WHARTON 21, SICKLES 8: Kejuan Young sees a hole and goes for it, which boosts the Wildcats' district chances and earns them the Times Cup.
By DON JENSEN
Published October 17, 2003
TAMPA - The play was designed outside. Kejuan Young decided to go another way, and his decision kept Wharton in the Class 5A, District 8 playoff chase.
Young's third touchdown, an 80-yard run, thwarted a Sickles comeback and capped a career game for the senior running back, as the Wildcats (3-4, 2-1) rolled to a 21-8 victory Thursday night at Gryphons Lair. The game was the fifth edition of the Times Cup, with Sickles (3-4, 1-2) holding a 3-2 edge.
Young's 189 yards rushing on 19 carries and three touchdowns, both career highs, came on a night when Wharton lost leading receiver Michael Coonce to a first-quarter knee injury.
His availability for next week's game against Gaither wasn't known.
"Our defense played well, and Kejuan's long touchdown certainly was big," Wharton coach Melvin Cunningham said.
"We just had too many penalties, which kept Sickles in the game."
Wharton overcame 156 penalty yards with 371 yards of offense. The Wildcats led 14-0 late in the third quarter when Sickles scored on Anthony Lentine's 1-yard run to cap a 53-yard, nine-play drive. John Price's two-point conversion run pulled the Gryphons within 14-8.
Two plays after the kickoff, Young broke loose for his clinching touchdown.
"I was supposed to go outside, but I saw an opening up the middle and took off," Young said. Young scored on runs of 5 and 10 yards in the first half.
Wharton's defense limited Sickles to 174 yards of offense and forced three turnovers.
DeAngelo Davis' recovery of a Brian Zipler fumble at the Wharton 27 stopped Sickles' best drive in the first half. Eric Hopson and Nick Helton intercepted passes in the second half.
