Blake triumphs over Blair

NOV. 4th, Blake—

All year, Blair's JV Football team has been about not giving up and
fighting back. They are strong in the trenches, and their run-based offense
always seems to come through. However, on Saturday against the Blake
Bengals, they just fell short. In a game that started with the Bengals up
22-6 and a half-time score of 22-20, Blair was never out of it until the
final minutes. Despite the 38-20 score, they came close to staging a
surprising comeback.

The Blazers were led by starting sophomore running back Keith Ayensu, who
rushed for over 100 yards, including a kick off returned for a touchdown.
The defense was where the team could not execute: "We just couldn't make the
big stops when we needed them," said head coach Adrian Kelly.

The Bengals started with the ball, and met little much resistance from the
Blair defense. They waltzed down the field putting together a six minute, 65
yard touchdown drive in which Blair could not make a tackle in the back
field

Blair's offense was not much better, going three and out, then botching the
long snap on the punt. This gave the ball to the Bengals on Blair's eight
yard line. The Bengals then sunk another touchdown, to gain a 14 point lead.
For Blair it seemed as it was over. Their defense was lacking, and their
offense couldn't save them either. Kelly took time to talk to the team after
the Bengal's touchdown. "I just told them to keep their heads up. I told
them how football is a long game, and if we don't fight, and if we just give
up, then there is no point for us to even be on the field. I just reminded
them that we have it in us to beat these guys."

On the following plays, it seemed as if the team hadn't been listening.
They committed a false start, and after two more runs they were still short
of the first down. It was third and long, and things did not look good. The
Blazers then handed it off to playmaker Keith Ayensu who took Kelly's words
to heart and used his blockers to break out of the back field. He got hit by
a Blake linebacker but kept moving. He crossed up one Bengal, and ran past
another. He then broke free and was gone. Just like that, the Blazers were
back in the game, only down by one touchdown.

Despite the boost, the Blazers could not stop Blake from scoring for a
third time. Blair offense however, took the field and started their magic
again. They quickly worked their way down the field, relying on strong runs
by Ayensu. This time it was freshman Jonathon Emmanuel, who beat the
Bengals, running to the outside for another touchdown.

On Blake's fourth possession, Blair's defense finally made a stop. After
three and out, Blake was forced to punt forced a punt. The snap was botched
however, and it rolled into the end zone for a safety. Blair was only down
eight points, and it was their ball.

Freshman Andrew Gondor returned the kick-off. He seemed to go down around
the 30 yard-line but he broke free from one tackle, found a hole, and
crossed over three more defenders along the way, leaving them all in the
dust. He ran in another touchdown for the Blazers, and while at one point
the game seemed lost, now the Blazers were going into half time down by only
two points.

As the game went on Blair continued to get close to the end zone, but
failed to convert drives into points. They had six possessions, and reached
the red-zone several times. They still however could not connect for a
touchdown.

Blake, however, did not fail. They added 16 points to their two point lead,
running in two more touchdowns and connecting for both extra points. The
game to a depressing finish of 38-20.
Despite the loss, the Blazers showed a lot of spirit and never gave up. "We
are going to play games out the whole way. We are not a team that will give
up," Said Kelly.

The JV football team plays its last game of the season Saturday, Nov. 11,
against the Damascus Hornets, a team that has given the Blazer's trouble in
the past.