In a game that was dominated by two stingy defenses, Kenston came up with one final drive as Tucker Meeks scored the game-winning touchdown with just 37 seconds left in the game to lead the Bombers to a 14-7 victory over Mayfield at Wildcat Stadium at Mayfield High School.
In a game that was dominated by two stingy defenses, Kenston came up with one final drive as Tucker Meeks scored the game-winning touchdown with just 37 seconds left in the game to lead the Bombers to a 14-7 victory over Mayfield at Wildcat Stadium at Mayfield High School.
The Bombers started at their own 23 with just 1:43 left to play. Three of the four previous drives for Kenston in the second half were three and outs as the Bombers had only one first down after halftime until their final drive.
Quarterback Adam Barr played his best when it mattered most as he completed three straight passes on the drive with the biggest being a 30-yard completion to Max George that set up Kenston with first-and-goal at the Mayfield 7. That set up Meeks’ game-winning run.
“The offensive line was just great,” Meeks said. “The hole was wide open and I just ran through it. There’s nothing easier than that.”
Barr was 7-of-9 passing for 99 yards and an interception on a deflected pass while George caught thee passes for 47 yards. Meeks rushed 10 times for 61 yards.
As clutch as the offense was on the final drive, Kenston coach Jeff Grubich wanted to make sure to praise the Bomber defense.
“I can’t say enough about the defense,” Grubich said. “To hold Mayfield and that offense to seven points is the story of the night.”
The Bombers have won five of their past six games and are now 6-3 and 3-1 in the Western Reserve Conference. If the Bombers beat rival Chardon (5-4, 2-2) on Friday night at Chardon High School they should clinch a home game in the first round of the Division III playoffs. Kenston can also clinch at least a share of their third straight WRC title. Mayfield fell to 5-4, 2-2.
The victory was not just significant for Kenston’s playoff positioning, but also personally for Grubich as he tied Zinn Gorby for most career coaching victories at Kenston. Gorby, who is in the Kenston Hall of Fame, coached the Bombers from 1972-84 and again in 1992-93 as he won 103 games. That record is now shared with Grubich. Gorby passed away in 2020.
“I knew Zinn very well,” Grubich said. “He would come up to practice and talk to the team. To be mentioned with a guy like that, who built the Kenston program and meant so much to the community, means a lot to me.”
The Wildcats scored on their first possession of the game with the key play being a 40-yard run by punter Kingston Murchinson from a punt formation on fourth down to the Bomber 2. John Harris scored on a 2-yard touchdown run on third and goal as the Wildcats led 7-0 with 7:33 to play in the first quarter.
The Bombers tied the game at 7-7 with just 22 seconds remaining in the first quarter as Will Hamm broke free for a 41-yard touchdown run. Hamm rushed 19 times for 76 yards for Kenston.
“On this team, we have a lot of heart,” Hamm said. “We believe in each other and the coaches.
“I want to thank the offensive line,” Hamm said. “They’re all dogs. I couldn’t ask for more from them.”
