West defeats Powell, 30-18
By Ken Leinart
Knoxville West High School’s 30-18 win at Powell accomplished more than capturing the Region 2-5A championship for head coach Lamar Brown.
“A lot of people have doubted this team all year and criticized us, been criticized by our own people,” Brown said. “This group comes to work every day. They battle, they fight, try to get better and I think we finally put together close to four quarters of football tonight. It’s a big win, especially going into the month of November.
“I’ve waited nine games to see it.”
Special teams play was a huge factor for West Friday night and senior Antwain Burdine had the floor.
The Rebels trailed 6-3 after one quarter of play. Powell’s Deuce Rodgers gave the hosts a 6-0 lead on the third play of the game with a 73-yard breakout. The Rebels blocked the point after attempt. After a battle of punts, the Rebels put together a short drive starting at the Panther 31. The Powell defense held its ground though and the Rebels settled for a 33-yard Pete Rogers field goal with 35 seconds to play in the first quarter.
Powell answered with a Dylan Stooksbury 30-yard field goal after a 12-play, six-minute drive, extending the Panther lead to 9-3 with 6:34 left in the first half.
Then the Panthers were “Burdined” by the kick return. The senior speedster took the kickoff at the two and 89 yards later gave the Rebels a first and goal at the nine. Parker Dubon would find senior Dominic Davis in the end zone and after a Rogers kick the Rebels took a 10-9 lead with 3:21 left.
The Rebels would not lose the lead. Powell was “Burdined” again after the Panthers were forced to punt. Burdine hauled in the offering shy of midfield and 48 yards later West again had a first and goal. Tavion Ray did the honors from five yards and, after the kick, West led 17-9 with 1:11 to play in the half.
Powell would add a Stooksbury field goal with no time showing in the half (following a roughing the passer penalty) and at the break West led 17-12.
“Antwain was really big the first half,” Brown said. “The punt return, the kick return, set us up for our two touchdowns. He led us there in the first half with explosive plays. I was a little shocked they (Powell) kicked it to him.”
Both teams traded points in the third starting with a 23-yard kick from Rogers for West and then a one-yard plunge for the Panther Rogers with two seconds in the frame. After Stooksbury’s point after, the teams entered the final frame at 20-18 in favor of the Rebels.
West got another field goal from Rogers, a 30-yarder, to extend the lead to 23-18 with 6:31 to play, leaving Powell within striking range.
But after forcing a Powell punt (no return this time), the Rebels set up at their own 34 and gradually moved two yards to face a third and eight at their own 36.
Marquel Triot Patterson caught a Dubon offering at the Powell 45, juggled the ball a bit, then blew past everyone for a 54-yard score. After the Rogers kick it was 30-18 with 3:38 to play and would remain that way.
“We got backed up with a penalty and I was thinking they’d probably think we were going to run and then punt it,” Brown said. “It was a pretty safe call (the Patterson touchdown play). They covered the flat route really well, but Marquel beat them across the field on the drag and when he gets the ball in the open field it’s scary business.
Friday night was special for Brown just because it was a little more than a regular season game.
“I think this is one of the biggest rivalries in the state,” Brown said. “It’s about more than pride. Every time we play (Powell) something is on the line, whether it’s a region championship, a quarterfinal game, a state semi-final game, there’s always something big on the line. You have two great communities that love their football teams and when they get together it’s always a fun football environment.”
