Whetstone Braves scalp the Centennial Stars 31-14

Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos, Gameday Hub, News

David Burnworth | October 21, 2022

Last night I made the thirty-minute drive North to Centennial Stars battle the Whetstone Braves. Both teams entered this one with identical 2-6 records. The Stars with only four seniors on the rosters, with only three of them dressing. The Braves had thirteen seniors on their roster which seemed to be a difference-maker last night.

Things started out well for the Stars when Damarion McClinton put the ball on the ground and the Stars came out of the scrum with the ball. The Stars offense would sputter during the ensuing drive with the Braves defense making things difficult. At the 7:03 mark of the quarter McClintonwas hit by Freshman Cole Marcum and Gabriel Saha for a loss of two yards. Emmanuel Watson would make a nice catch for the Braves but he was taken down for a short loss by Demareion.

Early in the second quarter, Starkey would haul in a 16-yard pass from Trey Peterson. Peterson would find Amir Jones for a 28-yard touchdown followed by a two-point conversion from Starkey making this an 8-0 game, with 11:01 left in the half. Miguel Rogers and Gabriel Saha combined to get McClinton for another two-yard loss as the Stars defense was playing like a veteran team and not the youngsters they actually are. Keifer Young attempted a halfback pass that was picked off by Kendrell Moxley, with 7:40 showing on the clock. The Braves defense would attack Peterson on the ensuing Stars drive with Joseph Lacey getting to the quarterback for a two-yard loss. After getting the ball back Whetstone would get a big 14-yard run from LaQuealyn Battle to set up their first score which came on another run from Battle, this one from 21-yards making this an 8-6 game, with 2:58 left in the half. The Braves ended the half with a 34-yard field goal from Young then it was a 6-yard touchdown run from Battle, which came after the Braves defense recovered a fumble to make this 15-8 game, after one half of play.

The Stars would get a Peterson to Moxley 27-yard completion but the drive fizzled out shortly afterward thanks in a large part to the attacking Braves defense. Battle would put the ball on the ground but McClinton scooped it up and race to the right sideline and did not stop until he picked up 60-yards. No points came from the drive. Later in the third Emmanuel Watson fumbled the ball on a punt return and Starkey made the recovery for the Stars. The Braves defense made easy work of the Stars offense on the ensuing drive to put their offense back on the field. Battle would run for 18-yards, and McClinton followed that up with a 12-yard run to the Stars 14-yard line, with 4:57 showing on the third quarter clock. After McClinton raced to another gain this one of 10-yards Young brought the drive to a climax with a 6-yard touchdown run. Battle ran in the two-point conversion making this a 23-8 game, with 2:48 left in the quarter. Each team would make one nice play before the quarter ended. For the Stars, Peterson hit Moxley for a gain of 23-yard, and for the Braves, Cole Sisson planted Cole Marcum into the ground for a loss of five.

Dean Rackowski got the Braves offense back on the field when he picked off a Peterson pass. McClinton would go 83-yards for the next Braves score making this a 29-8 game, with 10:54 left in the game. A safety on a punt attempt by the Stars gave the Braves two more points to make this a 31-8 game, at the 9:20 mark of the final stanza. Both teams would have one more big play before the game ended. For the Stars, Peterson hit Dewayne Davis for a 41-yard touchdown to make the final score 31-14. The Braves would get one final interception with Rackowski getting it.

Unofficial stats

Braves

57 plays

371 yards

Passing, 3-9 1 Int

Stars

56 plays

173 yards

Passing 2 TD’S 2 INT’S

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