The Kenston football team used a dominant defensive effort and the legs of freshman running back Ethan Burge to defeat Mayfield, 21-3, on Homecoming Friday night at Bomber Stadium at Kenston High School.
Game photos click here.
The Kenston football team used a dominant defensive effort and the legs of freshman running back Ethan Burge to defeat Mayfield, 21-3, on Homecoming Friday night at Bomber Stadium at Kenston High School.
Kenston has now won two straight and is 4-3 overall and 2-0 in the Western Reserve Conference. Mayfield dropped to 3-4, 1-1.
“Mayfield has always been good at using special plays to surprise teams,” Kenston coach Jeff Grubich said. “We prepared for that all week, and credit them, they just executed perfectly early in the game to get us on our heels. Our D line and linebackers always play physical football , though, and we were able to beat them off the ball all night. Football is a game of momentum, and we dug in well and played well. Getting that last touchdown just before halftime, too, gave us a better grip on that momentum.”
The Wildcats struck first as they recovered an on-side kick to open the game at the Bomber 46. Kenston initially held Mayfield as the Wildcats faced a fourth-and-4 at the Bomber 40. But Wildcat punter A.J. Rogers Jr., who is also their starting quarterback, threw a pass from a punt formation to J.D. Dinnen for a 24-yard gain down to the Kenston 16.
The Wildcats ventured no further then a yard and settled for a 32-yard field goal by Devan Calabrese for an early 3-0 lead.
The Bombers quickly responded as they marched 60 yards in six plays to take a 7-3 lead as Burge scored on a 24-yard touchdown run with 7:03 left in the first quarter. Burge was the offensive star of the game as he rushed 23 time for 122 yards.
Asked after the game how he felt, Burge said: “Tired”.
With an injury to senior running back Cohen Clark, the Bombers have leaned on Burge to carry the ground game.
“It’s a big responsibility, but I lean on the offensive linemen and try to make the right reads,” Burge said. “I try to get out on the edge.”
That ended up being all the points Kenston needed as the Bomber defense dominated. Kenston held Mayfield to just five first downs the whole game. Mayfield running back Eddie Sanders rushed eight times for just 13 yards while Rogers Jr. completed 11-of-21 passes, but for only 84 yards.
Kenston coach Jeff Grubich said the Bombers can play even better on defense.
“Five (first downs) is too many,” Grubich said. “Overall, it was a great defensive effort. The front seven played solid. The defensive backs did a great job. The defensive coaches had a gameplan and the players executed.”
The Bomber defense also registered four sacks including two by Toran Savransky. The Wildcats reached the Bomber 40 on their second possession, but never got back into Kenston territory again the rest of the game.
“I think I played well,” Savransky said. “This is the first game of the season I played the whole game on the defensive line. We put pressure on the quarterback. We had them (Mayfield’s offensive line) locked up up front and the secondary did a great job.”
Savransky previously has played some linebacker. Count him as another person impressed with Burge.
“I knew he was special,” Savransky said. “He’s going to be great. As a freshman it’s awesome to see him do so well against big guys.”
Burge has impressed Grubich too.
“He got to start two or three weeks ago and he gets better every week,” Grubich said. “He has worked hard. I can’t say enough about him.”
Still, it was just 7-3 Bombers late in the first half. That’s when Kenston went on the most impressive drive of the game as Burge helped carry them 70 yards in 12 plays capping the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run by quarterback Lucas Kaltenbach for a 14-3 lead with just 29 seconds remaining in the first half. Kaltenbach finished 6-for-12 passing for 84 yards. On his touchdown run, the Wildcats keyed on Burge allowing Kaltenbach a clear path into the endzone.
Kenston put the game away late as Kaltenbach threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Krupp with 3:53 left in the game.
“Our last four games have really been a gauntlet of tough teams, “ Coach Grubich said. “We’ve played pretty well for the most part through them all, and that gives us a positive outlook heading into our league season and then to the playoffs. Ethan (Burge) is really proving to be a tough runner, and that is great for all of us.”
