Over the past several weeks many Kingston fans have had their eyes squarely focused on a potential showdown with perennial power Sulphur.
Head coach Brad Hill and the Redskins will look to just that opportunity Friday night when they host the Bulldogs in a showdown that has District 3A-2 title implications.
The Redskins are a perfect 7-0 on the season after last week’s 48-8 thumping of Seminole while Sulphur enters are 6-1 overall but still ranked number one by some publications in Class 3A following back-to-back state runner-up efforts. The Bulldogs’ lone loss this season came on the road to Texas juggernaut Gunter (29-17) back in Week 3.
Since that defeat Sulphur has manhandled four district foes by a combined score of an incredible 226-7.
“Sulphur is very well coachedandextremelyphysical on both sides,” Hill commented. “They are the best team we’ve seen and don’t have many weaknesses at all. Protecting the ball and playing well in special teams will be critical. We must keep their big play receiver in front of us.
“We have got to play a clean game and withstand their physicality to stay in the fight. If you turn the ball over against them it’s going to be a long night. If we can avoid that I believe it’s going to be a great football game.”
Kingston wasted very little time with a quickstrike attack in last week’s win against Seminole as they raced to a 48-0 halftime advantage and cruised the rest of the way. All seven first half touchdowns by the Redskins came on drives of two plays or less as they hit several explosive bombs as well as taking advantage of short fields provided by their defense.
Ty Jones came up with an immediate sack to set the defensive tone but Kingston fumbled the ensuing punt. The Chieftains had to give it right back and Aiden Polk returned a punt 64 yards. Two plays later Trent Stewart rumbled 10 yards for a touchdown and 6-0 edge.
Stewart chipped in a massive sack of his own on the next Seminole possession and Kingston quickly capitalized in good position with an Ethan Mowles 40-yard aerial strike to Lander Burkhalter. Polk burst 10 yards to paydirt on the next play and Kayden Fenwick chipped in a two-point conversion run to make it 14-0.
ThefollowingtwoRedskin possessions lasted only a single play as Mowles scampered 51 yards to the end zone for the first and Koewyn Young rumbled 83 yards for a touchdown on the second.
On Kingston’s next opportunity Mowles hooked up with Fenwick on a 59-yard scoring strike and three minutes later hit Damien Almos for another with a 55-yard pass.
Kelly Gray’s fumble recovery at the Seminole 29 set up the Redskins’ final score with Titus Johnson’s 10-yard run only 49 seconds before the half.
Kingston racked up 229 yards rushing on 20 carries that were spread around 11 different rushers. Mowles’ three big play pass completions netted another 154 yards for 383 yards of total offense.
“We came out fast after emphasizing we wanted to capitalize early because rain was expected, so we jumped on them right out of the gate,” Hill said. “Our young guys played the whole second half on both sides of the ball. It was big to get reps for those guys and get some of our older guys rest. I think every touchdown we had was by a different back. We have a lot of weapons and all showed up and had good games.
“Our defense is getting better and better each week. They set the tone for us early tonight. I thought they answered the bell, came out physically and played well.”