By Stan Beall
The Star Herald
KOSCIUSKO —
The Kosciusko Whippets hosted the Caledonia Confederates in a Region 4-4A contest last Friday night and won the contest 42-18.
The Whippets are now 4-6 overall and 2-2 in region play.
The Whippets found themselves in a quick 12-0 hole after the Confederates scored on a five-yard run with nine minutes left in the first quarter, PAT no good, and then returned an interception 45 yards for a score, PAT no good, just two minutes later.
The Whippets quickly countered when Jerrell Jackson raced 32 yards for a touchdown, Allen Vasquez kick, to pull within five of the Feds, 12-7, with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Three minutes later, the Whippets scored again when Deavolon Edwards punched one in from one-yard out, Vasquez kick, to take a 14-12 lead into the second quarter.
At about the seven minute mark of the second quarter the Whippets took the lead for good when Jabri Selmon capped a nice drive with a two-yard run, Vasquez kick, to take a 21-12 lead over the Feds.
The Whippets would take this lead into the half. With just two minutes gone from the clock in the third quarter, quarterback Tim Wade found tight end Zach Quillen on a three-yard touchdown pass to increase the Whippet lead to 28-12 after another successful Vasquez PAT.
Eight minutes later, Wade found Daniel Fortenberry with a 40-yard touchdown pass to further increase the Whippet lead to 35-12 after Vasquez split the uprights once again.
With just one minute remaining in the third quarter, the Whippets capped their scoring for the night when Edwards ran one in from nine yards out to increase their lead to 42-12 after Vasquez kicked another one through.
The Whippets led 42-12 at the end of the third quarter.
The Feds scored on a 30-yard run midway through the fourth quarter, but that would not be nearly enough to overcome the Whippets on this night.
"I thought we played a complete game, but we came out a little slow, giving up two touchdowns early on each side of the ball," said head coach Tyler Peterson. "I thought it was the hardest we played all year defensively, creating turnovers. We had a lot of big hits and we just really got after it on the defensive side."
Defensively, Kendrick Pittman who had 4.5 tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery led the Whippets. Harrison Griffin and Darrius Morgan each recorded 3.5 tackles while Brian Carter tallied 3 tackles on the night.
Daquan Tolar picked off a pass while Austin Arnold recovered a fumble.
Offensively the Whippets were led by Wade, who was 8-15 passing for 152 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions as well as 36 yards rushing on seven carries. Deavolon Edwards had 72 yards on the ground with two touchdowns on just 12 carries, Jabri Selmon rushed for 52 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown, Jerrell Jackson had 36 yards on four carries and a touchdown, Jamari Roby had 34 yards on one carry and Kendric Riley had 26 yards on six carries. Roby also had two catches for 69 yards while Daniel Fortenberry had two receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown, Kelvin Riley had three catches for 30 yards and Zach Quillen had one catch for three yards and a touchdown.
"We still haven't played our best game yet, but we're getting closer every week and minimizing mistakes," added Peterson. "Overall the guys are starting to play together and it's starting to show."
The Whippets will travel to Houston Friday night to take on the Hilltoppers in a Region 4-4A contest at 7 p.m. to determine the #3 and #4 seed.
