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October 25, 2008

Kilgore’s defense provides punch

By Richard Polen

sports@joplinglobe.com

MIAMI, Okla. — Kilgore College’s defense became offensive minded Saturday against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; College.

The Rangers intercepted three passes and returned two of them for touchdowns in a 34-0 victory at Robertson Field. Kilgore, which played most of the game with backup quarterback Lane Johnson, led just 14-0 after three quarters.

“Our starting quarterback was ejected (for fighting) last week,” explained Kilgore head coach J.J. Eckert. “We had been in a two-platoon system at quarterback, so this was his first college start. We need to work on our consistency.

“Defensively, we played really well,” Eckert said. “Our game plan was solid and our kids executed very well.”

The Rangers’ primary objective on defense was to key on running back Cardell Clemons and stop the Golden Norsemen on the ground. In the first half, NEO had a total of 15 yards rushing. For the game, NEO had 62 yards rushing on 39 carries, although Clemons finished with 89 yards on 25 attempts.

When the Golden Norsemen fell behind and turned to their passing game, the Rangers were ready and waiting.

Trailing 6-0 in the second quarter and faced with a third-and-15 from his own 29, NEO quarterback Trey Munden’s pass intended for wide receiver Kenyard Blair in the right flat was intercepted by Rangers’ linebacker L.T. Gaston, who never broke stride in returning the ball 35 yards for a touchdown. A two-point conversion pass gave Kilgore a 14-0 lead with 10:56 left in the first half.

“L.T. played really well on defense and on special teams overall, along with Kendrick Johnson,” Eckert said.

Kendrick Johnson, who at 5-8 and 175 pounds is normally a wide receiver, stepped in at quarterback midway through the third quarter. He attempted and completed one pass for one yard but had 49 yards rushing on 10 carries and returned a punt 41 yards that set up the Rangers’ last touchdown.

NEO’s defense, especially defensive back Jeff Johnson, kept the Golden Norsemen in the game until the fourth quarter. Kilgore, leading 14-0, was stopped on consecutive possessions in the third quarter when Johnson tipped away a pass in the corner of the endzone on a fourth-and-goal from the NEO 3. Then, after an NEO punt, he intercepted a pass and returned it 31 yards to the Rangers’ 45-yard line.

“It was going through my head that I was looking to score,” said Johnson, a 6-0, 195-pound sophomore from Putnam City. “I just came up a little short. I was just trying to do my part. Overall, we played pretty hard.”

He finished with eight unassisted tackles and six assists, but NEO was unable to take advantage because of an interception by Rangers’ safety Victor Carmichael. Then the Rangers made a mistake of their own and NEO defensive back Jerrod Fields intercepted a pass in the endzone and returned it to the 27-yard line but fumbled.

Four plays later, the Rangers scored their third touchdown when Kendrick Johnson ran to his left for 9 yards early in the fourth quarter.

The Rangers had one more big play remaining on defense. Jimmy Anderson, a freshman cornerback from Round Rock, raced 43 yards into the endzone with an interception that gave Kilgore a 28-0 lead with 5:42 left in the game.

The victory makes Kilgore 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. NEO slipped to 2-6 and 2-4. NEO was shut out at home for the first time since the last regular season game of 1997 against Blinn College.

“We’re just happy with the victory, after a seven-hour trip and it being their homecoming and all,” said Eckert, who avoided talking about the possibility of Kilgore making the playoffs. “We haven’t even looked at that. We’re just trying to handle each game week to week.”

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