Missed red zone opportunities slowed the highscoring Kingston offense a bit, but the Redskins came up with enough big plays to pull past Idabel, 35-24, in last week’s District 3A-2 lid lifter.
The Redskins join Sulphur, Seminole and this week’s opponent Lone Grove atop the league standings at 1-0 after the district openers.
Idabel showed its firepower on the game’s initial play, connecting on a 63-yard bomb to paydirt for a 6-0 lead, but Kingston had an immediate answer as Ethan Mowles bolted 34 yards for a touchdown just two minutes later to put the Redskins in front for good.
Kelly Gray capped the next Redskin offensive possession with a 37-yard burst ahead of Aiden Polk’s second extra point of the night.
Mowlesconvertedafourth down early in the second frame, hooking up with Kayden Fenwick for a 19yard touchdown pass that capped a massive 89-yard drive.
A pair of red zone mishaps later in the quarter, including failing to punch it in from the Idabel 1, took a little air out of the Kingston sails despite a 21-6 advantage at intermission.
The Warriors fed off that momentum in the third period, outscoring the Redskins 18-6 to narrow the gap considerably.
They utilized 25- and 62yard touchdown passes and a 76-yard interception return for a score to cut the margin to only 28-24 just before the end of the third period. Kingston’s lone touchdown in the quarter came via Mowles’ second scoring toss to Fenwick, whichcovered46yards.
The Redskins answered the late flurry with the insurance they needed to take a two-score cushion, marching for a 32-yard touchdown pass from Mowles to a wide open Ty Jones.
Damien Almos put the nail in the proverbial Idabel coffin a couple minutes later, intercepting a Warrior pass at the Kingston 26.
Mowles had his best night of the season through the air, completing 12 of 21 passes for 230 yards and three scores. He also tallied 90 yards on 20 rushing attempts while Gray chipped in 11 carries for 104 yards.
Fenwick snagged five passes for 136 yards receiving with Jones posting three catches for 56 yards and Almos two for 29.
“WeknewIdabelhadsome explosiveweapons,”Kingston head coach Brad Hill said. “We started out behind immediately but answered back and scored the next threetouchdowns.Weshould have been ahead by more at the half but got stopped just short of the goal line in the second quarter.
“We made some big plays on offense, but it wasn’t as clean as we would have liked it to be. It was a good first district victory. We definitely had three scoring chances that came up empty on mistakes and didn’t push it in. We gave Idabel momentum each time. We were tested and faced adversity. We have a lot of things to learn and have to be better this week than we were last week.”
Two-sport standout Tatum Quinn is the catalyst for the Lone Grove offense at quarterback and missed two of their three non-district losses with an injury. He returned last week to spur a 55-- 14 romp over Star Spencer.
TheLonghornsalsohavea talented corps of receivers as well as junior stalwart Kaine Roberts at running back.
“Lone Grove is really well coached,” Hill added. “They are very tough scheme-wise andwewillneedtobeclicking in all phases. Their record is not reflective of the team they are. Their quarterback was out a couple of those games and they have three losses against a rugged schedule. They are a lot better than what the record shows. It’s a well-balanced group and they are used to winning in everything they do. It’s going to be a challenge.”