Kingston Clinches Third in District with Win Over Lexington

Fall showed up with a vengeance last week, with colder temperatures and long-awaited rainfall, and the Kingston Redskins headed north to Lexington for a district matchup against the Bulldogs. Lexington was coming off its first win of the season, a 26-16 win in Marietta. The Redskins looked to solidify their playoff slot, needing to keep pace with leaders Davis and Holdenville. The rain finally stopped as the game got started, and Kingston heated up, blowing out Lexington 42-6.

Kingston took over at its own 42, and the offense made it clear to the Bulldogs defense that they could settle in for a long night. 7 plays, all runs, covered the 58 yards, and senior Devin Tipton took a jet sweep in for the game’s opening score, giving Kingston a 7-0 lead three minutes in.

Lexington’s first drive also gave signs of things to come. Lexington started off the drive with a false start, and then two plays later from their own 29, freshman quarterback Cadyn Krueger found senior receiver Ezra Faulkenberry deep for an apparent touchdown. However, Kreugerhadscrambledabout three yards past the line of scrimmage before he threw the football, and the play was called back on the penalty. While Lexington did pick up a first down, they could move no further, and punted the ball away to Kingston.

Kingston’s next drive fared no better. While freshman running back Luke Stephens started off the drive well with a 15-yard run, Kingston’s next three plays would lose one yard net and result in a punt.

Taking over at their own 48, the Bulldogs went on the march. Helped out by a thirddown conversion courtesy of a personal foul facemask penalty on the Redskins, Lexington drove down to the Kingston 23 to end the first quarter. However, the drive fizzled there, and four plays later it ended when Krueger was sacked on fourth down by Kingston freshman Reid Patterson, and the ball was turned over on downs.

Taking over at his own 27, senior quarterback Klete Finley took over for the Redskins and called his own number. After a 7-yard run on first down, he took a keeper untouched down the left sideline on second down for a 66-yard score. The extra point extended Kingston’s lead to 14-0.

Lexington took over after the ensuing kick, and initially the Bulldogs stalled again, punting after three plays. However, Lexington was a three-and-out, and then it was Kingston’s turn to be bitten by the turnover bug. The second play of the ensuing drive, Finley threw the ball straight to Lexington sophomore Dalton Brewer, who picked off the pass at the Kingston 33. That would lead to Lexington’s sole score of the night, as junior Ean Caywood threw a halfback pass to Faulkenberry for a touchdown with 33 seconds left in the first half, and the Bulldogs appeared that they would go into half only down 14-6.

Kingston had some more fireworks for the first half, however. Taking over at his own 49, Finley started off the drive with a scamper down to the Lexington 25. With time running out, he then dropped back to pass and found sophomore Cash Walker in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown pass, and the teams went into half with Kingston up 21-6.

The second half would be all Kingston. After Lexington’s junior Sammy McNiel recovered at the Bulldogs’ 32. It only required four plays for Kingston to score again, as Tipton punched it in from the Lexington 2 to make the lead 35-6.

With Kingston firmly in control halfway through the third quarter, the teams worked at running out the clock. Kingston would add a final score on the first play of thefourthquarterasKreuger would fumble in the end zone and freshman Eli Daugherty recovered for a touchdown, and the final result would be 42-6 Kingston.

Kingston dominated the action on both sides of the ball. Finley led all passers, completing 5 of his 10 attempts for 74 yards and a score, while also throwing two interceptions. Finley also was the game’s leading rusher, gaining 172 yards on his 11 attempts, including two more scores. Cash Walker was his leading receiver, with and the Bulldogs’ only hope to finish out of last place is for Kingston (4-2, 4-5) to beat also-ran Marietta (1-5, 2-7) next Friday night. That game is also senior night for Kingston,andtheseniorswill presumably be celebrated before the game (information about senior night was not available at press time). Kickoff is scheduled at Harold “Bulldog” Henry Field at 7:30 p.m.

EXTRA POINTS

Around the district, Davis (6-0, 8-1) clinched the district title with a 54-0 victory over Coalgate (2-4, 2-7). Holdenville (6-1, 8-1) clinched second place with a 49-12 win over Marietta. Atoka (3-3, 4-5) took control of its own destiny by beating Tishomingo (2-4, 4-5) 42-20, ending the Indians’ playoff hopes.With the win, Kingston clinched a playoff spot and third place in the district. With the top three slots locked in for Davis, Holdenville, and Kingston. With Tishomingo, Marietta and Lexington eliminated, Atoka travels to Coalgate this Friday night, with the fourth and final playoff spot on the line. Kingston’s firstround playoff game will be on the road, with the opponent to be determined after next Friday’s results finalize the standings.

The Madill Wildcats played the Hilldale Hornets in the pouring rain on October 27.