KANE 28, SMETHPORT 0

Sept. 5, 2008

By Andy Close - For D9Sports.com 

SMETHPORT – Kane used a dominant fourth quarter to blow open what was a close game en route to a 28-0 shutout of Smethport Friday night at Smethport Area Stadium.

“Obviously we are very pleased with the shutout,” said Kane head coach Jason Barner. “That triple option of Smethport’s is tough to defend, but I thought our defense was great tonight.”

Leading just 6-0 going into the final quarter, Kane’s power running game was able to wear down Smethport’s defense, as three different Wolves’ found the end-zone in the final stanza.

“The kids are very smart,” Barner stated. “And we’re very lucky to be able to interchange our running backs.”

Kane (1-1 overall, 1-1 AML-South) certainly interchanged its backs effectively; as six different players carried the ball led by senior Shane Todd’s 16 carries for 122 yards and a score.

Todd’s touchdown was the Wolves’ second of the fourth quarter and pretty much put the game out of reach at 21-0.

Kane had taken a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a 5-yard run by Mark Ross, and the game remained that way until the final 12 minutes when Kenny Kane made it 14-0 with a 1-yard run and a two-point conversion pass to Arie Paup midway through the fourth quarter.  

The Kane defense then flexed its muscle forcing a fumble that was recovered by Robert Kumher at the Smethport 15-yard line. Todd made quick work of the ensuing drive scoring on a 15-yard run to make it 21-0.

The Wolves then took advantage of another Hubber turnover. Dylan Eckstrom intercepted a Hughes pass, and, after a 37-yard return, Ross Nicholson punched it in from 1-yard out to cap the scoring.

Kane actually appeared poised to take a two-touchdown lead midway through the third quarter, but Kenny Kane’s pass was dropped on what would have been a sure touchdown.

Smethport (0-2, 0-2 AML-North) then took over and had a promising drive of its own thanks in large part to a 35-yard pass play from Jarod Hughes to Kyle Doutt that put the ball at the Kane 32.

The Kane defense stiffened, however, and a fourth-and-10 halfback pass fell incomplete.  

“Our defense was a little bend and don’t break in the first half,” said Barner. “The key is to be able to step it up in the second half, and we were able to do that.”

It was a defensive struggle for most of the first half. With Ross’s touchdown at 7:57 of the first quarter the only score of the half.

Paup added four catches for 68 yards for Kane, while Doutt had three catches for 75 yards for the Hubbers. Preston Birtcil, fresh off a 200-yard game in a loss to Brockway last week, led Smethport on the ground with nine carries for 77 yards.  

Kane hosts Sheffield next week while Smethport travels to St. Marys to take on Elk County Catholic.

KANE 28, SMETHPORT 0

Score by Quarters

Kane 6 00 22 – 28

Smethport 0 0 0 0 – 0

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

K- Mark Ross 5 yard run (kick blocked)

Fourth Quarter

K- Kenny Kane 1 yard run (Kane pass to Paup)

K- Shane Todd 15 yard run (Paup kick)

K- Ross Nicholson 1 yard run (Paup kick)

Team Statistics

       K                     S

First Downs             19                    8

Rushes-Yards          46-267            30-139

Passing Yards           76                   75

Comp-Att-Int           5-11-0            3-6-1

Total Yards               343                214

Fumbles-Lost            1-1                 2-1

Punt-Yards               2-28.0             3-30.0

Individual Statistics

Rushing- Kane: Todd 16-122, Nicholson 12-50, Ross 7-43, Kane 6-27, Paup 3-13, Olson 2-12. Smethport: Birtcil 9-77, Nobles 14-51, Hughes 6-7, Wells 1-4

Passing- Kane: Kane 5-for-11, 76 yards. Smethport: Hughes 2-for-4, 41 yards, 1 interception. Okerlund 1-for-1, 34 yards. Birtcil 0-for-1, 0 yards

Receiving- Kane: Paup 4-68, Ross 1-8. Smethport: Doutt 3-75.