Anderson outscored Kokomo 13-0 in the fourth quarter to beat the Wildkats 41-33 in a North Central Conference football game Friday night at Walter Cross Field.
The Wildkats closed the regular season 6-3 overall and dropped to 5-2 in NCC play for a share of second place after an amazing run of five consecutive seasons at 7-0 in conference play. The Richmond Red Devils ran the NCC table this season for their first conference title since 2001.
Anderson’s victory was its first over Kokomo since 2004, ending a seven-year losing streak to the Wildkats. The Indians celebrated big time after their win.
“There’s no doubt we play with a target on our backs every week and that’s not going to change,” Kokomo coach Brett Colby said. “Give [Anderson] credit. They simply beat us up front the last series.”
Anderson (4-3 NCC) took a 34-33 lead with 7:37 left in the game when Chris Lemon made a nice adjustment on a pass from Curtis Wilson for a 31-yard touchdown catch. The Indians went for two, but Kokomo’s defense held, giving the Kats’ offense a chance to pull out the win.
But Anderson’s defense denied the Kats, even after a roughing the kicker penalty gave Kokomo a second chance with a first down on their 49. Four plays later, Kokomo gave the ball back to Anderson on the Indians’ 47.
Five plays later Jerian Beard broke through Kokomo’s defensive line and sprinted 37 yards for a touchdown. Anderson kicked the PAT to take a 41-33 lead with 1:36 to go.
Anderson’s quick score actually gave Kokomo a chance to send the game into overtime with a touchdown and two-point conversion. But the Indians’ defense secured the victory.
“Kokomo is a good football team,” Anderson coach Randy Albano said. “I thought we would just run out the clock, then Jerian scored the touchdown giving Kokomo another chance. It’s hard to tell a kid not to score. This was the best game we’ve played all year. I thought we played really well in the fourth quarter.”
The game was a striking contrast in offensive strategy. Kokomo rushed the ball 49 times for 301 yards, completing six passes for 90 more. The Indians threw the ball 31 times, completing 21 for 263 yards, while rushing for 101.
“This was probably the most complete game Anderson has played this season, “ Colby said. “I also thought they look good last week at Richmond [a 26-22 loss]. They stepped up and made the plays that we usually make.”
Bo Baker led Kokomo with an 18-carry, 158-yard effort that topped his previous career highs of 17 carries and 144 yards, set last week. Baker scored three times, including a 75-yard run from scrimmage to give Kokomo a 33-28 lead with :11 left in the third quarter. Baker’s big run gave Kokomo the lead back just 1:02 after Anderson’s Tylor Peoples scooped up a Kokomo fumble, the only turnover of the game, and returned it 75 yards to put Anderson ahead 28-27.
Sports
Indians surprise Wildkats
Kokomo ends up sharing second place in NCC standings.
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Field is set for Indianapolis 500
After being bumped from the starting field while sitting on the qualifying line on pole day, Josef Newgarden turned the fastest time on bump day, assuring himself a spot in the Indianapolis 500.
The field of 33 cars will have one final opportunity to practice on Friday before next Sunday’s 97th running of the 500.
One year ago the Sarah Fisher Racing Team withdrew Newgarden’s entry on the first day of qualifying and had to qualify on bump day. This year the team decided not to make another qualifying run and got bumped. -
Athlete of the week
Cole led the small-school Comets to the Kokomo Sectional title, their first title since 1998.
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Kats regain tennis throne
At 10:51 a.m. Saturday morning, the bulk of Kokomo’s girls tennis team sprinted from the viewing hill to the east entrance of the tennis courts to mob No. 1 singles player Morgan Mohr as she came off the court following her 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Eastern’s Courtney Clark.
The No. 3 singles match was still raging, but the team match was already won. The Wildkats had reconquered the throne from two-time defending champion Eastern and were once again champions of the Kokomo Sectional. -
Eastern boys track claims first sectional title since 1998
The boys track and field coach at Eastern High School from 1987 until last season, Paul Nicholson’s parting message to his team was simple: “Don’t deny the gift.”
That motto left such a lasting impression on the Comets’ returning athletes that they had it screen printed on their 2013 season T-shirts.
With Nicholson in attendance to celebrate with them, new coach Austin Roark and the Comets outlasted host Kokomo to win their first sectional title since 1998 Thursday night, topping the Wildkats by 3.5 points, 124.5-121.
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Eastern, Kokomo favored in boys track sectional
Some of the names and faces have changed, but the plot remains much the same.
The Kokomo boys track and field sectional, much like last year, will likely be a two-horse race between the host and three-time defending champion Wildkats and Eastern, a team looking to break through and win its first sectional title since 1998. -
Cole to jump at Miami University
Eastern athlete Grant Cole has only been a long jumper for two seasons, but being turned on to the event late in his career has landed him a scholarship to Miami University.
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Comets roar to sectional title
As the old adage goes, it’s harder stay on top than it is to reach the top.
Eastern’s girls track and field team entered the 2012 postseason hoping to put in a strong enough effort to claim the program’s first sectional title.
Having done so, the Comets entered Tuesday’s postseason opener — the Madison-Grant Sectional — with a much larger bull’s-eye on their backs than in previous years.
Eastern proved up to the challenge, scoring a landslide victory to repeat as sectional champions with 125 points. -
Dexter leaving Eastern
Eastern girls basketball coach Jeremy Dexter has stepped down from the Comet program after accepting the AD job at Churubusco last week. Churubusco is in Whitley County about 15 minutes west of Fort Wayne.
Dexter led the Comets to a Class 2A state runner-up finish this past season. -
Hunter edges Shrout in Thunder Car thriller
Two drivers who are no strangers to Victory Lane returned there Sunday night at the Kokomo Speedway. Meanwhile, a third driver scored just the second feature win of his career at the local oval to highlight the racing action.
Chris Hunter, the winningest Thunder Car driver in the history of the local oval, ground out a gritty win over defending track champion Jason Shrout to highlight the chilly night. -
Girls track sectional is tonight
Eastern’s girls track and field team is ready to chase some more championship hardware.
Two weeks ago, the Comets won their fourth straight Howard County meet. Last week, they won their fourth straight Mid-Indiana Conference meet. Now, the postseason is here, with the Madison-Grant Sectional tonight.
“We’re looking forward to taking the next step,” Eastern coach Michael Goodspeed said. - More Sports Headlines
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