Kennedy’s defense completes a shutout on an overtime fourth down

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last time the Bloomington Kennedy football team had six wins in one regular season was way back in 2007. The Eagles had a chance to get their sixth win Friday night at home against the SMB Wolfpack. I was curious to see if Kennedy was for real. The Eagles' defense has allowed double-digit points just twice this season. I was also interested to see if the Kennedy defense was for real. Coming into Friday night's game, the SMB Wolfpack offense had scored over twenty points four times, over thirty points twice, and over forty points once. The 4-2 Wolfpack were going to push the 5-1 Eagles, and I was going to find out if the Eagles' best season in fifteen years would continue.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When <strong>Ja'Shaun Bostic</strong> stuffed Wolfpack running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242385' first='Landon' last='Dillon']</strong> inside the five yard line on fourth and goal in overtime to preserve a 7-0 victory – we got both answers. The Eagles' team is for real, and their defense is not just real; it is dominant.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy's offense got deep into SMB territory – a rare feat for anyone - and would convert on a fourth and short. Then Eagles' quarterback <strong>Malik Johnson</strong> completed a pass to <strong>Malachi Taylor-Simmons</strong> for fifteen yards. The drive would stall at the 23 yard line when Johnson's completed pass didn't get to the sticks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles would be on the move again when Johnson found <strong>Gunther Johnson Jr</strong> on a crossing route for thirty yards. The drive would end in the red zone, however. On fourth and five, Wolfpack defensive back <strong>Connor Overgaard</strong> undercut a crossing route to knock the pass harmlessly to the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two big plays by Kennedy defensive lineman <strong>Sontela Jeunesse-Wood</strong> led to another Wolfpack punt. First, Jeunesse-Wood got into the backfield and forced the running back into teammates for a loss. Then, Jeunesse-Wood stuffed an off-tackle run for a short gain. His teammates kept Dillon short of the first down on third and long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy was moving the ball but could not seriously threaten to score because every time they would get close, SMB's defense would make a play. The next being defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='242417' first='Trent' last='Page'] getting into the backfield, forcing a botched handoff and an SMB fumble recovery. The turnover put SMB's offense in plus territory for the first time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perfect coverage by Kennedy defensive back <strong>David Aviles-Rizo</strong> put SMB in third and long. Linebacker <strong>Corey Bartholomew</strong> stuffed the third down run forcing another punt. SMB punter <strong>Stephen Gustafson</strong> pinned the Eagles inside the five yard line. In this field position game where any first down was a big play, Gustafson's punt was a huge play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SMB linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='19032' first='Joey' last='Stolpestad'] </strong>– who was all over the field – stuffed an inside run to force a punt. The punt – which was very short – plus a fifteen yard fair catch interference penalty put SMB in great position to take the lead. This time it was Kennedy's turn to make a big defensive play. A fumble recovery two plays into the drive kept the game scoreless.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy put together the best drive of the game but would cough up the ball deep in SMB territory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Smith</strong>'s excellent coverage on the outside and great range by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='112103' first='Marques' last='Monroe']</strong> – coming across the field to knock down a deep ball – stopped yet another Wolfpack drive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SMB defensive back <strong>Ruben Rubio-Ramirez</strong> could have told Monroe everything you can do, I can do better. He stayed stride for stride with his receiver – batting down a deep pass down the sidelines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the game scoreless after 48 minutes, Kennedy faced a third and goal from the six in the first overtime. Monroe powered his way through the middle of the SMB defense, dragging tacklers across the goal line. With SMB needing a touchdown and extra point to keep the game alive, two runs put them inside the five yard line, but Bartholomew broke into the backfield to drop the runner for a loss – setting up Bostic's game-winning tackle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->