[A preview of my article this week in the Inside—Booster.]
By Jack Lydon
It was a long penalty filled game but Kenwood’s defense, particularly, it defensive line simply took about what the Playton Grizzlies wanted to do. Payton’s athletics on offense were able to wear down the Grizzlies defense, move the ball and score. The Broncos defeated Payton 39-7 Saturday afternoon at Lane.
Did I write “penalty filled?” It seemed there were times in the second quarter that there was a penalty on every play.
“You would have to ask the referee about that,” said Kenwood head coach Chris Goffer when asked about the large number of penalties.
Despite the repeated Broncos penalties, the game turned early in the second quarter. With the Broncos up 14-0, Kenwood senior defensive end Kameron Love, rushed the Payton quarterback Thomas Fritchett.
“He left un unblocked. You can’t leave me unblocked. I'm gonna go,” said Love said. Payton should have blocked him.
“I just wanted to get the ball back for the team. I thought I have to a make big hit so I can get the ball,” Love continued. Love hit Fritchett knocking the back toward the line.
“We thought it was a screen so we all dropped back. Kam [Love] came all free and got there in time to make the play. He got there fast,” said Kenwood senior defensive tackle Ajani Brown.
Kenwood defensive tackle Dameon Norman picked up the ball and rumbling, stumbling and bumbling got down to the Payton 3-yardline just shy of a big score.
Kenwood quarterback Kenyonte Louis finished with a 3-yard keeper to make the score 20-0 with almost the whole second quarter to play.
Kenwood’s defense dominated the rest of the second quarter. The defensive line simply took Payton out of what they wanted to do.
“We were watching a lot of film. They like to do a lot of trick plays. We knew they want to run a lot of counters. We were reading the pulls really well and we were getting a lot of stops on the interior,” said Brown.
“Amazing. I love my d-line. You win championship for defense, especially up front. The second quarter is our power quarter. We like to turn it up a little bit, turn it up a notch. Once we got a good read what's going on or visibly and defensely. You like to turn it up again in the second quarter,” said Kenwood coach Chris Goffer.
The Grizzlies rallied a little late in the third quarter. With the help of more Kenwood penalties, the Grizzlies moved the ball down the field mixing in passes on the sidelines and runs up the middle. Payton senior running back Sam Merrill scored from two yards out to make the score 27-7. Plenty of heart by the Grizzles but too little, too late.
Kenwood has two games remaining to settle the Public League Metro. Morgan Park (5-2, 5-0) next Saturday and Phillips (2-5, 1-4) the following Saturday.
Head coach Goffer was understandable cautious in speaking about the upcoming games and the playoffs but did talk about the status of his team.
“I don't like to say just the Public League. I think we're the class in 7A. I preach to my boys; we want to win city first obviously and be the best team in the city. Next week will have that chance against Morgan Parks to kind of prove that. Then we move on to the playoffs, but we want to be considered more than just a Public League team. We want to be a power in the state.”
Despite the loss, Payton has an excellent record and will enter the 5A playoffs with a high seed given what could be a 7-2 record.
