Kingston shut out at Plainview to open district play

This past Friday, the Kingston Redskins opened their district schedule in Ardmore, taking on the Plainview Indians. The Redskins looked to bounce back from their first loss of the season to 4A Broken Bow and continue their three-year-long winning streak in district play, while Plainview looked to avenge last year’s loss at Kingston and get this year off to a good start. Taking control of the game at the outset, the Indians decisively defeated the Redskins, 26-0. Plainview started the fireworks early, as the Indians returned the opening kick to their own 43. On their first play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Reis Taylor hit junior wideout Morgan Pearson streaking down the left sideline, and Pearson beat double coverage to haul in the strike and score the game’s first points. After the extra point, Plainview led 7-0 only 14 seconds into the game.

Kingston responded with a three-and-out for the Redskins’ first drive, but the Redskins’ defense stiffened, forcing Plainview to punt on its next drive. However, that punt pinned Kingston at its own 15, and Kingston was still unable to move the ball. The ensuing punt gave Plainview the ball at the Redskins’ 36.

With great field position, Plainview went back to work. The Indians picked up a first down at the Kingston 17 on a 14-yard run by Taylor on a quarterback keeper, but then bogged down and faced fourth-and-six from the Kingston 13. Taylor faked a handoff to senior running back Caden Pickens, and then rolled right. Meanwhile, Pickens snuck out to the left and found himself all alone in the end zone, where Taylor hit him for his second touchdown pass of the night. A failed extra point kick left Plainview leading 13-0, still in the first quarter.

Kingston, down two scores, responded with the Redskins’ first real drive of the night. The Redskins converted two third downs and two fourth downs (one of each through Plainview penalties), driving 58 yards in thirteen plays to the Plainview 7. However, junior quarterback Klete Finley and senior tailback Brandon Watson had trouble with a handoff, and put the ball on the ground, where Plainview’s senior Jeston Gilliam fell on it, ending the Kingston threat.

Taking over at their own 10 after the turnover, Plainview’s offense put another good drive together. Plainview marched 90 yards on 8 plays, and Taylor scored on the ground from six yards out to put Plainview up 19-0 in the second quarter.

Kingston was not ready to quit, however. The Redskins’ next drive started at their own 25, and Kingston went on the march. The Kingston drive took 16 plays, featuring two fourth-down conversions, and penetrated to the Plainview 3 with time running out in the first half. A false start on third-and-goal backed Kingston up to the Plainview 8. Finley, off play action, then threw the ball into a crowd, and Plainview’s Pearson picked off the errant pass in the end zone, leaving Plainview with a 19-0 halftime lead.

Kingston opened the second half with a drive that showed some initial promise but stalled at midfield. On fourth-and-five at the 50, Kingston lined up to punt, but the snap went to Finley who was lined up as a blocker. Finley’s pass out of the fake was intercepted by Plainview’s Pickens, who was not fooled, and he returned the interception to the Kingston 18, putting Plainview back in business.

The Indians were unable to capitalize this time on their great field position. After an apparent Taylor touchdown was called back on a holding penalty, Plainview was unable to convert on fourth down, turning the ball over on downs. Kingston struggled to put together a drive but turned the ball back over on downs at the Plainview 45.

Taking over at their own 45 late in the third quarter, the Indians put together one last good drive, scoring on an 11-yard quarterback keeper by Taylor for his second rushing touchdown of the night, and Plainview led 26-0 at the end of the third. Both teams were largely unable to move the ball successfully in the fourth quarter, and Plainview came away with the 26-0 victory.

Finley led the Redskins in passing, completing 7 of his 21 attempts for 67 yards and two interceptions. Watson returned from his week off and led the team in rushing, gaining 69 yards on 23 carries. Senior Brayden Matchen led Kingston in receiving, gaining 35 yards on his two grabs.

Defensively, Kingston struggled to contain Plainview’s Taylor, yielding 108 yards in the air and 97 yards on the ground to the Indians’ senior, who also accounted for all four Plainview touchdowns, while not being sacked once. Junior Devin Tipton and sophomore Rhett Coble led the Redskins with 10 tackles each, while senior Brycen Ellisor had 8.

Commenting on the game, Kingston Head Coach Tommy Bare called it a “tough loss to a very good Plainview team.” Kingston “had opportunities,” but they “need to capitalize on them.” Among the items that need to be corrected, he noted “turnovers and penalties at inopportune times” that plagued the Redskins in this game.

Kingston (0-1 in district, 2-2 overall) will play the Redskins’ first true home game of the season next Friday, as they host Lone Grove (1-0, 3-1). The Longhorns are coming off a narrow 28-26 home win over Pauls Valley (0-1, 1-3). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. at Harold “Bulldog” Henry Field.

Around the district, Madill (1-0, 4-0) salvaged the Wildcats’ Homecoming and remained undefeated, beating winless Dickson (0-1, 0-4) with a late field goal, 17-14. Sulphur (1-0, 2-2) shut out winless Little Axe (0-1, 0-4) with a 48-0 thrashing, tying the Bulldogs with Plainview for the very early district lead.

EXTRA POINTS

The loss to Plainview marks Kingston’s first district loss under Coach Bare, who had previously gone 21-0 against his district opponents. Kingston’s last district loss was October 13, 2017, against the Davis Wolves. The loss to Broken Bow last week was Kingston’s first shutout since the final game of the 2017 season, when Dibble shut out the Redskins 27-0 in the first round of the 2A playoffs. Kingston has gone years without suffering back-to-back shutouts, and Coach Bare clearly has his work cut out for him this year to right this ship.

Even with the loss this week, there were some bright spots in this game for Kingston. Unlike the debacle in Broken Bow, Kingston managed to repeatedly put together good, tough drives and move the football against Plainview’s defense, with improved play on their offensive line. However, three straight Kingston drives ended in turnovers, and the Redskins simply are not good enough to recover from those mistakes. If Kingston cannot correct these issues, the Redskins are in for a long season.

Good news for Kingston fans, senior Grant Holmes was in for his first action of the season, having sat out with an injury, and undoubtedly contributing to Kingston’s improved line play. Also back was Watson, who limped on his injured ankle early, but nonetheless played the entire game. These senior leaders are key to Kingston’s hopes for improvement.

One of the most interesting comparisons of the night was the relative fan support of the two teams. Despite this being the opening game of the district campaign for a promising Plainview squad, the home stands looked like a ghost town. Even into the fourth quarter, when the game was effectively over, it seemed that there were far more Kingston fans at this game than Plainview fans. That must be discouraging to those players. By the same token, Kingston’s players know that their community is behind them as they move into the meat of the season.