Bulldogs rally for win over Wildcats

CELINA - When Thomas Phillips reached the end zone after a 94-yard interception return with just under 11 minutes left in the game to put Kenton up 19-7 on Celina, there was concern if the Bulldogs could respond.

The seniors playing for the final time at home showed not only could they respond, but they also wanted to keep playing in Week 11.

Two Caleb Hoyng touchdowns in a four-minute span, the second coming with two minutes to go, lifted Celina to a 22-19 win over Kenton, ending the Wildcats' decade-plus long dominance in the series and, more importantly, securing Celina's first trip to the postseason since 1998.

Celina (7-3, 7-2 WBL) awaits its Week 11 opponent, which will be announced Sunday. Kenton ends the season 2-8 (2-7 WBL).

"I'm more excited for my kids," Celina coach Trent Temple said about making the playoffs as a head coach. "I remember going back to Week One (after the loss to Versailles) and saying I know how hard these kids worked. What we showed Week One wasn't the team we have. Now we're showing the team we have and the character we have. The hard work has paid off for these kids. It's not easy because not everybody gets in. That's what makes it special."

After Ryan Harter scored from three yards out their first drive of the game, the Bulldogs struggled to get back into the end zone, punting once and then missing on back-to-back fourth-down plays.

Kenton began to find its range as Trent Hites hit Chris Deardorff for a 16-yard score with 1:13 left in the first half to cut Celina's lead to 7-6. On the first play for Celina, Hoyng was picked off by Shawn Conover to put Kenton at the Celina 45 with a minute to play. Hites moved the team to the Celina 18 on six plays before hitting Deardorff again, this time from 18 yards out with four seconds left to put the Wildcats in front 12-7 at the half.

The Celina defense rebounded, forcing Kenton to punt on its first four possessions of the second half. The Bulldogs continued to struggle on offense. They turned ball over on downs after losing a yard on a fourth-and-four from the Kenton 28. Following that possession, they drove inside the Kenton 10-yard line, but Hoyng threw a screen pass that Phillips tipped up, caught and then scampered 94 yards for the score.

"We made a lot more mistakes than we have done the last few games," Temple said. "I don't know if it was nerves or if the kids were too excited. We told them to 'Settle down. ... We're fine. Go down and score quick, we have time.' "

Things looked more bleak for Celina when Harter fumbled on a third-and-two from the Celina 48 and Kenton recovered. However, Celina bowed its back on defense and got a three-and-out with the punt putting Celina at its own 11.

Hoyng stepped up and found his passing stride. The senior quarterback was 8-of-11 during the drive. On a second-and-goal from the four, Hoyng ran for the remaining yards to cut Kenton's lead to 19-14 with 6:15 to go.

After Kenton went three-and-out again, Celina moved 75 yards on 10 plays. Hoyng hit Jacob Stolly for passes of 26 and three yards and added a 14-yarder to Harter to get to the Kenton 18. Hoyng bulldozed his way into the end zone with 2:03 left to make it 20-19. Mindful of Kenton's game-winning field goal last season, Temple had his team go for two, with Hoyng punching in to force Kenton to throw a touchdown to win.

"Not too many can make that drive he made," Temple said of Hoyng. "That's a big time drive. He had a few mistakes, but that drive at the end to take the lead was big."

Hites threw just one pass on the ensuing possession, right to Stolly, who went down at the Kenton 48 with 1:41 to play.

Zack Marks, who rushed for 250 yards last week but lined up more at receiver this week with Harter back, picked up 17 yards on the first three plays to force Kenton to burn its remaining timeouts. After a four-yard run, Hoyng picked up two big yards on a fourth-and-one to seal the win.

"I thought we scored too quick," Temple said. "But our defense stepped up.

"Hats off to Kenton and coach (Brent) Fackler. They came out and played their tails off."

Hoyng finished 27-of-41 passing for 260 yards and added 88 yards rushing on 20 carries. Harter, after missing several games, had 27 yards rushing and 46 yards receiving. Marks had 56 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards. Stolly made seven catches for 76 yards.

"Our seniors have worked so hard, not just this group, but the seniors before them," Temple said. "They set the foundation of what it takes to be successful. This (senior) group has taken it to another level."

Hites was 16-of-40 for 131 yards and rushed for 69 yards.