No. 1 Brantley turns back Keith
Published 5:47 am Saturday, November 20, 2021
- Daquan Pittman runs with the ball.Photo Credit: Doug Horton/Special to the Luverne Journal
No. 1 Brantley turns back Keith
By James Jones/The Selma Times-Journal
Keith High was in position to upset No. 1 Brantley in their Class 1A State Quarterfinal contest.
Kedrick Brown’s 3-yard touchdown run with 1:20 left in regulation gave the Bulldogs a 20-14 victory on Friday night at J.V. Caldwell Stadium.
The No. 7 Bears finished 11-2 after making the deepest postseason run in school history.
Robert Shines runs with the football.Photo Credit: Doug Horton/Special to the Luverne Journal
Brantley (12-0) converted a fumble at the Bears’ 18-yard-line into Brown’s game-winning points.
“I had to put the team on my back and make a play,” Brown said.
Even after Brown’s touchdown, Keith had a chance to pull off the upset victory.
The Bears reached Brantley’s 25, but Terrell Lumpkin’s pass to Jayln Jones fell a yard short on fourth-and-3 with 16 seconds left. Brantley ran out the clock to preserve a semifinal showdown against Sweet Water.
“We had our chances, we couldn’t get it done,” Keith head coach Anthony Lumpkin said.
Keith bid farewell to its senior class: Marquez Foster, Hermanski Todd, Jamal Voltz, Jamal James, Jayln Jones, Jeremy Bryant, Antiwan Thomas, Cadarrius Moore, Courtavious Lewis, Terrell Lumpkin, Ty’Rel Perry and Quintais Woods.
Kaleb Weed chases Javon Richardson on 90 yard TD catchPhoto Credit: Doug Horton/Special to the Luverne Journal
“We came up a yard short,” Terrell Lumpkin said. “If we get that one yard, we’re still driving and trying to win the game.”
Brantley head coach Roland Jones knew the Bulldogs would get a battle from Keith.
“I told our players that it would be tough, “ Jones said. “Keith has a great team and Anthony Lumpkin has done a great job with them. Terrell Lumpkin is a great player.”
Keith took a 6-0 first quarter lead on Lumpkin’s 90 yard TD pass to Javon Richardson.
Brantley took a 8-6 halftime lead on Tucker Kilcrease’s 35-yard TD pass to Daquan Pittman. Kilcrease added the two-point conversion run.
Brantley extended its lead to 14-6 after three quarters on Kilcrease’s 3-yard TD run.
Keith tied the game at 14-14 on Terrell Lumpkin’s 1-yard TD run midway in the fourth quarter. Jones connected with Jeffrey Cochran on the game-tying two-point conversion.
