9/23/2009 6:00:00 PM Turnovers doom Philadelphia Tornadoes in season's first loss
By STEVE SWOGETINSKY Sports Editor
The Philadelphia High School Tornadoes battled until the end but suffered their first loss of the season in a 40-32 decision to Kosciusko Friday night in prep football action.
Trailing 40-26 midway through the fourth quarter, the Tornadoes scored one touchdown and were driving toward another until they ran out of downs with less than a minute to play.
"The team that wins the turnover battle usually wins the game, and we definitely lost the turnover battle," Philadelphia coach Teddy Dyess said afterwards. "We were not as prepared tonight as we should have been and that was my fault. We will be better prepared next week."
The Tornadoes, now 4-1, will celebrate homecoming this Friday night when they host Newton. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
It looked like everything was going Philadelphia's way in the beginning. The Tornadoes kicked off and forced the Whippets to punt. On first down, Brandon Willis broke for a 77-yard touchdown run. The kick was no good and Philadelphia led 6-0 with 10:01 left in the first quarter.
The Whippets came back with two touchdowns by John Kern. The first was on a two-yard run and capped an 11-play drive. The extra point was good and Kosciusko took a 7-6 lead.
The Tornadoes fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Kosciusko recovered on the Philadelphia 32. Three plays later, Kern scored on a 27-yard TD run. The extra point was good and the Whippets led 14-6.
The Tornadoes quickly tied the game. On the first down after the kickoff, Willis broke for a 63-yard TD run. Lee Smith ran in the two-point conversion and Philadelphia tied it at 14-14 with 4:02 left in the first quarter.
The Tornadoes took the lead with 7:32 left in the second quarter as Latimer Smith kicked a 33-yard field goal. Philadelphia led 17-14 at that point.
Later in the first quarter, Philadelphia drove in another touchdown. This time, Jeremy Morgan scored on a 16-yard run. Latimer Smith kicked the extra point and Philadelphia led 24-14 with 2:18 left in the half.
But the Whippets weren't finished. They took the ensuing kickoff and drove 55 yards in 11 plays to score before the half. Kerr scored on a two-yard run. The Whippets scored the two-point conversion and the Tornadoes led at 24-22 at the half
Turnovers did Philadelphia in during the third quarter.
After taking the opening kickoff, the Tornadoes were driving. However, the Whippets intercepted a pass. Two plays later, Kern broke of a 53-yard TD run. The run failed and Kosciusko led 28-24.
A fumbled snap three plays later led to another Whippet touchdown, Kosciusko took over on the Philadelphia 28-yard line. Four plays later, Kern scored on an 18-yard TD pass play. The kick failed and Kosciusko went up 34-24 with 6:31 left in the third quarter.
Kern scored Kosciusko's final points of the night on a one-yard run. The extra point was no good and the Whippets led 40-24.
There was no quit in the Tornadoes as they fought back to get into the game. Philadelphia recovered a fumble on the Whippet's 46-yard line. Willis put the Tornadoes into scoring range on a 25-yard run. On the next play, he ran around the left side from 16 yards out and dove into the score. Willis scored the two point conversion and Philadelphia trailed 40-32.
The Tornadoes got the ball back with 1:39 left to play. They ran out of downs and that was the game.
Willis finished the night with 258 yards on 23 carries.
