Flashback '01 Semi

By Paul J. Letlow / Originally printed in The News Star

Kentwood's home field advantage turned into unfamiliar territory in a hurry Friday night against Oak Grove. Ignited by Eric Newman's 92-yard kickoff return in the first quarter, the Tigers scored 27 unanswered points in the first half to shock top-ranked and top-seeded Kentwood 34-18 in a Class 1A semifinal stunner.

"We knew they were a good team, probably the best in the state," Oak Grove fullback Drew Sullivan said. "But we came in, worked hard and pulled it off."

"We were told their deal was intimidation," Oak Grove lineman Jake Russell said. "We just didn't let it get to us."

Oak Grove (13-1), which defeated Kentwood in the 1999 Class 1A championship game with the same offensive formula, will meet Port Sulphur next week in New Orleans for the state title. Port Sulphur beat Sterlington to spoil Oak Grove's District 2-1A rematch.

"That would have been great to get two hometown teams down there," Oak Grove coach Vic Dalrymple said. "But who cares? You get to play for a championship, it don't matter who it is."

Kentwood (12-1) trailed in only one game this season and had allowed a total of 48 points through 12 games, but Oak Grove used its inside-outside option attack to gash the Kangaroos for 265 rushing yards. Newman provided 147 rushing yards on 24 carries while Sullivan gutted Kentwood for 83 yards on 26 tough tumbles between the tackles.

The blue-collar offensive strategy allowed Oak Grove to dominate time of possession 37:11 to 10:49. The Tigers ran 73 offensive plays for 331 yards while Kentwood had 178 yards on 35 snaps.

Like so many of Kentwood's opponents this season, Oak Grove trailed the Kangaroos early. Kentwood quarterback Carlese Franklin gave his team a 6-0 lead on its first possession by bolting up the middle for a 63-yard score.

Newman quickly quieted the rowdy "Roo crowd with an electric 92-yard return for a score on the ensuing kickoff. Oak Grove's pass failed on the conversion for a 6-6 tie.

"That's Paul Bunyan big," Dalrymple said.

After a Kentwood punt, Oak Grove drove 69 yards in 12 plays to take a 13-6 lead on a 1-yard run by Ty Rollinson. The pivotal play on the series was a 42-yard reception by Montellus Craft from Rollinson.

Oak Grove's defense provided a huge turnover on Kentwood's next series when Willie Pepmiller jarred loose a fumble from running back Marcus Brown. Brandon Johnson claimed the loose ball for Oak Grove at the Kentwood 43.

The Tigers parlayed the mistake into another touchdown with a nine-play march into the second quarter. Newman danced in from 3 yards for a 20-6 advantage.

After another Kentwood punt, Oak Grove mounted another long march to increase its lead to 27-6. This one covered 74 yards in 12 plays and ended with a 1-yard Sullivan touchdown.

With 2:23 left in the second quarter, Kentwood struck for a 63-yard bomb from Franklin to Ronnie Wesby. Still, Oak Grove led 27-12 at half-time.

The Tigers squelched any hope of a Kentwood comeback with a brutish display of ball control and dominance in the third quarter. Oak Grove took the second-half kickoff and chewed 8:45 off the clock with a 16-play, 73 yard drive. Rollinson punched in a 1-yard score to push Oak Grove's lead to 34-12 with only 3:15 left in the quarter.