NewsTribune

Step back

Cavaliers’ upward trend halted in K.C.

By Adam Feiner [email protected]

KANSAS CITY — The focal point for Capital City in its first two varsity seasons has primarily been progress. Wins might not add up, but so long as players are improving week-to-week, coaches can rest assured better days lay ahead.

Friday night, first-year coach Joe Collier feared his team might have taken a step or two back after several steps forward the previous two weeks.

Winnetonka exploited Capital City’s secondary with rainbow passes downfield, and the Griffins’ wide receivers won several 50/50 balls in a 47-21 win.

“We underachieved. That was not indicative of who we are as athletes,” Collier said. “I’m not good with losing, and especially not the way we did. I’m bummed about the way we approached this game.”

The Griffins (5-3) tried to establish their run game early, but the Cavaliers (1-7) were up to the task.

Junior Joe Schaefer forced a fumble that classmate Gavin McDaniel recovered on the first drive of the game, but freshman Kendric Johnson’s 39-yard field goal attempt went just wide left. Sophomore Landen McNeil then made a tackle for loss on a fourth down to give the Cavaliers the ball at Winnetonka’s 42-yard line, but a holding penalty on third down negated a conversion and resulted in a punt.

Winnetonka found its footing offensively on its third drive. A pair of long completions and pass interference penalties set up the first score on the first play of the second quarter. Facing third-and-8, senior running back Johnell Essex sneaked out of the backfield for a 34-yard touchdown reception from junior quarterback Devin Sontag.

Essex then ripped off a 26-yard touchdown run on third-and-1 almost 4 minutes later. Sophomore Michael Lane followed with a 55-yard touchdown reception on a perfectly thrown deep ball by Sontag a little less than four minutes later to increase the lead to 20-0.

“It was the way we approached those long passes that frustrated me the most,” Collier said. “They didn’t do anything spectacular. The ball would hang in the air and then they’d make plays. We didn’t trust our technique.

It makes it worse when you don’t believe in yourself and use technique. We came up with a plan, and to not use it is the worst thing you can do.”

Sophomore Phillip Richardson sparked the Cavaliers offense on the next drive with 58 yards on four carries — the final a 26-yard burst up the middle to get his squad on the board with 1:58 left in the first half.

Winnetonka responded with two quick scores to effectively put the game out of reach.

Sontag heaved a deep ball that Lane raced under for a 76-yard touchdown with 1:27 left, and senior Hunter Martin went untouched on a 54-yard touchdown run after junior Kimani Akins intercepted Capital City junior Hayden Carroll.

The Griffins outgained the Cavaliers 366-87, had a 12-4 advantage in first downs and converted 5-of-6 third downs in the first half.

Iowa State commit Jason Essex bookended the second half with special teams touchdowns. He returned a punt 60 yards at the 5-minute mark of the third quarter, and then returned a squib kick 71 yards with 1:10 left in the game.

Capital City junior Robert Gray also had two second-half touchdowns. He slid into the end zone after a 64-yard reception at the 3:52 mark of the third, and then won a jump ball for a 26-yard score with 1:23 remaining.

Gray finished with three catches for 116 yards. Carroll — who finished 8-of-24 for 140 yards — also completed four balls to senior Ethyn Otto for 23 yards and one to senior Ian Nelson for a yard.

Richardson paced the offense with 175 yards on 26 carries; the bulk of his yards coming on runs of 10 or more.

“I was able to find some holes by reading my keys,” Richardson said. “When guys didn’t get hands on me, I felt like I had my burst.”

McNeil also forced a fumble and combined on a sack with senior Grayson Jones in the third quarter. Schaefer and sophomore Isaak Nelson each added a tackle for loss.

PREP FOOTBALL

en-us

2021-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://edition.newstribune.com/article/282192244177403

WEHCO Media