by Jake Knight, Burien.News Sports Reporter
Kennedy Catholic High School vs. Tahoma High School (Maple View Middle School, Bill Maxwell Stadium) Friday, September 20, 2024
Kennedy Catholic was in control on the road against Tahoma Friday night, winning 42-0 behind senior running back Indiana Jones’ two rushing touchdowns and senior defensive back Landen Kahai’s two defensive scores.
The Tahoma Bears played host to the first conference matchup for the Kennedy Catholic Lancers at Bill Maxwell Stadium.
The Lancers went into the game looking to avoid their first loss after a 2-0 start, while the Bears looked to do the opposite and steal a win after an 0-2 start.
Tahoma kicked the ball to Kennedy Catholic to start the game and quickly forced a three-and-out after two short runs and a sack deep in Lancers’ territory.
On their heels, Kennedy Catholic bent but did not break on defense. Tahoma recorded one first down, but a tackle for loss and a sack forced a short-field punt.
The Lancers answered after a shaky first offensive drive. Sophomore running back Royce Miller started the drive with a 16-yard run up the gut. On the following second down, Senior slinger Devon Forehand scrambled to his left and found his man,
sophomore receiver Jordan Noel, on the sideline. Noel stuck his foot in the ground and cut towards midfield, made a couple Bears defenders miss, and took it to the house for a 63-yard touchdown to give the Lancers a 7-0 lead.
What had the makings of a response drive from Tahoma after a big run to start the drive was put to a halt. Junior defensive end Derek Colman-Brusa delivered a sack on third down to force a punt, one of two sacks on the night for the junior.
Forehand and the Lancers marched down the field, mixing the run and the pass on their way into the redzone. On third-and-15, a completed pass made it a manageable fourth and two from the four-yard line. Forehand handed the rock to Indiana Jones who tumbled his way in for the score; 14-0 Lancers.
(Jones video)
Kennedy Catholic continued to shut down Tahoma’s persistent run game. On a third down run that looked like enough to move the sticks for the Bears, their running back coughed up the football. Defensive back Landen Kahai picked up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown to extend the lead to 21.
On the very next drive and trying to respond in the two-minute drill, Tahoma forced a throw to the far sideline and, guess who, Landen Kahai jumped the route, extended for the two-hand interception and ran it back for his second touchdown in as many defensive drives. The Lancers go into the half up 28-0.
Tahoma came out of halftime with a different game plan. With the run game stifled, the Bears aired out a bomb over the middle of the field on their first drive out of the locker room. In a fight for the lob, the Kennedy Catholic defender came down with possession and the defensive domination continued.
The Lancers called on Jones on multiple occasions on the succeeding drive. Two chunk plays from the senior, one on the ground and one in the air, were driving forces in Kennedy Catholic’s first offensive drive in the second half. Jones capped the march, punching in a rushing touchdown from the one-yard line to go up five touchdowns.
The Lancers would cruise from there.
Controlling the clock the rest of the way, Kennedy Catholic notched one more touchdown in the final quarter to bring the game to its final score, 42-0.
Tahoma looks for their first win of the season at Kentridge High School next Friday.
As for Kennedy Catholic, the Lancers welcome Kentwood High School to their home stadium Saturday, September 28 at 1 pm.
