East Bladen’s Keyshawn Kemp (2) breaks up a pass intended for James Kenan’s Tyquise Wilson during first-quarter action Friday evening in Warsaw. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
WARSAW — Beware the “trap game.”
James Kenan head football Tim Grady warned his team not to take talented and pesky East Bladen for granted.
Nor bask in the Tigers’ 3-0 start.
“I’m not knocking this team here, but coming off that Whiteville game [last week] was kind of like coming off the Super Bowl,” Grady said of the overtime triumph. “I told the fellas they could mess around tonight and this game will go in a completely wrong direction.”
Grady’s worries surfaced — until the third quarter.
A huge defensive stop sparked a momentum-changing scoring possession that helped vault James Kenan past East Bladen, 34-14, at Bill Taylor Field.
Down 20-0, the Eagles got on the board in the third period.
Senior tight end Connor Smith hauled in a 13-yard touchdown pass with 4:57 to go. The play capped a 66-yard drive that included a 15-yard late-hit infraction against Kenan.
On the ensuing drive, Tiger quarterback Eli Avent rolled out and the Eagles intercepted the under thrown pass. However, the Eagles’ defense stiffened, logged two tackles behind the line of scrimmage and forced a punt.
Avent went back to work.
The junior signal caller orchestrated a chain-moving drive that ended on David “Cito” Zeleya’s 4-yard dive. Emerson “E-Money” Gomez booted the PAT.
Kenan led 27-6 with 8:21 left in regulation.
“That was very pivotal,” Grady said. “Every time we play them, it’s like a blood-letting. We got ourselves in those situations where you felt like they’re creeping back … need something good to happen. And, once again, big-time players made big-time plays at the right time.”
Big plays surfaced early for the Tigers.
Avent and CJ Hill hooked up for a 35-yard completion that gave Kenan a first-and-goal at the Eagles’ 10-yard line in the opening quarter. Zeleya capped the short five-play, 49-yard possession with a 5-yard run.
The Eagles (2-2 overall) fumbled seconds later.
Avent and Hill, again, made another connection — a 35-yard scoring strike with 1:19 on the clock.
“Yeah, amazing. I kind of wondered the same thing like, why, why is that going so well?” Grady said. “Last week with CJ [and Eli] was a great hitch … pass that really got some momentum going for us. CJ has definitely done a great job as a receiver and we’re blessed to have him out there.”
Kenan boosted its advantage to 20-0 on Imir Sanders’ 18-scamper with 78 seconds left before halftime.
The Tigers are 4-0 for the first time since 2015.
Next up is their East Central 2A opener in Beulaville next week at county nemesis East Duplin. The Panthers have won five straight in the series and 12 of 20 meetings overall since 2004.
“[Tonight] once again it was business,” Grady said. “We didn’t get overly up and we never got down. That’s the part of this team that I really love. We’ve preached let’s don’t get caught up in our emotions one way or the other.
“Sometimes, you can get too up and bad things happen. I think this team just seems to get their business handled.”
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
JK — Zeleya 5 run (kick blocked), 10:09
JK — Hill 35 pass from E. Avent (Gomez kick), 1:19
Second Quarter
JK — Sanders 18 run (Gomez kick), 1:18
Third Quarter
EB — Smith 13 pass from Maynor (pass failed), 4:57
Fourth Quarter
JK — Zeleya 4 run (Gomez kick), 8:21
EB — Cogdell 10 run (Collins run), 5:43
JK — Wilson 10 run (Gomez kick), 2:29
