Tiger's prowl: State's top-ranked 1-A team escapes

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 19, 2008 2:00 AM

• Print
• Email

WARSAW -- Even Picasso couldn't have painted in these conditions.

But a miserable, rainy night turned into a priceless masterpiece for two-time defending Super Six 1-A Conference champion James Kenan. Despite three fumbles and an interception, the No. 1-ranked Tigers turned back No. 7-ranked Midway 18-7 at Bill Taylor Field.

"Oh yeah, it was ugly," said Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr. "We told them we didn't care whatever way we did it, but we just wanted to win tonight. And we found a way to win, which was the most-important thing."

James Kenan (8-0 overall) claimed its 30th consecutive regular-season victory and 12th straight against conference opposition. But Avent Jr. knew his team was fortunate to escape in the horrid, bone-chilling conditions.

The Tigers survived a "phantom flag", delivered a key goal-line defensive stand and stuffed the Raiders' high-scoring offense.

Down 7-6 at halftime, James Kenan woke up a silent and umbrella-covered crowd in the third quarter. Shawon Darden hooked up with Demetrius Vann for a 63-yard scoring strike that appeared no good when a soggy yellow flag was discovered near the line of scrimmage.

The head referee said the Tigers blocked below the knees on the play, but it was two Midway defenders who tripped over each other as Darden wormed his way out of trouble to find the wide-open Vann. The official waved off the flag and after a botched two-point conversion, James Kenan led 12-7.

"We had a dry ball and the rain had quit a little bit, so we wanted to throw it some," said Avent Jr. "We felt like coming into the week we needed to throw it, but the rain didn't cooperate with us."

Darden crossed the 1,000-yard plateau with a 70-yard throwing effort on just two completions. The senior signal caller has an area-leading 11 touchdown passes.

However, it appeared the Tigers would quickly lose their advantage.

After stopping Midway (7-1, 1-1 Super Six) on downs, senior Alex Monk fumbled the punt return. But James Kenan's defense held firm on four consecutive plays inside the 5-yard line and the Raiders never ventured inside the red zone the rest of the night.

"That was huge," said Tigers defensive coordinator John Avent. "We bowed our necks and turned them back. I thought our guys went after them and made them earn everything they got tonight."

The Raiders didn't get much.

Midway managed a season-low 57 yards total offense -- all on the ground. The Tigers yielded four first downs, forced three fumbles and allowed just three third-down conversions on 12 tries.

Kenan's defense has surrendered just three touchdowns and posted two shutouts in its last five outings -- a stretch of 20 quarters. Linebackers Josh Hicks and Monk posted 11 and 10 tackles, respectively. Anthony Kennedy had seven stops, including a quarterback sack. Kendric Faison provided six tackles and a sack.