The Kinder Yellow Jackets took the leap into Class 3A during the offseason, and head coach Bret Fuselier is feeling confident about his team’s outlook this season.
“We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “I think we’re going to be right there in the mix.”
Before beginning play in their new class, however, the Yellow Jackets were served a piece of humble pie after falling 14-13 to Oberlin in the night cap of the Allen Parish Jamboree.
“It’s an outstanding feeling,” said Oberlin head coach Durell Peloquin about his team beating Kinder. “But, the season doesn’t start with a victory over Kinder. It’s a long season upon us, and we got to take it one day at a time and one week at a time. So, we need to enjoy this moment tonight, but then we need to work towards our Week 1 game against Pine Prairie over here at home.”
In the game against Kinder, the Tigers scored on their opening possession of the night. On 3rd-and-1 from his own 44-yard line, Dominique Eaves moved the chains by picking up 11 yards. The drive kept moving downfield, and Eaves picked up another double-digit yardage run on 3rd-and-8 as he gained 10 yards and moved the football Kinder 11-yard line. Two plays later, De’Sean Deville ran across the goaline for the touchdown. The extra point was blocked, but Oberlin led 6-0 with 9:31 on the clock.
Kinder answered the score on its next possession. The drive was highlighted by a 23-yard run from Graham Fawcett on a quarterback keeper. The drive, though, appeared to stall on the Oberlin 8-yard line, but, om 3rd-and-goal, Noah Romero punched his ticket for a touchdown with 4:34 on the clock. The extra point was good to put Kinder ahead 7-6.
On the second play from scrimmage, Oberlin then scored on an 80-yard touchdown strike from Colby McMahon Jr. to Noah Carter. The Tigers converted on the two-point try and led 14-7 with 4:02 remaining.
An 11-yard run from James Roberts and a 38-yard from Fawcett set Kinder up for its second score of the night. Later in the drive, Fawcett connected with Donte Botley for a 30-yard strike. A misplayed snap on the point after try led to the Yellow Jackets attempting to run the football across the goaline. The rush attempt was snuffed, and Oberlin maintained a 14-13 lead with 3:04 remaining.
The night began with Oberlin picking up a 7-0 win against Oakdale.
Both teams were forced to punt on their opening possessions. An Oakdale fumble then gave Oberlin possession on the Warrior 34-yard line. The Tigers only needed four plays to move the ball into the end zone. The score came on a 24-yard run from Keondre Lavan. The extra point was good to put Oberlin ahead 7-0 with 7:48 remaining.
Oakdale got the football back and saw a 15-yard run and a 12-yard run from Cedric Allison, but the Warriors again coughed up the football on a fumble at the Oberlin 26-yard line.
Elijah Anderson intercepted an Oberlin pass on the ensuing possession and returned the football to the Oberlin 48-yard line, but the Warriors were forced to punt.
“We flew to the football on defense, and, offensively, we were able to get some first downs in key possessions during both games tonight,” said Coach Peloquin.
The middle game was a 21-0 Kinder win over Oakdale.
The Yellow Jackets scored on a 3-yard run from Logan LeBeouf, a 39-yard reception to Davion Matthews, and another passing touchdown with 2:00 remaining.
Oakdale manufactured a drive down into Kinder territory and faced a 1st-and-goal from the Yellow Jacket 4-yard line, but Kinder forced and recovered a fumble.
“We played like we practiced,” said an unhappy Destin Dieterich, head coach of Oakdale. “We got exactly what we deserved tonight. I’m just thankful they didn’t do worse. We got to change a lot of things within.”
