Magnolia Too Much for Kennedy

Magnolia High School’s Dennis McCown endured 30 carries and severe leg cramps to lead his team to a 14-13 victory over Kennedy Thursday at Glover Stadium.

McCown scored on a one-yard plunge with less than a minute left in the game, capping a 14-play, 60-yard drive that started when linebacker Steve McAskill intercepted a pass by Kennedy quarterback John Guthrie.

McCown, who rushed for 129 yards--his second consecutive 100-plus-yard performance--carried eight times on the drive, quarterback Darrell Turner carried five times, including a key eight-yard run to get the ball to the three.

It was Magnolia’s first victory this season, in the first of what is being called the Hangartner Bowl, named for the late John Hangartner, who coached at both Magnolia and Kennedy and died in April in a car accident.

It appeared Kennedy (1-1) would take home the perpetual trophy when running back Arraceion Mobley scored his second touchdown of the night, this one on a 62-yard run.

Mobley’s run gave Kennedy a 13-8 lead with six minutes left in the third quarter. In all, Mobley rushed for 170 yards in 15 carries. His 24-yard touchdown run in the second quarter might have been his most impressive.

With no score, Mobley took the handoff, made numerous cuts and broke at least four tackles as he ran right through the heart of the Magnolia defense.

Kennedy led at that point, 7-0. But on Magnolia’s next play from scrimmage, Turner threw a pass over the middle to wide receiver Steve Anderson who bounced off a tackler, spun to the outside and then outraced the Kennedy secondary down the sideline for a 70-yard touchdown.

That pass aside, the Magnolia offense was pretty much McCown, who ground out his yards until it ground him up. McCown had to be carried from the field in the fourth quarter with leg cramps. He laid on the sideline for several minutes before standing and finally returning. It was just in time.