Kelly falls on the road to Confluence Prep

Monday, September 15, 2014

ST. LOUIS -- Growing pains are sure to be a part of a first-year high school varsity football team.

The pains were limited in Kelly's first three games this year as the Hawks were competitive in all three games and enjoyed the thrill of last week's win against St. Vincent.

But it was an almost three-hour lesson in growing pains Saturday as Kelly traveled to take on Confluence Prep Academy, stumbling to a 37-6 loss at Cardinal Ritter High School.

The Titans (1-3), who resumed varsity football this year after playing on the junior varsity level last year, rushed for 362 yards against an overmatched Hawk defense.

"We were 5-3 on the junior varsity level last year and winning last week brought tears to some player's eyes," Senior Dalton Huffman said. "We expected the tempo on varsity to be close to the same but it is a lot faster on this level. We need to get used to the speed of the game.

"I thought we took a big, big step last week, and this week was a letdown. I think we were a little intimidated today. We just need to go out there and play our game each week."

The Hawks (1-3) were in the game for most of the first half and actually had a chance to take a halftime advantage in the waning moments. But the tide turned in a hurry.

Confluence scored on a short touchdown run by Justin Davis late in the first quarter.

Kelly scored its only points in the second quarter, and that didn't come without some drama and controversy.

Matthew Burford broke loose for a 27-yard touchdown run, but there were flags on the play. The original call of unnecessary roughness on the Hawks seemed to negate the touchdown.

But after a long consultation, the officials called offsetting personal fouls and the touchdown was upheld although Kelly was assessed a 15-yard penalty on the extra point, which kept the score at 6-6.

It took the Titans less than two minutes to regain the lead as Rontonyo Hubbard scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 21-yard run.

The Titans led 12-6 with 1:23 to go when they went for a fourth-and-short on their own 20-yard line. A stop would have put the Hawks in the red zone with the opportunity to tie or take the lead before halftime. But the Titans not only converted the first down, but they went 80 yards in just three plays to take an 18-6 lead at the break.

"That was a huge part of the game," Kelly coach Kenneth Riedinger said. "Football is all about blocking and tackling, and we did not do well in either today.

"I felt we had them tackled behind the line in that drive. but they gave them the first down and they took advantage of it."

Confluence carried the momentum into the second half as it received the kickoff and scored as quarterback Charles Cannon zigged and zagged 27 yards for a touchdown on a fourth-and-9. The Hawks missed several tackles on the play.

"We did not tackle well in space today," Riedinger said.

Kelly had a huge play shortly thereafter from its special teams as Aaron Graham connected with Huffman for a 35-yard pass from punt formation. But the Hawks, who were held in negative rushing yardage in the second half, were not able to capitalize.

The Titans, who won for the first time in four games, added a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as Davis scored his second on a 2-yard run and Hubbard capped off his big game with a 57-yard touchdown run.

"We took a step back today," Riedinger said. "At some point a young team is going to panic, and we did today. We just did not execute well."

The Hawks hope to get back on the winning track next week as they take another long road trip to face Fulton County, Ky.

Kelly0600--6
Confluence612712--37

First quarter

C -- Justin Davis 2 run (kick failed), 2:35.

Second quarter

K -- Matthew Burford 27 run (kick failed), 7:59.

C -- Rontonyo Hubbard 21 run (run failed), 6:39.

C -- Hubbard 6 run (pass failed), 0:27.

Third quarter

C -- Charles Cannon 26 run (Davion Isaiah kick), 8:21.

Fourth quarter

C -- Davis 2 run (kick failed), 10:05.

C -- Hubbard 57 run (run failed), 8:03.

TEAM STATISTICS

KC
First downs619
Rushes-yards26-7251-362
Passing yards6992
Passes5-18-24-6-1
Punts2-740
Fumbles-Lost1-11-0
Penalties-Yards3-2516-125
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