Kenton defeats Licking Valley 40-13

The game was built on Kenton's mighty offense led by superstars Ben Mauk, Brandon Cornell, and Freshman Tommy Petitt,.On the other side of the ball for the panthers of Licking Valley was Casey Brehm, Ryan redman, and super 2 way player Michael Hinger. The mighty Mauk would take a while to get things going, but once he did the rout was on. Facing a 4th and 11 with 3.55 left in the 1st quarter the Wildcats decided to go for it, and to noone surprise Mauk would drop back to pass and connect with Jared Bostelman for a big 1st down. 8 seconds later Mauk found the Freshman petitt for a 22 yard touchdown.The extra point would be blocked by Jake Butler keeping the score 6-0. The Valley offense led by the talent Hinger would be forced to punt with 1.07 left in the 1st , and Kenton's special team would come up with a block giving the potent offense 1st and 10 on the Valley 43. On the last play of the quarter Mauk would hook up with Cornell one of the states best receivers for a 46 yard touchdown. Kenton would go for 2,but Butler would make the stop for the Panthers keeping the score 12-0. Both teams would show some big time defense for most of the 2nd quarter. Kenton would pick off a Hinger pass with 11.00 minutes remaining in the quarter as Nate Manns played hero. Kenton facing 4th and 23 would again go for it and just miss getting it as a mauk pass was almost complete as Cornell was able to get both hands on the ball. Licking valley facing 3-7 with 5.25 remaining in the half and needing a big play almost got it when Hinger made a great pass to Corby Baughman who dropped it forcing the Panthers to punt. Corby Baughman would atone for his drop pass about a minute later as he picked off a Mauk pass, if not for losing his feet he would have taken it to the house. Facing 4th one coach Baughman would decide to go for it, and Hinger would boot around the left side for a huge 1st down, with 2.53 remaining in the half. 3 seconds later Corby Baughman would hit paydirt from 3 yards out .Brandon Haynes connected on the extra point making the score 12-7.The last play of the half would see Hinger one of the best if not the best safety in the state pick off a Mauk pass. A penalty would give Valley one more play in the half with no time left on the clock but nothing came from it. Kenton would start fast in the second half as the stars would shine for the offense, while the stars for valley would not shine as bright. 51 seconds into the 3rd quarter the big plays would start for Kenton .Mauk and Cornell would hook up for a 35 yard gain. At the 10.17 mark Mauk would scott around the left side for a 8 yard pick up.9 seconds later Mauk on a quarterback draw would score from 11 yards out, and after a 2 point catch from Josh Dudek it was 20-7 Wildcats. Valley facing a 4th and 7 needing a big play would go for it.Hinger made another sweet pass to Baughman, but another drop gave the ball back to the Wildcats. The Panthers who never showed any quit would get it's biggest play of the game when Ryan Redman picked up a Mauk fumble and raced 35 yards for a score, with Mauk right on his butt. The extra point was blocked, but the Panthers seemed to have momentum, and only trailed by 7(20-13) The Kenton offense would not to long to take back control of the game, as Cornell powered his way in from 1 yard . The extra point was no good leaving the score 26-13 Wildcats .Cornell would sack Hinger forcing a Valley punt .The quarter would come to a end as the crowd of 11985 waited anxiously for the beginning of the 4th. Kenton would score 2 touchdown's in the games final 12.00 minutes and the defense who shutout the Panthers. The 1st score would come on a great catch by Petitt for a 41 yard touchdown,a 2 point try was good as Cornell caught another pass from the great one,Mauk making the score 34-13,with 11.32 left in the game. Petitt would make yet another great catch for a big gain to set up the next Kenton score. Mauk would connect with Josh Dudek for a 11 yard score making the score 40-13.The extra point would be no good, so with 9.21 left in the game all was left was the singing of the fat lady. Jake Butler refusing to show any quit picked pff a Mauk pass with 4.58 left, but a Corby Baughman fumble 46 seconds later ended any hopes the Panthers had. Neither team would do anything else in the final 4.12 and the clock would run down giving the Wildcats it's 1st state championship Some stats First downs Kenton 25 Valley 8 Passing yards Kenton 439 Valley 28 Rushing for Valley Hinger 6-37 Josh Nethers16-49 Rushing for Kenton Mauk 14-43 Passing Mauk 26-47-439 Receiving for Kenton Cornell 7-141 Petitt 4-120 Receiving for Valley Baughman 1-21 newarkcatholicfan