Dukes' strength overpowers 'Cats' speed in 34-17 win

At Friday night's football game, the Dukes' strength overpowered Keystone's speed. The Dukes mostly controlled the line of scrimmage and Keystone's holding penalties nullifed their speed. And a strong second half for the Dukes put the game away 34-17.

Corry Sprouse, one of Keystone's speeders, opened the game on a first down play 70-yard dash up the middle to put Keystone in the lead 7-0. Wellington and Keystone traded punts on the next two series. Wellington took over the ball on Keystone's 40-yard line. Two good runs by Clay Wright and John Bowman, and a two-yard run by Austen Gray tied the game 7-7.

The next series resulted in a muffed punt try by Keystone with Wellington taking over on the Keystone 33. A good run by Bowman and a two-yard dash by Wright put the Dukes up 14-7. Keystone came back with a 48-yard screen pass to Jimmy Reid to tie the score.

Two possible Keystone scores were called back for holding penalties. Keystone closed the scoring with a 34-yard field goal to put them in the lead at halftime, 17-14.

The Dukes controlled the second half, starting with a ball-controlled drive capped with a 3-yard run by Wright. The Dukes' defense, led by Jaron Antill, kept Keystone's speed in check and the good guys led 20-17 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, the Dukes executed an 88-yard drive with good runs by Bowman, the tough yards by Gray, and a 25-yard burst by Wright for the score that put the Dukes ahead 24-17. A fourth touchdown by Wright ended the scoring for the night and the Dukes were up 34-17.

The Dukes ended the game with 301 yards rushing, with Wright having 127 yards, Bowman 101, and Gray 58. The credit for the good running attack goes to the offensive line. Standouts on defense were Gray, Wright, and Antill.

The Dukes' final game will be at home Friday night against Brookside as they try to finish the season with a 5-5 record.