Kent Valley Preps

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KW-KR football game Friday should draw big crowd

October 19th, 2009 at Mon, 19th, 2009 at 2:49 pm by Erick Walker

How big is Friday’s football game at French Field between Kentridge and Kentwood?
Well, for Kentwood, it’s clearly the biggest game of the season. The Conquerors will not advance to the postseason if they lose, plain and simple. Kentridge, on the other hand, can afford a loss and still advance thanks to its win over Federal Way several weeks ago.
Expect a big crowd for this one as is generally the case when these two football teams meet. However, considering a little more is riding on this one, I’d expect somewhere around 4,000 people there, so you may want to arrive early for parking purposes. It’s also worth noting that Kentridge has not beaten Kentwood since 2002, a game I distinctly remember as I picked the Chargers to win that one in the South County Journal, 24-21. I was close. Kentridge won 22-20. Despite the loss, Kentwood’s Will Thompson introduced himself to the league in that game in fine fashion, rushing for 135 yards on 10 carries, including a touchdown. After the game I couldn’t help but think if Thompson had gotten the ball more, KW would have won. That said, the Conquerors did just fine for themselves after that night, winning 13 straight, including their second straight state title (35-28 over Capital).
Interestingly, this year’s Kentridge defense reminds me a bit of that 2002 KW defense. The Chargers flat-out don’t allow any yards.
My pick for this one?
I’ll take KW in a low-scoring affair, 17-14. I’ll even take it one step further and say KW kicker Matt Bell, one of the SPSL North’s best at the position, will deliver a 38-yard field goal with 1:13 left in the game to win it.

I’d like to hear some thoughts on this game. Who’s going to win and why?

Erick Walker is the sports writer for the Kent Reporter newspaper. His specific prep sports coverage focuses on Kent-Meridian, Kentridge, Kentlake, Kentwood, Tahoma, Auburn and Auburn Riverside. Walker has been a sports reporter since 1994. Before coming to the Reporter Newspapers, he worked seven years for the King County Journal, where he covered prep football, wrestling and fastpitch along with the Tacoma Rainiers and Seattle Mariners. Walker has been covering sports in the Kent Valley since 2000. Outside of the newspaper industry, Walker is married (Janinne) and has two children (Asher, 10, and Nolan, 4).

More articles by erickwalker >
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  • NOBAMAZILLA

    Dragging up the 2002 KW VS KR GAME; and lamenting about a KW loss, then coaching from the cheap seats on top of that with a “what if they had only gave WT more carries”….this is rich. You pretend there were not at least 10 other players on that team, RB,S RECIEVERS and at least one future Husky QB, who could run, option, pass and punt….WT ? Have not heard of him since then. And on top of all of that talent they still didn't win against the Bolts….hmmmmmm. If Frogs Had Wings……who will win you ask…..if I predict that you are wrong, I think that will suffice. Who will win, the one who practices hardest, prepares hardest, and then performs to all expectations….that will be the winner. When you write about this game in 7 years, make sure you when you lament about 'what if the KW coach' had just done this or that , they would have won…..that you already went to the well in 2009 and found that it was dry……

  • rudymaker

    Nobama… do your homework before you come in and bash Erick. The quarterback for the Kentwood team was Kalen Roy. The future Husky QB you're talking about sounds more like Carl Bonnell. Will Thompson and Carl never played together. Erick is right on the money and is not coaching from the sidelines in his article. Many people wondered why Thompson only had 10 carries… Now looking at this game, Erick is correct Kentridge's defense is pretty nasty! I believe Kentwood is going to have to mix it up if they want to win and tap into a passing game that is uncharacteristic of KW. They have done well through the air this year and if they can mix the pass with the run they could pull out a W. Kentridge's defense needs to keep KW at 3rd and long. It will be a fun one tonight!

  • rudymaker

    Nobama… do your homework before you come in and bash Erick. The quarterback for the Kentwood team was Kalen Roy. The future Husky QB you're talking about sounds more like Carl Bonnell. Will Thompson and Carl never played together. Erick is right on the money and is not coaching from the sidelines in his article. Many people wondered why Thompson only had 10 carries… Now looking at this game, Erick is correct Kentridge's defense is pretty nasty! I believe Kentwood is going to have to mix it up if they want to win and tap into a passing game that is uncharacteristic of KW. They have done well through the air this year and if they can mix the pass with the run they could pull out a W. Kentridge's defense needs to keep KW at 3rd and long. It will be a fun one tonight!

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