delay, (you had to be there), Grosso’s PAT was no good and the score was tied 14 a piece. Wilmington was forced to punt on their next series and the Knights got the ball back with five and half minutes left in the game. Mueller was knocked out of the game on the first play of the series however and the drive stalled. The Hurricane moved the ball in short order to the Knight 5-yard line. Again the defense stiffened as Mathias intercepted a pass in the end zone for a touchback. Kings had the ball again with just 1:30 on the clock. The Knights first play from scrimmage went badly as the attempted pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Kings immediately got the ball back and their final drive likewise ended in an interception. Final score: Wilmington 20, Kings 14.
Notes…QB Zach Mueller, 3 of 11 for 44 yards, 7 carries for 29 yards, 2 TD (1 pass, 1 rushing), PAT (rush); RB Josh Mathias, 14 carries 48 yards, 1 recetion for 18 yards, TD (rec); Defense – leaders with 4 tackles, LB’s Max Lerer, Colt Perry, DB’s Austin Brown, Seth Willen; Interceptions, DB’s Josh Mathias, Willie Strosnider, LB Jake Hogue; Teams: Kings, 142 yards (98 rush, 44 pass), TOP 16 mins; Wilmington, 256 yards (135 rush, 121 pass), TOP 24 mins.
Next week: Turpin game cancelled (at Turpin’s request). Season record, 5-4.
From the author: Congratulations to the players and coaches on their season. I would also like to personally thank everyone for the support and comments over the last few years and for putting up with my ramblings. I have enjoyed being a part of it. As a community we should feel very proud of these young men. With that, the torch is now passed to the very capable crew at WKNG who will cover the boys from here on out.
Now men, help the Varsity get ready. BEAT TURPIN!!
Game Summary: Game Stats
Photo Gallery: Mindseye Photography
The Kings JV squad welcomed the West Carrollton Pirates to Kings Stadium on Saturday morning. The Knights played a well-balanced game as the defense posted their first shut-out of the season while the offense racked up 258 turn-over free yards as they cruised to a 28-0 victory.
Tommy Grosso got the day started as he kicked-off to the Pirates. Willie Strosnider made the tackle and West Carrollton took to the field, starting at their 32-yard line. West Carrollton gained two first downs before punting the ball to the Kings 15-yard line. The Knights made the most of their opening series, quickly moving to their 48-yard line on the legs of RB Colt Perry and Josh Mathias. On 2nd & 10, Mathias would follow his blockers to the left side, then cut back to his right on a 52-yard touchdown run. Perry added the two-point conversion and the Knights were up 8-0 mid-way through the 1st quarter. West Carrollton’s next possession was cut short by offensive penalties and Kings had the ball for their second series at their 44-yard line. A Knights penalty pushed them back, but on 3rd & 16, Perry would rush for 21 yards to keep the drive alive. A few plays later QB Zach Mueller found Perry for an 8-yard touchdown strike. Grosso’s PAT was no good and the Knights lead stretched to 15-0 early in the 2nd period.
Both teams would move the ball over the next several series but penalties continued to plague the offenses. The half ended with the score still Kings 15, West Carrollton 0.
Kings opened the 2nd half on offense and immediately went to work. With a new running back tandem of Max Lerer and Seth Willen, the Knights moved steadily down the field as the offensive line continually kept the running lanes open. Lerer capped the 9 play, 55-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. Grosso’s PAT was good and Kings jumped to a 21-0 lead with four minutes left in the 3rd. DB Nick Handorf intercepted a Pirates pass three plays later and made a nice return all the way to the West Carrollton 30-yard line. RB’s Mathias and Perry re-entered the game and as the O-line took care of business, the Knights steadily moved down field. Mathias would score on a 1-yard TD plunge and once again, Grosso’s PAT was good. The Knights lead stood at 28-0 moments into the 4th quarter.
The Pirates had two more possession in the game but were unable to score. Final score: Kings 28, West Carrollton 0.
Notes…QB Zach Mueller, 3 of 5 for 14 yards, 4 carries for 23 yards, TD; RB Josh Mathias, 12 carries 114 yards, 2 TD; RB Colt Perry, 10 carries 88 yards, TD (reception), PAT (rush); RB Max Lerer, 4 carries 14 yards, TD; PK Tommy Grosso 2/3 PAT’s; Defense – leader with 6 tackles, LB Max Lerer; LB Jake Hogue, 5 tackles; Interceptions, DB Nick Handorf; Teams – Kings, 258 yards (244 rush, 14 pass), TOP 21 mins; West Carrollton, 144 yards (71 rush, 73 pass), TOP 19 mins.
Next week, versus Wilmington on Saturday, Oct 23rd at Wilmington, 10:00 AM. Season record, 5-3.
Mindseye Fan Cam Photo of the Week: 
Walnut Hills visited Kings Stadium on another beautiful Saturday morning for football. Kings won the game 28-20, scoring on the ground, via the pass, and with defense. The game marked the first time this season the Knights had a positive turnover margin.
The game didn’t start well for the Knights though as the opening kick-off was fumbled and recovered by the Eagles at the Kings 19-yard line. The defense responded to the challenge however as DB Andrew Dalton intercepted an Eagles pass to end the threat as quickly as it started. The Knights offense took the field and proceeded to move 82 yards over the next 12 plays before the drive stalled at the Walnut Hills 12-yard line. The Eagles were forced to punt by a stout Kings defense and the Knights took over on their 33-yard line for their second possession of the game. This time Kings would finish their work, scoring on a 14-yard Gebhardt-to-Mathias pass play minutes into the 2nd quarter giving the Knights a 6-0 lead.
After Tommy Grosso’s kick-off, Walnut Hills tore off large chunks of yardage on the ground, moving 51 yards on four rushing attempts, setting up a 3rd & 8 from Knight 14-yard line. A bad snap from center resulted in a loss of 18 yards to the Kings 32-yard line. DB Nick Handorf then intercepted the 4th down pass in the end zone to end the Eagles drive. Kings followed with a quick drive of their own as Gebhardt hit TE Adam Spohr for 23 yards, RB Seth Willen tallied 18 yards on the ground, and Gebhardt connected with RB Colt Perry for seven more yards to move the ball to the Eagles 17-yard line. That would be as far as the Knights went though as a Gebhardt pass was intercepted at the Walnut Hills 3-yard line to end the series.
The Knight defense contributed again on the ensuing Eagles possession as LB Max Lerer stripped the ball from the ball-carrier and rumbled 14 yards for a defensive touchdown. The Knights lead stretched to 12-0. The defense produced another turnover just two plays later as DB Tomy Grosso intercepted a long Eagles pass giving the ball back to the Knights at their 30-yard line with just under a minute left in the half. QB Gebhardt and WR Alex Rice connected on four straight pass plays, moving the ball to the Walnut Hills 16-yard line before a Knights penalty would help end the drive as the 1st half came to a close. Half-time score: Kings 12, Walnut Hills 0.
The teams exchanged possessions to open the 3rd period. Walnut finally got on the board with a 7-play, 86-yard drive on their second series of the quarter to make the score 12-7. The Knights next possession resulted in three and out, but not before Gebhardt’s punt pinned the Eagles on their 14-yard line. The defense held Walnut Hills to a three and out, setting the Kings offense up at the Eagle 37-yard line after a nice punt return by Mathias. RB Colt Perry would take it from there, eventually scoring on a 41-yard run down the left-side. QB Zach Mueller connected with Perry on the 2-point conversion to make the score Kings 20, Walnut Hills 7 as the 4th quarter got underway.
Aided by two Knights penalties, the Eagles responded with a 67-yard scoring drive to keep them in the game. The PAT was good and the score stood Kings 20, Walnut Hills 14 with six minutes left to play. The Knights went three and out and the Kings faithful were growing nervous. The punt team would put those fears to rest as Handorf separated the ball from the punt returner on a perfectly timed hit. DB Drew Schueler recovered the loose ball on the Eagle 28-yard line. The offense marched on the legs of Perry, who carried six straight times behind his offensive line to score with a minute left in the game. Gebhardt would carry the ball for a successful 2-point conversion making the score 28-14. Walnut Hills responded with a quick 59-yard drive. The attempted on-side kick was covered up by Sawyer Dean to finish the game. Final score: Kings 28, Walnut Hills 20.
Notes…QB Jensen Gebhardt, 13 of 24 for 150 yards, 5 carries for 21 yards, TD, PAT (rush), INT; RB Colt Perry, 7 carries 69 yards, 2 TD, PAT (reception); RB Josh Mathias, 11 carries 38 yards, TD (reception); WR Alex Rice, 8 receptions for 81 yards; Defense – leader with 8 tackles, LB Colt Perry; LB Max Lerer and DB Austin Brown, 6 tackles; Fumble recovery, DB Drew Schueler, Max Lerer; INT’s, Andrew Dalton, Tommy Grosso, Nick Handorf; Defensive TD – Max Lerer; Teams – Kings, 324 yards (171 rush, 153 pass), TOP 20 mins; Walnut Hills, 263 yards (161 rush, 102 pass), TOP 20 mins.
Next week, versus West Carrollton on Saturday, Oct 16th at Kings Stadium, 10:00 AM. Season record, 4-3.
“There are three things an athlete must do. You must be in physical condition… You must execute properly and quickly the fundamentals… and you must have eagerness to sacrifice personal interests or glory for the welfare of the team”
– John Wooden
The Kings JV squad traveled to Little Miami’s HiFive Field for the opening game of FAVC action. The Knights played a solid game as the offense, defense, and special teams contributed in an 18-6 victory over the host Panthers.
The opening possession rested with the Knights. Starting at their 30-yard line, Kings RB Josh Mathias and QB Zach Mueller rushed twelve consecutive plays behind the line of Nick Squires, Conner Goodpaster, Eric Saul,, Paul Koerbel, Andrew Ruschau, and Adam Spohr. The drive would stall at the Little Miami 5 yard line however as Mueller’s 4th & 1 carry was stopped short. The Panthers responded in kind, driving to the Kings 28-yard line before their 4th down attempt was stopped by the Knights defense. The first quarter ended with both teams generating plenty of offense but each unable to score.
The 2nd quarter got underway with Kings again in possession of the ball. The Knights mixed the run and pass on their second series. Mueller was 4-for-4 passing, hitting three different receivers for 41 yards, and RB Seth Willen rushed for 37 yards on the seven minute drive, covering the final ten yards for the touchdown. Willen’s carry for the 2-point conversion fell a yard short as Kings took a 6-0 lead to end the scoring in the 1st half.
Special teams made its mark in the 3rd quarter as David Fletcher blocked a Panther punt on Little Miami’s opening possession of the 2nd half. The Knights offense took over with excellent field position at the Panther 12-yard line. Two plays later Mathias hit paydirt. Mueller’s pass for the 2-point conversion fell incomplete as the Knights lead moved to 12-0 just two minutes into the 3rd period. Tommy Grosso’s ensuing kick-off gave the ball back to the Little Miami at their 23-yard line. Three plays later the Panthers faced a 4th & inches at their 32-yard line. They chose to go for it, but were denied as Willen stopped the ball-carrier for a 2-yard loss. The Knights offense took over once again with excellent field position at the Panther 29-yard line. Four plays later Kings found the end zone, the key play on the drive being a 26-yard completion to RB Colt Perry on 3rd & 10. The 2-point conversion fell short as Kings stretched the lead to 18-0 at roughly the mid-point of the 3rd quarter.
The following three possession for each squad featured a total lack of offense as the Panthers produced thirteen yards on eleven plays while the Kings offense went backwards, totaling negative seventeen yards on nine plays.
Little Miami would get on the board late in the 4th quarter, completing a 53-yard drive, mostly through the air, to make the score 18-6.
Notes…QB Zach Mueller, 7 of 12 for 84 yards, 8 carries for 42 yards; RB Josh Mathias, 25 carries 77 yards, TD; RB Seth Willen, 10 carries 37 yards, TD; RB Colt Perry, 2 carries 5 yards, TD, 3 receptions 50 yards; Defense – leader with 4 tackles, LB Jake Hogue; Fumble recovery, DB Willie Strosnider; Blocked Kick, DE David Fletcher;
Teams – Kings, 245 yards (161 rush, 84 pass), TOP 27 mins; Little Miami, 167 yards (82 rush, 85 pass), TOP 13 mins.
Next week, versus Walnut Hills on Saturday, Oct 9th at Kings Stadium, 10:00 AM. Season record, 3-3.
“Don’t measure yourself by what you’ve accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” – John Wooden
The JV, fresh off an exciting win last week versus Loveland, ran into a buzz saw against host Glen Este. The Knights were out-gained 440 yards to 202 yards in a lopsided 38-12 loss to the Trojans. The defense surrendered 330 yards (7.2 yds/carry) on the ground while the offense mustered only 32 yards on fourteen attempts (2.2 yds/carry). The Knight air attack fared better, producing 170 yards and two touchdowns.
The Knights opening possession resulted in a three pass attempts for two yards before punting the ball away. Glen Este’s opening possession, starting at their own 41-yard line, moved quickly down the field, covering 59 yards in four plays to take a 7-0 just four minutes into the game. The Knights defense has surrendered a touchdown on every opening series in each game this season. On a more positive note, the offense responded. QB Jensen Gebhardt led the team on a nice 75 yard drive, converting three 3rd & long plays on the way, to bring the Knights within one, 7-6, with a minute left in the 1st period. The touchdown resulted from a 26-yard scoring strike from Gebhardt to WR Alex Rice. After receiving Conner Hakes kick-off, the Trojans again moved the ball, rushing five straight times for 43 yards, reaching the Knights 11-yard line. The defense held and forced a Glen Este field-goal attempt, which was good, giving the Trojans a 10-6 lead as the 2nd period got underway.
The Knights opening possession of the 2nd quarter was cut short by a holding penalty and the Trojans got the ball back at their 40-yard line. Glen Este went on a 60-yard scoring drive (35 yards rush, 20 yards pass, 5 penalty) to score again and widen their lead to 17-6. The offense started their next possession at their 28-yard line, but a holding penalty, two incomplete passes and a rushing attempt for no gain forced a punt on 4th and 15. Hakes’ punt traveled to the Trojans 46-yard line where the Knights caught a break as the punt was mishandled, the loose ball being recovered by DB Nick Handorf. Given new life, the Knights offense moved to the Glen Este 23-yard line for what would be the high-water mark for the Knights on this day as two plays later Kings would turn the ball over to end the scoring threat. With one minute left in the half, the Trojans marched 70 yards in six plays, reaching the Knights 7-yard line, before the clock forced an errant field goal attempt. Half-time score: Glen Este 17, Kings 6.
Glen Este took possession of the ball to open the 2nd half of play. The Trojans offense continued to overpower the Knights defense, covering 66 yards (40 yards rush, 26 yards pass) in nine plays to take a 24-6 lead mid-way through the 3rd quarter. Kings would go three and out. The Trojans followed with 16-play, 89-yard touchdown drive that consumed seven minutes of clock and gave Glen Este a 31-6 lead. The Knights first possession of the 4th quarter resulted in several 1st downs but ended with an interception at the Trojan 46-yard line. Again, the Trojans would score as they rushed for 54-yards in five plays to score for the final time of the day and increase their lead to 38-6. The Knights would drive for a late score as Gebhardt hit WR Parker Phipps on a 4-yard touchdown pass with under a minute to play. Final score: Glen Este 38, Kings 12.
Notes…QB Jensen Gebhardt, 16 of 24 for 170 yards, 2 TD; WR Alex Rice, 7 receptions for 98 yards, TD; WR Parker Phipps, 6 receptions for 44 yards, TD; Defense – leader with 12 tackles, LB Conner Hakes; DB Andrew Dalton, 5 tackles; Fumble recovery, DB Nick Handorf; Teams – Kings, 202 yards (32 rush, 170 pass), TOP 16 mins; Glen Este, 440 yards (330 rush, 110 pass), TOP 24 mins.
Next week, versus Little Miami on Saturday, Oct 2nd at Little Miami, 10:00 AM. Season record stands at 2-3.
“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” – John Wooden
The JV squad hosted neighboring district rival Loveland Tigers Saturday morning on a beautiful day for football at Kings Stadium. The Knights fell behind early but finished strong, scoring with fourteen seconds left in the game, then completing the drive with a successful two-point conversion to win a come-from-behind victory, 14-13.
Kings opened the game with the ball, but the Jensen Gebhardt led offense would quickly go three and out. In an all too familiar scene for JV fans, our opponent took their opening possession and promptly marched 69 yards (24 rush, 45 pass) in 13 plays for a touchdown. The PAT was good and the Tigers were up 7-0 with a minute left in the 1st quarter. After the kick-off return by Josh Mathias, the offense took the field at their 36-yard line. This time, the offensive unit started to move the chains, picking up two first downs before a Drew Patterson punt pinned the Tigers on their 14-yard line. Patterson’s punting throughout the day was a positive factor in the battle for field position for the Knights as his average net yardage per kick was 40 yards versus Loveland’s 14.
Loveland was forced to punt after LB Conner Hakes stopped the Tigers RB on 3rd & 2. Kings would have excellent field position, starting at the Loveland 41-yard line. Again, the offense moved the chains, picking up two more 1st downs as they moved to the Tiger 17-yard line before the offense coughed up the ball on the first of the day’s three turnovers. Loveland was back in business at their 16-yard line. Momentum would swing back to the Knights however as Safety Nick Handorf intercepted a Tiger pass, returning it to the Loveland 29-yard line. From there Gebhardt, behind the offensive line of Nick Wolf, Jerod Kenney, Eric Saul, Paul Koerbel, and Nick Squires needed only two plays as he connected with TE Adam Spohr for 17 yards and Mathias for a 12-yard touchdown reception. Mathias’ 2-point conversion attempt came up short and the score stood Loveland 7, Kings 6. Loveland would drive to the Knights 30-yard line prior to the half but their 47-yard field goal attempt was short.
After the intermission, the Tiger offense took the field once more. Starting at their 40-yard line, Loveland struck quickly with a 30-yard completion, two plays later, another pass for 16 more yards, moving to the Knights 8-yard line. The opportunistic Knights defense would rise again, as LB Jake Hogue recovered a Tiger fumble on the Kings 15-yard line to end the scoring threat. Three carries by Mathias produced nine yards and the Knights were forced to punt. Patterson’s punt of 43 yards gave the ball back to the Tigers at their 33-yard line. Loveland marched again. This time, the Tigers found the end zone, scoring on 4th & 10 from the Knights 29-yard line. The PAT was wide right, making the score Loveland 13, Kings 6.
The Knights would fumble the ball on their next series at the start of an eventful 4th quarter. The defense met the challenge. Loveland would go three and out as DE Daniel Kurtzahn sacked the Tiger QB to end their series. At the six-minute mark of the 4th, Kings committed another turnover as an attempted screen pass was intercepted at the Knights 40-yard line. Not to be outdone, Hakes would return the favor on a nice interception at the Kings 21-yard line. With three and a half minutes left in the game, Gebhardt re-entered the game to lead the Knight offense. Five plays yielded no yards and Patterson would have to punt again. The kick traveled 56 yards with no return, but with a 1:32 remaining in the game, Loveland had the ball and the lead. But we are the Knights. Loveland rushed on three successive plays, each time the defense, led by DL Travis Byrd and LB Colt Perry, were there to meet them. Fortunately, Kings had all their time-outs left, expending them after each play. After a Loveland punt of only 14 yards, Kings had the ball on the Tiger 43-yard line. Loveland had only used 23 seconds of the clock. The offense took the field with 1:09 left in the game and no time-outs. The first three plays gained only 4 yards, setting up a crucial 4th & 6. Gebhardt hit WR Parker Phipps on the left sideline for 12-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Next was a 19 yard completion to WR Sawyer Dean to set-up 1st & Goal at the Tiger 8-yard line. Then with 14 seconds remaining, Gebhardt hit Dean once more on an 8-yard scoring strike to pull the Knights within one, 13-12. Kings had to make the 2-point conversion for the win. The offense lined up for the extra point try but was flagged for Illegal Motion, moving them back five yards. Now faced with an 8-yard conversion attempt, the offense lined up once more. Gebhardt found WR Alex Rice in the end zone for the conversion and the Knights took the lead 14-13 with 14 ticks on the clock. Loveland would complete a pass to end the game but came up well short. Final score: Kings 14, Loveland 13.
Notes…QB Jensen Gebhardt, 12 of 17 for 113 yards, 2 TD, PAT; RB Josh Mathias, 14 carries 50 yards, 2 receptions for 16 yards, TD; WR Sawyer Dean, 2 receptions for 27 yards, TD; WR Alex Rice, 2 receptions for 17 yards, PAT; Defense – leader with 11 tackles, LB Colt Perry; LB Conner Hakes, 6 tackles, INT; Fumble recovery, Jake Hogue; Interceptions, DB Nick Handorf, Hakes; Teams – Kings, 175 yards (62 rush, 113 pass), TOP 16 mins; Loveland, 277 yards (104 rush, 173 pass), TOP 24 mins.
Next week, versus Glen Este on Saturday, Sep. 25th at Glen Este, 10:00 AM. Season record stands at 2-2.
“If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride – and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards.” – Paul “Bear” Bryant
The Harrison Wildcats rolled into Kings Stadium for the JV’s 2010 home opener and left with a hard-fought 12-6 victory over the Knights. Harrison jumped to a 12-0 1st quarter lead and held off a Knights drive in the closing minutes of the game for the win. The ‘Cats relied on a strong running game, rushing for 169 yards (3.5/yds per carry), as they controlled the clock for 33 of the game’s 48 minutes. The Knights also had four turnovers in the game.
After a touchback to open the game, the Knights offense would gain one first down before punting the ball away. Harrison promptly marched 74 yards (51 rush, 23 pass) in 12 plays. The 2-point conversion attempt was incomplete and Harrison took an early 6-0 lead with four minutes left in the opening quarter. The ensuing Wildcats kick-off was fielded on the Kings 1-yard line and returned to the eight. Three plays later a Knights turnover gave the ball back to Harrison at the Kings 19-yard line. The Wildcats needed only three rushing attempts to punch it into the end zone. The 2-point conversion was again no good and the score was Harrison 12, Kings 0 with less than a minute left in the 1st period.
Kings would open the 2nd quarter with a three and out. DL Travis Byrd then forced a fumble that was recovered by Adam Spohr on the Harrison 41-yard line. The Knights offense couldn’t capitalize however and again went three and out. Punter Drew Patterson backed the Wildcats up to their own 6-yard line though as the Harrison offense took the field. The Knights would lose the battle for field position as the Wildcats completed a 73-yard pass down the left-sideline. Safety Seth Willen made the touchdown saving tackle on the Knights 20. Three plays later, DB Josh Mathias intercepted a pass at the Kings 2-yard line only to lose the ball on the return. The defense would rise again as LB’s Conner Hakes, Jake Hogue and DB Nick Handorf would make stops to keep Harrison out of the end zone. The Knights offense got the ball back on their 7-yard line. Three plays later another Kings turnover gave the Wildcats excellent field position in the red zone. Five rushing attempts moved the ball to the Knights 3-yard line where on 3rd and Goal, Hakes would tackle the runner for a loss of two yards. The 4th down play resulted in an incomplete pass and the Knights had dodged another bullet as the 1st half came to a close. Halftime score, Harrison 12, Kings 0.
Third quarter action opened with Harrison moving 50 yards in 12 plays, almost all on the ground, to the Knights 6-yard line. Again, the defense would hold as DB Willie Strosnider intercepted a pass, giving the Knights possession on their 18-yard line. This time, the offense responded as Mathias carried the Knights down to the Wildcat 36. QB Zach Mueller then connected with WR Alex Rice on a nice 36-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point conversion was no good and as the 3rd quarter came to a close it was Harrison 12, Kings 6.
Harrison’s opening possession of the final period ended at their 24-yard line as Conner Goodpaster made a terrific play on a Wildcat screen pass that resulted in a loss of 14 yards. The offense had good field position as they took the field at Harrison’s 48. The offense couldn’t get anything going however and went three and out. After the Hakes punt and a Harrison penalty, the Wildcats were pinned deep in their territory at their 10-yard line. Their offense responded against a tired Kings defense, eating up nearly six minutes of clock before punting the ball to the Knights. As testament to never giving up, Kings, despite being statistically dominated, had the ball with three and half minutes left in the game, all their time-outs, and the opportunity to win. The Knights offense moved the ball primarily on the legs of Mathias and Mueller to the Wildcat 25-yard line but would get no closer as the game came to a close. Final score, Harrison 12, Kings 6.
Notes…QB Drew Patterson, 3 of 10 for 14 yards, INT; QB Zach Mueller, 3 of 7 for 42 yards, TD; RB Josh Mathias, 17 carries 71 yards; WR Alex Rice, 2 receptions for 39 yards, TD; Defense; leader with 8 tackles, DL Travis Byrd; several with 5 tackles (LB’s Conner Hakes, Jake Hogue, DB Seth Willen); Fumble recovery, Adam Spohr; Interceptions, Mathias, DB Willie Strosnider. Team; Harrison, 290 yards offense on 68 plays; Kings, 155 yards on 41 plays.
Next week, versus Loveland on Saturday, Sep. 18th at Kings, 10:00 AM. Season record stands at 1-2.
The JV squad rallied from an 18-6 deficit to post their first victory of the young season, 20-18 over Milford. The Knights rallied behind an impressive on-side kick where Connor Hakes and Colt Perry laid on a punishing hit as Milford tried to recover the ball. Willie Strosnider recovered the lose ball and scampered into the end zone for the game winner!
Notes: QB Drew Patterson rushed for over 100 yards.
Next week, versus Harrison on Saturday, Sep. 11th at Kings, 10:00 AM.
Game Stats: Lebanon vs Kings
The Kings Junior Varsity traveled to Lebanon’s Atrium Field for their opening game of the 2010 season trying to build on the momentum created by the Varsity in Friday night’s victory. It was not to be. The Knights offense turned the ball over on their first four possessions, and Lebanon capitalized, turning the miscues into twenty-two points in the first half on their way to a 28-6 victory over the Knights.
The Warriors offense took possession to open the game at their 36-yard line. During the next six minutes, they marched, mostly on the ground, fifty yards in eight plays to the Kings 14-yard line. Three more rushing plays had the Warriors knocking on the door with a 4th & 1 at the Kings 7-yard line. The Knights defense held however as DL Conner Goodpaster would make a tackle for a three yard loss to stop the Warriors early bid to get on the board. The Knight offense took to the field and promptly fumbled the ball on 2nd down with Lebanon recovering at the Kings 9-yard line. Two plays later the Lebanon quarterback threw the first of his two TD passes of the day. The 2-point conversion was good and Lebanon jumped to an early 8-0 lead. The Knights offense gained only five yards in three plays on the ensuing possession before sending out the punting unit. Unfortunately, the punt attempt was blocked and Lebanon again had good field position, taking over on the Kings 47-yard line. The Warriors marched again, covering the distance in four minutes, culminating in a 1-yard TD pass. The 2-point conversion was good and Lebanon was up 16-0 minutes into the second period.
After the kick-off, the second quarter action for the Kings offensive unit began at their 42-yard line. The Knights generated their first 1st down of the game, and moved into Lebanon territory for the first time. It was short-lived however as Kings would turn it over on a fumble with Lebanon recovering at their 32-yard line. The defense would hold, forcing the Warriors to a three and out. After the punt, the Knights offense started things off at their 30-yard line. With a nice 27-yard completion from QB Drew Patterson to WR Parker Phipps the offense began to show signs of life. Patterson then hit RB Colt Perry for another 13 yards, moving the ball to Lebanon’s 28-yard line. The drive ended on the next play however as a Patterson pass was intercepted in the end zone with just over two minutes left in the half. The Warriors took advantage of the opportunity and as the defense struggled, marched 80 yards (17 rush, 63 pass) to score on the final play of the second quarter. The conversion attempt was no good. Half-time score: Lebanon 22, Kings 0.
Kings opened third quarter action with the ball at their 39-yard line. With two completions to WR Willie Strosnider and a facemask penalty on Lebanon, the Knights were quickly in scoring position once again. This time, Patterson found Phipps for a 26-yard scoring strike, making the score 22-6 with nine minutes left in the period. The teams would exchange possessions leading to a Lebanon possession with four minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Starting at their 15-yard line, the Warriors moved the ball to the Knights 42-yard line as the quarter came to a close.
On the first play of the final stanza, LB Jake Hogue intercepted the ball and returned it 34 yards to the Lebanon 26-yard line. All of sudden, the Knights were back in the game. On the legs of RB Josh Mathias, Kings marched to the Warrior ten. They would go no further though as another turnover gave Lebanon the ball back at their 10-yard line. Losing their momentum, the defense was overwhelmed. Over the next eight plays, the Warriors rushed for fifty yards and passed for forty on their way to another score. The 2-point conversion was no good on an interception by safety Seth Willen. Kings would have the ball two more times in the game but couldn’t mount a serious threat. Final score: Lebanon 28, Kings 6.
Notes…QB Drew Patterson; 8 of 15 for 101 yards, TD, INT; RB Josh Mathias, 20 carries 63 yards; WR Parker Phipps, 3 receptions for 70 yards, TD; Defense; leaders with 7 tackles (LB Max Lerer, LB Jake Hogue, DL Travis Byrd); Fumble recovery, Lerer; Interceptions, Hogue, SS Seth Willen
Next week, versus Milford on Saturday, Sep. 4th at Milford, 10:00 AM.