With eight minutes remaining, Kell had a 15-point lead and the students were already starting the “hey, hey, hey, goodbye” chant. But with 18 seconds showing, the notion of victory had been compromised and the taunting had ceased.
The Longhorns didn’t put it away until nine seconds left when senior Stefan Green intercepted Nate Cronic’s pass. That enabled Kell to kill the clock and finally enjoy a 36-34 win in the opener of the Corky Kell Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Its good to get off on the right foot this year,” Kell coach Brett Sloan said. “Last year we lost by one to Tucker in overtime. Hopefully this will propel us to bigger and better things. Our whole motto this year is ‘Start Fast, Finish Strong.’ We’ve talked to them for weeks about starting fast and I think we’ve done that.”
» Photos: 2018 Corky Kell Classic
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The fun started when Kell quarterback Evan Conley threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Sam Blancato, a play that drew a penalty when Blancato stopped at the 1 and posed over the defender before stepping into the end zone. At that point, with a 36-21 lead, Kell’s lead appeared safe.
But it was far from over. On its next possession, Kell was forced to punt and the snap sailed way over the head of Logan Flesher and recovered at the 1. East Coweta’s Gerald Green scored on the next play to make it 36-28.
After forcing Kell to punt again, East Coweta drove 83 yards in eight plays and scored when Cronic completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Hood with 21 seconds left. The game-tying two-point conversion pass was tipped by Nick Ross and intercepted by Blancato.
But East Coweta still wasn’t done. A briskly struck onside kick by Dylan Lewis went off a Kell player and into the arms of Dantarius Chunn at the Kell 44 with 18 seconds left. Two plays later the Longhorns came up with the game-ending interception.
Kell was led by Conley, who completed 11 of 22 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown. Tailback Ebony Jackeson rushed 20 times for 138 yards, including a 54-yarder, and one touchdown.
East Coweta’s attack was paced by Cronic, who competed 12 of 38 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked once and threw two interceptions. Tailback Gerald Green, a Georgia Southern commitment, rushed 14 times for 115 yards and three touchdowns.
Kell drove for a 26-yard Logan Flesher field goal to start the game, but it took Green no time to answer. He scored on East Coweta’s first play from scrimmage, breaking free for a 66-yard touchdown to put the Indians ahead 7-3.
Kell took the lead on a short that capped by Evan Conley’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Leo Delphin, only to have Green answer again, this time with a 25-yard touchdown run to give the Indians a 14-10 lead.
Kell scored again after East Coweta’s Rakiyan Moss fumbled a punt and Kell’s Kvin Rapplean recovered at the 1. Ebony Jackson ran for a touchdown on the next play and the Longhorns led 17-14.
East Coweta struck again late. Nate Cronic connected with Dantarius Chunn for a 48-yard touchdown pass with 28 seconds left in the half.
Kell regained the lead late in the third quarter when Conley found Blancato for a 19-yard touchdown with 3:22 left. But the extra point was blocked and Kell led 23-21.
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