No. 1 Brantley turns back Keith
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.
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.
“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.