Kingsland senior running back Beau Wiersma ran for under 60 yards and tallied less than 75 yards total offense. The Knights had under 75 yards of second half offense as a team. But neither minimal stat mattered as #9 in 9-Man Kingsland (4-0, 5-0) easily handled #7 in 9-Man LeRoy-Ostrander (4-0, 5-0) in a week six South-East Saturday night showdown. The Cardinal defense stacked the box to limit the Knights first option Wiersma, who entered averaging 200 rushing yards per game. Kingsland’s other options got L-O. Option two-A, sophomore QB Kaaleem Reiland was perfect passing (6-6, 154 yards, TD, two conversions) while rushing for three scores (9-122, 3 TDs rushing, conversion). He accounted for Kingsland’s first three TDs, including runs of 45 and 51.
Photo by Paul Trende
The Knights built a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter. Their second score was aided by a 4th and 4, 13-yard Wiersma run on their own 38. Three plays later Reiland hit Ayden Howard on a great diving 17-yard TD reception. Trailing 20-0, L-O achieved a 1st and goal at the five. But multiple Knight defenders (Sam Howard, Acelee Kohn, Noah House, Parker Johnson) made plays to stave off the threat. Aided by a 40-yard Reiland to Howard connection, Wiersma’s sole TD run of the game ensued. Kingsland went to half leading 26-0.
Defensively, the Knights flocked to L-O QB Camden Hungerholt, limiting him to 87 yards rushing, 5 of 14 for 59 yards passing, and no scores in the first half. The Cardinals got on the board with the first second half possession, as Hungerholt found Logan Diemer for a 2-yard pass play. But Knight option two-B, Howard, electrically returned the subsequent kick-off 91-yard to paydirt to make it 34-8. Reiland added his third TD run late in the stanza for a 40-8 lead. L-O had a last gasp. After Hungerholt finally broke free for a long TD run (74 yards), the Cardinals recovered the onside-kick and near immediately scored again early in the fourth (Hungerholt 6-yard TD run). With 11:21 left, the Knights led 40-21.
L-O trailed versus Houston earlier in the year 50-28 late in the third and came back to win 59-50. But Wiersma then iced the game with his electric kick-off return TD (61-yards off an onside). It put Kingsland up 48-21. In front of a huge flock fans aching for a winner after years of non-winning teams, Kingsland stayed perfect via a 54-21 victory! Howard contributed in all three phases (3-89, TD receiving, 91-yard KOR-TD, two interceptions) including limiting L-O top receiver Carter Sweeney (3-27 receiving). Wiersma (11-44, TD rushing, 21-yard reception) had a team-high 12 tackles. Acelee Kohn added a 50-yard TD run late. Kingsland tackled Hungerholt for loss seven times. Parker Johnson was credited with four sacks. Noah House had two sacks and five TFLs. Their pass defense limited L-O to just 8 of 27 passing for 71 yards (TD, two INTs). Hungerholt (8-26, 71 yards, TD, two INT’s passing, 37-262 yards, 2 TDs rushing) got his mostly after Kingsland led big. The teams combined for 18 penalties covering 190 yards. Matt Kolling’s group (5-0, 6-0) now finds itself someplace they have not been in football for years; in sole possession of first place. They lead L-O (4-1, 5-1) and their next foe, idle Spring Grove (4-1, 5-1), in their sub-district.
Photo by Christine Vreeman