Perry Hall coach Keith Robinson and Kenwood coach Tony Ruocco know each other very well. Both were junior varsity coaches for coach Roger Wrenn at Patterson in the late ’90’s, where they won a JV championship. On Friday night at Kenwood, Robinson’s team performed with precision, as the Gators (4-1, 2-0) scored an impressive 36-0 win over Ruscco’s Bluebird’s (2-3, 1-1) in a state 4A conference game.
The Gators were led by quarterback Mike DeBaugh, who threw scoring strikes of 17, 30, and 43 yards. He completed 16-of-24 attempts and finished with 233 yards passing.
“Our line was fantastic,” said the 6-foot-5 junior. “We knew the field would be mucky, but we didn’t let it stop us from throwing the ball.”
Robinson was pleased with DeBaugh’s effort.
“When he’s sharp and throwing the ball well, and throwing with confidence, and he has time, it really opens up what we do,” said Robinson. “We have some weapons on offense, but it starts with him.”
On their first possession of the night, Perry Hall marched from their own 38 to the Kenwood end zone in seven plays. The drive culminated with a nine yard touchdown run by Patrick Clemons, who led the Gators with 74 yards rushing on nine carries. He also caught two passes for 31 yards and a score.
The Gators scored 21 points in the second quarter when DeBaugh hit Jamal Craig and Clemons for touchdowns of 17 and 30 yards, respectively. Robin Paguia also scored on a one yard plunge. Craig caught five balls on the night for 103 yards and two scores.
In the third quarter, DeBaugh hit Craig again, from the Kenwood 43, to give the Gators a 34-0 lead. They added a safety midway through the fourth quarter when Ruthke and a host of teammates stopped the Bluebirds on a punt return in their own end zone.
Linebacker Tyler Cosgrove said that the Gators prepared well this week for Kenwood.
“We knew what was coming, and we were ready for it.”
The Gators no-huddle offense seemed to keep Kenwood off balance.
“We have a new scheme this year; we tire a lot of teams out,” said Craig.
“You practice and prepare to run your stuff, and some weeks it works, and some weeks it doesn’t,” said Robinson. “This week it worked to perfection.”
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| Perry Hall 36, Kenwood 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| 1st Q | ||||||||||||||||||
| PH-Clemons 9 run (McQuay kick) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd Q | ||||||||||||||||||
| PH-Pagula 1 run (McQuay kick) | ||||||||||||||||||
| PH- Craig 17 pass from DeBaugh (McQuay kick) | ||||||||||||||||||
| PH-Clemons 30 pass from DeBaugh (McQuay kick) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd Q | ||||||||||||||||||
| PH-Craig 30 pass from DeBaugh (kick failed) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4th Q | ||||||||||||||||||
| PH-Safety-Ruthke tackled returner in the end zone |
PH 7 21 6 2 36
K 0 0 0 0 0
Scoring
1st Quarter
PH-Clemons, 9 yard run, McQuay kick
2nd Quarter
PH-Paguia, 1 yard run; McQuay kick
PH-Craig, 17 yard pass from DeBaugh, McQuay kick
PH-Clemons, 30 yard pass from DeBaugh, McQuay kick
3rd Quarter
PH-Craig 43 yard pass from DeBaugh, kick failed
4th Quarter
PH-Ruthke, safety
