Sept. 16, 2016 Mt. Angel, OR – Friday Night Lights was out in grand fashion as not only the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest was in full swing but also a battle at the Kennedy High Football Stadium. The Harrisburg Eagles were in town and ready to battle the hometown Kennedy Trojans.
Speaking to fans from both sides, there was a sense that this was going to be a tenacious match-up. And, it was.
It would be the Kennedy Trojans who would put the first points on the board and with 8:44 remaining in the first quarter, the Trojans were up 7-0.
At the end of the first quarter, Kennedy had the ball again and had the goal line within sight. In less than two minutes in the second quarter, the Trojans were on the board again. They missed the point after attempt but now had a 13 point lead over the Eagles.
Harrisburg did not give up and at the 6:28 mark in the second, were on the board and trailing by only seven, 13-6.
With the final seconds in the first half approaching, the Eagles once again were in possession of the ball. A sweet pass to the right corner of the endzone and a successful two-point conversion put Harrisburg up 14-13. Kennedy had only twenty-eight seconds to work some magic and regain the lead before halftime. This did not come to fruition and at the close of the first half, the Eagles were up 14-13 over the Trojans.
The first half of the third quarter belong to the defenses. Harrisburg finally found the endzone. At the 5:39 mark the Eagles had the lead 20-13.
The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by the Trojans and recovered by the Eagles. One play and 14 seconds later Harrisburg scored and increased their lead over Kennedy by fifteen, 28-13.
About a minute later the Trojans scored again and had closed the gap to eight points, 28-20. This is how the third quarter ended.
However, the scoring was not over yet.
With 10:30 on the clock in the fourth quarter, the Trojans would score and bring themselves within two of the Eagles, 28-26.
After the kickoff Harrisburg moved the ball down the field and found the goal line but a penalty negated the score. Then, on a pass play, the Trojans put pressure on the Eagles’ quarterback forcing a bad pass, which was picked off by Kennedy. The interception was returned about 87 yards for, what would be the winning touchdown.
The Trojans picked up a well-earned win over the Eagles, 32-28.
Photos by Craig Lash | STSN
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