Warwick spoils senior night for Kingston
Despite tough defensive effort, Tigers topped by Warwick
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Kingston High’s football team turned in one of its best defensive efforts of the season on Friday, but a senior night victory eluded the Tigers.
Joe Miller scored on a 9-yard quarterback keeper with 3:51 left to give Warwick a 14-10 non-league victory at Dietz Stadium.
The (5-2) Wildcats used more than five minutes on a 13-play, 80-yard march for the go-ahead touchdown.
Mahki Matthews took the ensuing kickoff and lateraled the ball to Jackson Parker for a 38-yard kickoff return to put (2-5) Kingston at midfield.
Three pass plays netted no yards and the Tigers went to the hook-and-lateral on fourth down with 2:21 left. Daivel Jackson took Collin Ford’s pass and tossed it to Matthews. Warwick, however, kept him from turning upfield and the Tigers turned the ball over on downs.
With Kingston out of timeouts, the Wildcats ran out the clock to clinch the win.
“It’s definitely tough to come up short tonight, but that’s a good football team, a stateranked (honorable mention) football team,” Kingston coach Quintin Johnson said about Warwick.
“I’m so proud of every one of
these kids, because of how they came out and played and showed a lot of heart. That’s a special thing. I told them that’s Tiger pride.”
With Ford playing quarterback for Chapman Parker (nursing a leg injury), the Tigers switched gears and became a running team. Behind a solid effort from the line, Kingston rushed 42 times for 192 yards and had its best duo ground game from Faircloth (96 yards on 12 carries) and Tyleaf McGriff (21 attempts for 84 yards).
“Collin came in and didn’t miss a beat. We changed up some things offensively. We came up with a game plan and the kids executed it to perfection,” Johnson added. “They really did. We just came up a couple of minutes short.”
The teams engaged in a scoreless battle for 17 minutes until Kyle Rooney weaved 10 yards to put Warwick up 7-0 with 7:12 left in the half.
Rooney led the Wildcats with 115 yards on 27 carries.
Matthews’ 27 return had Kingston at midfield for its next possession. After 10 plays, the drive stalled at the Warwick 15, but junior Justin Longo made the first field goal (32 yards) of his varsity career to get the Tigers on the board before halftime.
Kingston caught Warwick offguard as Longo delivered a perfect onside kick to begin the second half, just nicking the ball. The Tigers recovered on the Wildcat 49.
“I definitely felt we wanted a momentum swing,” Johnson admitted. “Justin and our kickoff team executed it to perfection. It was outstanding to watch.”
Two plays later, Faircloth raced 45 yards for the 10-7 Kingston lead.
Faircloth, Jackson Parker, Trayvon Landerway, Hayden Barley and Timmy Gaton (one sack) led the Tiger defense.
“Our defensive coordinator, Keith Van Roy, I give him a lot of credit because week after week he just comes in and comes up with a crazy plan and we work it all week and the kids execute it,” Johnson said.
The defensive duel had Kingston with 230 total yards and Warwick managing 195.
The Tigers honored 21 seniors before the Section 9 contest.
After three consecutive home games, Kingston is back on the road Friday, Oct. 19 at Pine Bush.