ADVERTISEMENT

Kettle Run 28-21 over Handley

VerizonSportsFan

VaPreps Honorable Mention
Sep 2, 2003
1,746
168
63
No doubt, this score has made everyone do a double-take.

Handley did not elect to go for a couple of FG's and came up with zero points in the 1st half and Kettle Run's defense sacked Handley's QB for many huge losses that hurt the Judges.

Handley had a shot to tie or win it in the last 3 minutes but threw an interception within last 45 secs.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Shruikan
No doubt, this score has made everyone do a double-take.

Handley did not elect to go for a couple of FG's and came up with zero points and 1st half and Kettle Run's defense sacked Handley's QB for many huge losses that hurt the Judges.

Handley had a shot to tie or win it in the last 3 minutes but threw an interception within last 45 secs.

How do you see the rest of the season going for your Judges?
 
IMHO ... Sherando will force running clock. Liberty will prob knock them off.

7-3 at best and most likely 6-4.
 
Cougars hold off another Judges comeback attempt



Handley quarterback Jacob Parker (5) is sacked by Kettle Run defensive end Chris Kallighan (44) during Saturday's game at James R. Wilkins Jr. Stadium. The Cougars sacked Parker 11 times in a 28-21 victory over the Judges.




Handley tight end Stephen Daley (81) is congratulated by teammate Kevin Curry (3) after Daley caught a 31-yard touchdown pass during the third quarter of the Judges' 28-21 loss to unbeaten Kettle Run on Saturday.




Handley running back Malachi Imoh cuts inside for yardage during Saturday's 28-21 loss to Kettle Run. Imoh rushed 17 times for 73 yards and caught seven passes for 110 yards.




Handley's Joey Ashby (50) brings down Kettle Run quarterback Gabe Chumley as Judges linebacker D'Andre James moves in to help on the tackle. The Cougars topped the Judges 28-21.


WINCHESTER — In three of their four games this season, Handley had rallied from fourth-quarter deficits to pull out victories.

The Judges had an opportunity to make it four on Saturday before a Homecoming crowd at James R. Wilkins Jr. Stadium, but this time it was Kettle Run that made the big plays at the end of the game.

The Cougars halted two Handley possessions inside their 20 in the last five minutes with turnovers as they pulled out a 28-21 victory. Jack Kroll's interception with 32 seconds sealed the victory for Kettle Run (5-0) in the Class 4 Northwestern District opener for both teams.


The Cougars buried Judges quarterback Jacob Parker, who threw for a pair of TDs, under an avalanche of 11 sacks and kept a check on Handley standout receiver Kevin Curry until the final stages.

“We missed a lot of opportunities,” Handley coach Dan Jones said after his team dropped to 4-1. “That's a great football team and they missed the same things. … What we gave them, they gave us right back. It was one of those things where they executed one more time better than we did today.”

After a rough start, the Cougars had taken control behind the passing combination of quarterback Gabe Chumley to receiver Shannon Ferguson. A six-yard touchdown strike to Ferguson, the senior's third TD catch of the game, had Kettle Run comfortably ahead 28-14 with a little more than 10 minutes remaining.

But like they have so often this season, the Judges (4-1) fought back with Parker finding Curry for a big play.

Handcuffed by double coverage for most of the game, Curry was able to break free on a fourth-and-12 play from the Kettle Run 34 and easily hauled in a lofted pass from Parker to make the score 28-21 with 6:17 to go.

“No matter if we're down one point or 50, I know that my guys can fight back from something like that,” said Parker, who was 16 of 25 for 275 yards and two scores. “We've done it before.”

On the second play of the Cougars' next possession, Josiah Duffy blitzed in to nail Chumley as the quarterback tried to get off a pass and Tommy Ashby recovered the loose ball at the Kettle Run 13.

But the Judges would get no closer. Noah Podpaly and Chris Kallighan recorded consecutive sacks, with Kallighan forcing a turnover as Parker fumbled when blasted from the blindside.

Podpaly, Kallighan, Logan Morris and Austin Arvizo spent most of the game in the Handley backfield.

“Those guys have all played together since they were sophomores,” Kettle Run coach Charlie Porterfield said. “Most of them are three-year starters. We had a lot of faith in that group coming in and we knew we needed a big day out of them and they produced.”

“The offseason has helped a lot in getting our D-line stronger,” said Morris. “I believe it was key towards the end of the game, so we could force them into making wrong decisions.”

The Judges would get one more try.

Taking over at their own 29 with 2:31 left, the Judges quickly moved up field, thanks in part to one spectacular play.

On a third-and-1 play from the Kettle Run 49, Parker hit Curry with a quick pass in the flat designed to get a couple of yards and a first down. But Curry broke a tackle, spun away from several others and nearly broke it all of the way before he was tackled at the 16.

But again, the Judges would get no closer. Two penalties cost them 10 yards. On third down from the 25, Parker lofted a pass toward running back Malachi Imoh, who had been his favorite target on the day. But Kroll was right there and easily out-leaped the smaller Imoh at the 8 for the interception that sealed the contest.

“We thought the defense was going to give us a different look,” Parker said of the final play. “We felt [Imoh] was our guy.”

The jubilant ending for the Cougars offset a horrible start for a team which had given up just 13 points on the season.

After a three-and-out, Kettle Run punter Andrew Piercy couldn't handle a low snap and then fumbled forward. Handley's D'Andre James scooped up the loose ball and ran untouched 36 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0.

The Cougars then fumbled the ensuing kickoff giving Handley the ball at the Kettle Run 34. The Judges drove to the 18, but Morris ended the drive by sacking Parker on fourth down.

“That was probably the worst way you can start a game.,” Porterfield said. “For me as the head coach, I was pleased to see us kind of bounce back from that. Obviously, there's things we'd like to get fixed and not make those mistakes, but to be able to overcome them and ultimately win the game is huge for us as a program.”

The Cougars' special teams squared things near the end of the quarter. Imoh, who also punts, couldn't corral a snap. He attempted to get off a punt from near the Handley end zone, but it was partially blocked. The ball fluttered and came down into the hands of Kroll in the end zone as the Cougars knotted the score at 7-7.

Kroll also played a big part in frustrating the Handley offense by keeping a check on Curry from his safety spot. Curry had just one catch for a loss of three yards in the first half.

“He's a superstar,” Porterfield said of Curry. “That kid is talented, talented. He was a big focus all week of being able to kind of handle him. We knew he was going to get his, but it was the bend-but-don't-break mentality of make the tackle, play another play and hopefully we'll get another chance to make something happen.”

The Cougars sacked Parker six times in the first half and also picked off a pass.

“Putting pressure on him certainly helped,” Morris said. “It gave him less time to get it to [Curry] and less opportunities for us to have to make the play in the open field.”


“They had an outstanding D-line, but it was nothing we hadn't seen before,” Parker said. “Most of the time it was my fault. I was too busy looking … and didn't have my head up.”

“We knew they stunt well and they are big up front,” Jones said. “Our offensive line battled and we did the best we could. … Our kids gave us enough opportunities to succeed.”

Kettle Run took advantage of a fumble caused by Arvizo to go ahead for good. On third down, Ferguson beat Curry on a slant and took a laser from Chumley for a 19-yard TD early in the second quarter.

After getting a short field later in the period, the Cougars expanded the lead. A 39-yard march culminated with Ferguson coming underneath on a crossing rout to make the score 21-7 before the half.

With so much focus on Curry, Handley finally burned the Cougars late in the third quarter. Parker hit freshman tight end Stephen Daley over the middle and Daley blasted through 3 tacklers near the goal line for a 31-yard TD to make it 21-14.

“We know when they start over-adjusting to Kevin that we have got to find our other receivers,” Jones said. “We had a lot of receiver today either get their first catch or a big catch for us. It was nice to see other receivers catch the ball and hopefully show other teams we have other weapons than Kevin.”

But thanks to a fine kickoff return by Darian Lambert, the Cougars need to go just 45 yards to push the margin back to 14 points. Ferguson, who was covered mostly by Curry throughout the game, was able to use picks to get loose. With 10:28 left, he was wide open in the end zone for a six-yard TD toss from Chumley, who finished 14 of 26 for 174 yards.

“We were able to run more inside routes and run some rub routes and find some ways to get him open,” Porterfield said of Ferguson, who had five catches for 56 yards. “We knew with Curry covering him it was going to be challenge because that kid is easily one of the best players, if not the best player, we'll see all year long.”

Imoh had a solid day for the Judges with 73 yards on 17 carries and seven catches for 110 yards.

Parker said the Judges, who to look to rebound Friday at Fauquier (0-5), still feel they are building momentum, despite a tough loss to a regional playoff qualifier from last season.

“This is a Handley I've never seen,” the senior quarterback said. “We look forward to keeping it going. This is what a playoff game feels like. This is that kind of competition. This kind of game will show us what we've got to come for the rest of the season.”

Kettle Run returns to Winchester with a Friday clash at Millbrook (4-1, 1-0).

“Today was a good test to see where we are at with athletes of this caliber,” Porterfield said.
 
Very true statement by Mr. Jones ... Handley is getting better each week as others are catching the football vs. just Mr. Curry which will open him up more so for the remainder of the season.

“We know when they start over-adjusting to Kevin that we have got to find our other receivers,” Dan Jones said. “We had a lot of receivers today either get their first catch or a big catch for us. It was nice to see other receivers catch the ball and hopefully show other teams we have other weapons than Kevin.”
 
ADVERTISEMENT