Two weeks after giving up 34 points in a two-point victory over East Coweta in the Corky Kell Classic, the Kell defense took a big step in the right direction Friday night, holding Lassiter to 60 total yards (minus-22 in the second half) in a 29-3 victory against its east Cobb rival.
Kell senior defensive back Nick Ross had a big impact on both sides of the scoreboard. His fumble recovery on Lassiter’s first-and-goal play from the 5-yard line early in the second quarter kept the Trojans from adding to a 3-0 lead, and his 65-yard interception return for a touchdown on Lassiter’s next possession gave Kell the lead for good.
“Against East Coweta, we gave up way more than we wanted to,” Kell coach Brett Sloan said. “Most of it was us; we’d have a missed check here and there. We did a lot better in regards to that tonight. You didn’t see us give up the big plays. I was really proud of them. They played hard.”
Lassiter (1-2) has been held to 23 points in three games, 20 of which came in a 20-13 victory over Pope last week.
The big plays by Ross sparked a 16-point scoring burst in a five-minute span midway through the second quarter that helped Kell (2-0) take control of the game.
Quarterback Evan Conley and kicker Logan Flesher took care of the rest. Conley directed an offense that wasn’t flashy but was efficient. Conley was 13-of-23 passing for 120 yards and had touchdown passes of 21 yards to Camron Ball and 2 yards to Jamal Hill. He also ran six times for 39 yards to lead the Longhorns, who finished with 235 total yards. Flesher kicked field goals of 44, 39 and 42 yards.
“We’re just really young up front, so we’re struggling a little bit right now,” Sloan said of his offense. “They’ll keep getting better and better, and if we can keep playing good defense, we’ll have a chance to be OK by the end of the year.”
Lassiter had great scoring opportunities in the first half, with two first-and-goal situations, but came away with just three points from the two possessions. The first, from the 1-yard line, came midway through the first quarter after a 24-yard pass from Mitchell Storm to Buchi Nwaubi. After a 15-yard loss on a sack and a 5-yard loss on a screen pass, the Trojans had to settle for a 37-yard field goal by Ethan Laudato for a 3-0 lead with 4:19 to play in the quarter.
The second chance came on Lassiter’s next possession, when the Trojans drove to the Kell 5-yard line early in the second quarter. On first down, the Trojans fumbled and Ross recovered at the 5. The Longhorns then drove 68 yards in 10 plays, tying the score on a 44-yard field goal by Flesher.
Ross scored on his interception three minutes later, and Lassiter didn’t threaten again. The Trojans had just one first down in the second half and never crossed midfield.
Lassiter - 3-0-0-0 - 3
Kell - 0-16-7-6 - 29
First quarter
L - Ethan Laudato 37 field goal
Second quarter
K - Logan Flesher 44 field goal
K - Nick Ross 65 interception return (Flesher kick)
K - Camron Ball 21 pass from Evan Conley (run failed)
Third quarter
K - Jamal Hill 2 pass from Conley (Flesher kick)
Fourth quarter
K - Flesher 39 field goal
K - Flesher 42 field goal
About the Author
