The second-ranked Auburn High football team was given a jolt Friday night at French Field. But it was just enough to wake up the South Puget Sound League North Division favorites.
Behind a big performance from all-league running back Alphonse Wade, the Trojans (1-0) scored 21 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters en route to a 28-14 victory over Kentridge in the season opener for both teams. Wade rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
The Chargers (0-1) took a 14-7 lead on a 12-yard touchdown run around the right side from Alec McKenzie with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter.
“It was a wake-up call,” Wade said of McKenzie’s touchdown, which gave the Chargers a short-lived lead. “We came out thinking it probably wasn’t going to be that hard, so it woke us up, and helped us come back.”
It certainly woke up the Trojans, who won their 24th consecutive SPSL North game, a streak that dates back to 2005. From that point on, the Trojans collected 202 yards on the ground on 25 carries.
While the end result was plenty pretty, the game was anything but a masterpiece, Auburn coach Gordon Elliott noted.
“We made our share of mistakes slowing ourselves down and stuff,” Elliott said. “It’s the first game. It’s interesting, we always seem to get a lot of (penalties) when we play here.”
Friday night was no exception. The two teams combined for 24 penalties for 186 yards. Auburn was flagged for 14 penalties resulting in 128 yards. In addition, the Trojans played most of the game without first-team all-league running back Austin Embody, who carried once for three yards before taking a seat with an injured right shoulder.
The big injuries of the night, however, belonged to the Chargers, who lost standout running back Cameron McKernan just two plays into the second quarter with a left ankle sprain. McKernan, who had rushed for 44 yards and five carries, did not return. The Chargers also lost quarterback Caleb Smith in the fourth quarter, when he was attempting to corral a loose ball on a high snap.
Auburn’s Daryl Hasinto scooped up the loose ball, which came on a high snap over Smith’s head, and cruised in from 30 yards out for the touchdown, sealing the 28-14 victory for the Trojans.
“I went to recover the fumble and, when I went down to get the ball, somebody hit me in the back and my head hit the ground,” explained Smith, who completed 8 of 18 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. “My helmet hit me in the bridge of the nose and it just started bleeding. (The trainer) said I was a little foggy, too.”
In a sloppy game, Auburn got on the board first, when Wade dashed in for a 12-yard score on a reverse with 34 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
Kentridge responded to open the second quarter. McKernan took the first two carries, gaining 34 yards and moving the Chargers into Auburn territory. On the second carry of the drive, however, McKernan came up limping and never returned.
“I fought pretty hard to get back in, but they weren’t having it,” said McKernan, who is being recruited by a host of Division I schools. “I feel like it’s not that bad. I will probably be back next week.”
Without McKernan, Smith took over the drive, completing a pair of big passes, the final of which was a 7-yard touchdown connection with Reggie Collins, tying the game 7-7.
Kentridge continued to challenge Auburn in the third quarter, scoring on its first drive, when McKenzie scampered in from 12 yards out to give the Chargers the short-lived 14-7 lead.
“It was tough. At halftime, and half way through the third quarter, I thought we had them,” said Smith, who left in the fourth quarter and did not return. “I was fired up, ready to come out and score again. We didn’t have Cameron and we were still beating them. We had a lot of momentum, and a lot of confidence.
“It’s a real blow to the heart (to lose).”
Auburn tied it at 14-14 with 5:42 left in the third quarter on a 1-yard touchdown plunge from quarterback Max Pratt.
The Trojan defense then went into lockdown mode in the fourth quarter, yielding -24 yards during the final 12 minutes.
Auburn 28, Kentridge 14
Auburn 7 0 7 14 — 28
Kentridge 0 7 7 0 — 14
A: Alphonse Wade 12 run (Aaron McMahon kick)
KR: Reggie Collins 7 pass from Caleb Smith (Wes Concepcion kick).
KR: Alec McKenzie 12 run (Concepcion kick).
A: Pratt 1 run (McMahon kick)
A: Wade 8 run (McMahon kick)
A: Daryl Hasinto 30 fumble recovery (McMahon kick)
AUBURN LEADERS
Passing: Pratt 2-6, 14 yards, 1 interception
Rushing: Alphonse Wade 13-152, 2 touchdowns
KENTRIDGE LEADERS
Passing: Smith 8-18, 74 yards, 1 touchdown
Rushing: McKernan 5-44
Receiving: Collins 3-53
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