By Robert Haddocks
The cardiac kids from Kell struck again. And this time it won them a region championship and put a bow on an undefeated season.
Bryson Armstrong caught a three-yard yard touchdown with seven seconds remaining to give Kell an improbable 16-14 win over Dalton. It appeared the game was lost when Armstrong leaped high to catch a pass in the corner of the end zone but, after deliberation, he was ruled out. The incompletion gave the ball back to Dalton with 1:57 remaining. But Kell's defense, which was stout all night, stopped the Catamounts on a 4th down and one at their own 26-yard line to give the Longhorns another chance.
And with 49 seconds on the clock, they took advantage. After a short completion to Armstrong, quarterback Cameron Rosendahl found Josh Blancato sitting underneath the coverage for 20-yard gain to the three-yard line. On the next play, Armstrong broke free across the field and stretched out for the winning score.
The win was the fourth dramatic comeback this season by the Longhorns (10-0, 7-0 Region 7-AAAAA), who grabbed their third consecutive region title. “It never gets old,” Kell coach Derek Cook said. “It never gets old.”
Cook said he was surprised that Dalton went for the first down deep in their own territory, but added that he might have done the same. “Our guys stood tall and stoned them,” Cook said of the play. “The character of our kids shows in the most critical moments.”
Rosendahl repeatedly broke out of the pocket and made big plays. His determined 24-yard scramble on third-and-18 set up the near touchdown pass to Armstrong. Down 14-3 in the fourth quarter, Rosendahl rolled left and found Blancato, a sophomore, behind the defense for a 60-yard touchdown to put Kell back in the game. ”Our quarterback, the things he did late in the game with his legs and his arms are just unheard of,” Cook said.
Cook appeared unfazed by the frenetic finish. “I don’t think anybody likes it,” the coach said. “But the outcome is pleasurable. These kids have a great sense of urgency and are able to put their foot on the gas at the absolute most important moment.”
“It’s amazing,” Armstrong said. “There’s something special about this team.”
Both teams entered the game with prolific offenses, but were held in check through the first half. Dalton (8-2, 6-1), which has averaged 49 points in its last five games, held a 7-3 halftime lead after Kyric McGowan caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Payton Veraldi. Kell’s Michael McCain stopped one drive with a leaping interception of a tipped pass after hustling down the field.
Kell took a 3-0 lead on its opening possession on a 39-yard field goal by Julien Chang. After a 13-play 82-yard drive, Kell missed out on a scoring opportunity, missing a 21-yard field goal.
The game was the first meeting between the schools. Dalton, a perennial powerhouse, moved up from Class AAAA this year.
KELL – 3 – 0 – 0 – 13 – 16
DALTON – 0 – 7 – 7 – 0 - 14
K – Julien Chang 39 FG
D – Kyric McGowan 9 pass from Payton Veraldi (Kiko Rodriguez kick)
D – Payton Veraldi 1 run (Rodriguez kick)
K – Josh Blancato 60 pass from Cameron Rosendahl (Rodriguez kick)
K – Bryson Armstrong 3 pass from Rosendahl.
