Kell broke in a new starting backfield in its season opener Saturday at the Corky Kell Classic. And if first impressions are valid, the rest of the schools in Class AAAAA have a problem on their hands.
The Longhorns defeated Mays 17-12 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with tailback David Mbadinga and quarterback Corbin LaFrance leaving quite an impression. Mbadinga, a freshman, rushed 18 times for 109 yards and caught one pass for a 33-yard touchdown. LaFrance, a junior, completed 11 of 18 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
“David’s play speaks for itself. He’s different … he’s not intimidated by anything … that’s the best way to put it. A lot of young guys can’t handle it mentally, emotionally, but he can,” coach Brett Sloan said.
“Corbin really calmed down the later we went on in the game, as I anticipated, and I intentionally protected him a lot earlier or tried to be more conservative with the play calling earlier because this is the first game he started.”
Kell also got six receptions for 85 yards from Jaylon Brown and three catches for 28 yards from Jaylon Hill.
The high-scoring Mays offense was stifled for the first half before it began to click in the second half. Quarterback Drew Banks completed 15 of 29 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked twice. Zaire Thorton caught 10 passes for 145 and both touchdowns.
Kell finally broke the scoreless tie when LaFrance threw a strike to Jamal Hill for a 21-yard touchdown with 7:20 left in the half. LaFrance, who had been pressured for much of the game, got plenty of protection and found Hill, who extended his body toward the back of the end zone to pull in the throw.
Mays began the second half by driving to the Kell 27, thanks largely to a 31-yard pass completion from Banks to Thorton. But on fourth-and-7, Kell’s Cam Ball knocked away a pass to end the threat.
Mays did better the next it had a fourth down. Needing 4 yards from the 29, Banks threw to Thorton in the slot for the completion. When the defender slipped, Thorton was able to cut straight ahead and ran to the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point was wide left, leaving Kell ahead 7-6 with 1:16 left in the third quarter.
Kell answered with a touchdown on its next possession. On third-and-2, LaFrance dumped a screen pass to Mbadinga for a 33-yard score. The pass was just high enough to get over the fingertips of Mays’ Adarius Langford. The extra point gave Kell a 14-6 lead 10:43 remaining.
Kell tacked on a 20-yard Colby Kerns field goal with 5:56 left to put the Longhorns ahead 17-6.
Mays was able to rush down the field and score a touchdown with 1:28 remaining. Banks and Thorton hooked up again for an 11-yard pass. But Kell was able to recover the onside kick and ran out the clock.
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