Published: October 01, 2008 05:08 pm            

Kemp takes down Palmer; Eustace falls to Ferris

Mabank Coach Jimmy Cantrell isn’t the only head man in a foul mood this week.

Doug Wendel at Eustace isn’t feeling all that warm and fuzzy inside, either.

His team lost, 30-14 to Ferris last weekend.

Kemp, on the other hand, continued to find out what life was like on the winning side of the scoreboard.

After losing all but one game last year and their first three this year, the Jackets suddenly have a two-game winning streak.

Coach Gregg Anderson hopes they’re getting hooked on this stuff.

They’ll have one more week to bask in the glory of it before returning to duty a week from now against a strong Van team



FERRIS 30, EUSTACE 14;

Wendel left the field in Ferris knowing his Dogs had played a much closer game than what the scoreboard indicated.

But once again, a blocked field goal had done in his team. It kept the Dogs from going ahead in the fourth quarter.

Worse, it was a 10-point turnaround on one block. Not only did the Dogs not get their three points and the lead.

 Ryan Kidwell took the blocked football and ran it back 56 yards for a touchdown.

Suddenly, instead of being ahead 17-16, the Dogs were behind 23-14 — a two-score deficit.

It ruined what had been a pretty good night’s effort. Eustace had scored first to lead 7-0 and had taken a 14-13 lead to the dressing room.

Even when the Dogs fell behind, they rallied with a chance to regain the lead.

Ferris had more depth, was bigger, faster, and more experienced.

Still, Wendel was upset with his team after the game.

“We just don’t have enough real confidence,” he said. “And that bothers me.”

They don’t get a chance to redeem themselves Friday, either.

They’re open.

It’ll give Eustace a chance to work on specialty teams which have played a major role in the Dog’s three losses.

On the upside, Wendel said he couldn’t have been more pleased about his team’s effort, and about its improved concentration.

A team often heavily penalized for its aggressiveness, the Dogs had just three whistles for15 yards.

The home team was whistled 10 times for 70 yards by contrast.

The Dogs, focused, as Wendel said last week, on focusing, and it paid dividends against Ferris.

Running back Shawn Baldwin was held under the 100 yard mark for the first time in several weeks.

He had 74 yards but got little more than half his normal number of carries at 18.

Ferris had 40 running plays, almost as many as Eustace (44) and out gained the Dogs by 101 yards.

And James Hopkins had 176 yards rushing along for Ferris.

Turnovers were even, a fumble and an interception each.

Quarterback Chris Compton had 91 yards on 20 carries, including one touchdown.

One thing the Dogs were sure to work on this week was the passing game.

Wide receiver Zach Keeling, gives the Dogs a deep threat and if they can get the ball to him a little more often, it could loosen things up for the run.

Keeling has scored passing touchdowns in each of the two games he’s been back from injury.

Another challenge in the open week for the Dogs is trying to figure a way to get the ball to speedy Trevan Johnson in the open field.

KEMP 63, PALMER 27;

The long-frustrated Jackets poured in on last Friday against 2A Palmer, the second-straight win for Kemp in what Yellowjacket Coach Greg Anderson called his team’s finest performance in his two years at the school.

The Kemp Yellowjackets are riding a two-game winning streak after a

63-27 win over Palmer Friday night heading into this week’s open date.

Athens Review Sports Editor Benny Rogers conducted the following interview with Anderson this week:

Q: What are your thoughts on the team's performance in Friday's 63-27

win over Palmer?

A: We played really well Friday night. The most complete game since I have been here at Kemp — offensively, defensively, as well as the kicking game. We still have plenty of things to work on to continue to improve, but I was pleased overall with our performance.

Q: You've won two in a row going into your bye week and District 14-AAA

opener. How important do you feel it was to enjoy success before district

play gets under way?

A: It certainly gives our team some much needed confidence going into district play. We struggled early in our first three games, but we were playing some really good teams as well. It certainly is a good way to

enter the bye week since we don't play again for two weeks.

Q: At the halfway point of the season, where do you think your team is in relation to where you thought you'd be at this point?

A: I feel good about where we are at this point. As I said, we still have plenty to improve on but I feel good about our progression through the season up to this point.

Offensively, we are moving the ball much better and doing a better job of not turning the ball over.

Defensively, we are continuing to improve and playing well as a unit.

Q: What players have emerged as your team leaders?

A: Josh Carr, senior running back and linebacker; Korey Henderson, senior running back; James Trim, senior wide receiver and cornerback; Jeremy Quick, junior quarterback, have all done a great job stepping up

as leaders for us this year.

Q: When you look at the upcoming district race, what are your thoughts going in as to where your team figures into the mix*

A: I think our district is wide open at this point. Van certainly got off to a great start but stumbled a little this past Friday.

Canton has played some very good teams in non district and Mineola is off to a good start as well. I feel every week in our district will be very competitive, and any three of the six teams could be there at the end.

        

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