Linsly Takes Down Kiski
WHEELING -- Linsly ended its season in impressive fashion Saturday afternoon at sunny but chilly Fawcett Field. Well, maybe.
The Cadets handed Kiski a 35-6 shellacking in what was their last regular-season scheduled game. Linsly B.J. Depew, however, said he still has some irons in the fire about playing again next week.
The win was the sixth against three losses for Linsly. Those three setbacks have come at the hands of heayweights Steubenville, Wheeling Park and Morgantown.
A possible 10th Cadet game will be dictated by West Virginia's color-coded Covid map as well as a couple of Buckeye State game options.
Kiski played just its third game of the season, dropping to 1-2.
"I am not really ready to put a bow on this season yet only because the Covid map comes out at 5 o'clock. We haven't closed the door on possibly playing next weekend," Depew said. "But I will say I think we beat the odds. To play nine games to this point, pick up six wins and battle in all nine games is a great season for this team.
"This team has left its mark on this program whether we play another week or not -- that remains to be seen. But if it ends like this, we will take it."
Hunter Kelley was brilliant in possibly his last game as the Cadet quarterback. The talented senior accounted for four touchdowns while having several others called back due to penalties.
Kelley completed 13 of 19 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He also rambled for 66 yards on three attempts including a 29-yard scoring burst.
The contest was virtually over at halftime with Linsly holding a commanding 28-0 lead. Much of the fourth quarter was played with a running clock as the Cadets nursed a 35-0 upperhand.
"I was really pleased on how we started the game," Depew said. "We haven't started very well for the past few weeks. We came out and played a really good first half. We executed well and the kids were fired up. I am really happy with that, and to finish it off with our seniors on our home field, taking the knee together as a group of 11 was pretty special."
Linsly started the onslaught late in the opening quarter when Kelley teamed with classmate Steven Felton on a 65-yard aerial scoring connection with 1:57 left in the opening session. Jaoa Lima added the PAT for a 7-0 Cadet advantage.
Kelley let his legs do the work in upping the count to 14-0 via his 29-yard scoring run up the middle, dragging several would-be tacklers into the end zone with 9:46 showing in the second frame. Lima again converted.
The Linsly lead grew to 21-0 just four minutes later when Kelley found senior ace Kobe Hill on a 17-yard scoring strike. Lima was again successful on the PAT.
The Cadets took a 28-0 lead into the locker room as sophomore dynamo Luca DiLorenzo hauled in a 52-yard scoring bomb from Kelley. Lima was again true on the placement.
Linsly tacked on its final touchdown of the afternoon on the opening possession of the second half, courtesy of a two-yard run from senior Zachai Simmons. Lima delivered his fifth PAT of the day.
Kiski averted the shutout with eight minutes to play in the contest on a 29-yard pass from Chris Kendall to Chris Moncrief.
Linsly gained 156 yards on the ground. Spencer Knight garnered 46 yards on 11 tries. Hill and DiLorenzo each landed four passes for the winners.
Kiski managed just 171 yards of total offense.
Linsly received strong defensive play from Felton and Marco Aprea.
Linsly 35 Kiski 6
Kiski 0 0 0 6 -- 6
Linsly 7 21 7 0 -- 35
L -- Felton 65 pass from Kelley. Lima kick
L -- Kelley 29 run. Lima kick
L -- Hill 17 pass from Kelley. Lima kick.
L -- DiLorenzo 52 pass from Kelley. Lima kick.
L -- Simmons 2 run. Lima kick.
K -- Moncrief 29 pass from Kendall. Kick failed.
Rushing: Kiski 25-103 (Clark-Bey 4-0, Sweet 14-83, Terry 8-27, Allen 2-0, Kendal 1-(-1)7; Linsly 15-156-2td (Kelley 3-66-td, Knight 11-46, Felton 4-14, Simmons 6-26-td, Hill 1-6).
Passing: Kiski 8-13-68 yards (Kendall 6-9-67 yards; Ahnsen 1-2-1 yard) Linsly 13-19-240-yards-3tds (All by Kelley).
Receiving: Kiski 8-68 yards ( Moncrief 7-54, Terry 1-14) Linsly 13-240-3tds (Hill 4-42-td; DiLorenzo 4-76-td, Reitter 2-49, Felton 1-65-td, Stern 1-5, Knight 1-1, Simmons 1-3).
First downs: Kiski 9, Linsly, 10
Penalties: Kiski 11-75, Linsly 12-100.
Fumbles: Kiski 2-1, Linsly 2-1.