Kenton Scouting Report October 30th 2003 By Sportscaster17

   The tale of the 2003 Kenton Wildcats began on a blistering hot day in Coldwater, where the Cats blew a 16-0 lead and lost to the Cavs 19-16 despite allowing just one offensive touchdown to the hosts. Against Lima Bath in week three, Kenton was the victim of questionable officiating, when an inadvertent whistle led to a 28-27 Bath stunner. Leading Defiance 28-7 in week five, the defense had a meltdown, and the Bulldogs left Robinson Field with a 42-41 victory. Three losses. Five points. And a trio of "coulda beens."

  The 2003 edition of KHS football has included a solid running game thanks to the efforts of 5-10 230-pound sophomore Zach Jackson. Secondary and safety-men often have looks of fear in their eyes as the tank wearing #49 rumbles towards them. Of course the Wildcats still throw the ball as much as ever, first on the arm of senior Billy Cozad, but now riding the arm of fellow senior D.J. Underwood. Junior Tommy Pettit leads a corps of talented receivers. Pettit, 5-11 205, was making game-winning catches as a freshman. QB draws, jailbreak and bubble screens along with the occasional home run ball are just a handful of things Bellevue will see Friday night when the two square off in the 2003 Wild Card Playoffs.

  Defensively Kenton is nearly impossible to run on, especially up the middle. Teams that have swept the ball, and mixed in the pass are the teams that have given them the most trouble. Kenton boasts the traditional "bend but don't break" defense, a defense which held five sensational Division IV schools to a combined 59 points in the 2002 post-season.

  Kenton's special teams' efforts have been improving since day one. In fact, it was a field goal in week six versus Wapak that may have turned the Cats' season around. The Wildcats' punter is Underwood, something to keep in mind in a punt fake situation.