10/28/2009 6:00:00 PM Philly claims region championship
By STEVE SWOGETINSKY Sports Editor
The Philadelphia High School Tornadoes claimed their second region championship in the past three seasons as they rolled over Kemper County 49-20 Friday night in prep football action.
The Tornadoes now stand at 9-1 overall and 4-0 in the Region 3-5A standings. Kemper County dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-1 in the region. Both teams have qualified for the state playoffs and have one game left on their schedule. The Tornadoes will visit Choctaw Central on Thursday night while the Wildcats will close out at home against Heidelberg High School.
"Winning our division is our first goal every year," Philadelphia coach Teddy Dyess said. "To win a state championship, you have to get lucky at some point. We want to win our division every year and if we catch that break, we'll win a state championship. But we want to win over division every year.
"We have played really well in the last two games. We may have played our best game tonight against a good Kemper County team. In high school football, you want to improve week-to-week and hit your stride about this time of the year. So maybe we are starting to click at the right time," Dyess said.
The Tornadoes got on the scoreboard on their second possession as Brandon Willis burst up the middle for a 13-yard TD run. This capped a six-play, 41-yard drive. Latimer Smith kicked the extra point and the Tornadoes led 7-0 with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
That's how it stood until midways through the second quarter when C.J. Johnson scored on a one-yard burst through the left side. The extra point kick was no good and Philadelphia led 13-0 with 6:41 remaining in the half.
Philadelphia held Kemper County to four downs and was on its way to another score. This time, Willis broke for a 41-yard TD run. Smith's kick was good and the Tornadoes led 20-0 with 3:21 left in the half.
Andrius Huddleston intercepted a pass with less than two minutes to play in the second quarter to set up the Tornadoes' final score of the game on the Wildcats' 17-yard line. This time, Willis picked up four yards and Lee Smith rolled up another 12 yards on a keeper that gave the Tornadoes first and goal on the Wildcat one-yard line. On the next play, Willis ran it in. Smith passed to Jeremy Morgan for the two point conversion and the Tornadoes led 28-0 with 47 left in the first half. Kemper County held on for the time remaining and that's how it stood at the half.
The Tornadoes scored on their first possession of the third quarter as Willis scored on a 15-yard run, capping a six-play, 67-yard drive. The try for two failed and the Tornadoes led 34-0 with 8:15 left in the quarter.
Kemper County got on the scoreboard when LaColtan Bester passed to Steffon Fuller on a 30-yard TD pass play. The extra point try failed and the Tornadoes led 34-6 with 4:40 left in the quarter.
Philadelphia answered that challenge three plays later as Willis broke for a 53-yard TD run. Latimer Smith kicked the extra point and the Tornadoes led 42-6.
Huddleston intercepted another pass with seconds remaining in the third quarter and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. Smith kicked the extra point and the Tornadoes led 49-6.
Bester came back with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Mario Creer. Grace scored the two-point conversion and the Tornadoes led 48-14 with 11:16 left in the game.
The final points of the game came when Kemper County's Josh McClelland scored on a 13-yard run. The extra point try failed.
Brandon Willis had another big game as he rushed for 203 yards on 28 carries and scored four touchdowns. Jeremy Morgan rushed for 118 yards on 14 carries. Lee Smith completed five-of-eight passing attempts for 68 yards. Georgio Grace and Tyriq Patrick both had two catches for 48 and 17 yards, respectively.
C.J. Johnson led the team in tackles with 11 while Julian Riddle added six.
