Sports
Bulldogs outlast Kemp, 41-35
KEMP — The Dallas Cowboys aren’t the only team that can find a wild and improbable way to win a football game.
It an District 13-AAA slugfest at Yellowjacket Stadium Friday night, the Dogs, overcame themselves and a rash of unwise penalties to overcame the Kemp Yellowjackets 41-35 on a Josh Unruh touchdown 25 seconds from the end in one of those games neither team should have lost. Fans from both communities were entertained from Kemp’s game-opening scoring drive to Josh Unruh’s three-yard touchdowns 25 seconds from the end to win it for Eustace.
It was the 13-AAA opener for both teams, and it gives the Dogs a 3-3 record for the year and a 1-0 start in district.
For Kemp and Coach Gregg Anderson it was their fifth loss in six games and put the Jackets in an 0-1 hole in district.
It was a game of big plays and big mistakes, as both teams coped well with the adversity. This one wasn’t over until the Eustace defense stopped Yellowjacket quarterback Matt Carr after a 16 run to the Eustace 43-yard line with no time showing on the clock.
Kemp had wide receiver Matt Brown, and Matt Carr hit him with touchdown passes of 62 and 85 yards, but the Dogs unveiled, of all things, a potent passing attack with Mark Compton bringing the Dogs to within two, 35-33 with 3:47 to go.
But Compton’s pass to his favorite receiver, Lucas Cope, was high and it appeared the Jackets might be able to hang on — especially after the Dogs got a personal foul for a late hit on the ensuing onside kick attempt.
Leading by two and having possession of the ball at the Eustace 39 seemed to put Kemp out of danger, but four plays later the Jackets turned the ball over on downs at the 31.
From there, the Dogs, with just 2:36 left of the clock, and bad memories of a last second loss two weeks ago, roared 69 yards in 11 plays to win the game. Compton got it going with a 27 yard completion to Zach Keeling, then moved his team methodically downfield by running the ball with Unruh gaining two first downs on runs of eight and 12 yards before his game-winning touchdown.
The Jackets led 12-7 after a quarter, but the Dogs were up 20-18 at the half.
The only time there was a little breathing room between the two teams was in the third quarter when Unruh scored from yards out for a 27-18 Eustace lead.
But the Jackets proceeded to score 21 unanswered points to take a 35-27 lead.
And that only set the stage for a furious Eustace comeback and the 40-yard Compton touchdown pass to Keeling.
Just like the Cowboys, the Dogs missed the two point conversion, but then failed on the onside kick, only to come back and win the game, in spite of themselves and the stiff opposition from a game Yellowjacket squad.
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