WORTON — The broad smile on Paul Tue’s face as he feigned running from the ceremonial Gatorade dunk said more than any sound bite could have.
Kent County’s second-year head football coach was soaking in every drop of the lemon-lime flavored sports drink, and loving it.
Tue had just picked up his first coaching victory at the high school level, a 64-0 rout of visiting North East-Cecil on Friday night, Sept. 18, while KCHS won for the first time in nearly two years — since the 26-0 shutout of Washington on Homecoming 2024.
“It’s incredible,” Tue said when asked how it felt to get the milestone first win under his belt.
“Now, I’m greedy,” he said. “I want to get another one.”
In avenging last year’s 34-14 loss at North East, the Trojans scored on the game’s opening drive and absolutely dominated throughout. They marched 80 yards on three plays, culminating with sophomore Romelo “Melo” Wilson’s 40-yard catch and run into the end zone with only 1 minute, 35 seconds elapsed.
Back-to-back first down passes from senior QB Dwan Harris to Wilson and Dylan Hurtt set up the first of Wilson’s two rushing touchdowns.
Harris’ 2-point conversion pass to classmate Thomas Moore gave the Trojans an instant 8-0 lead.
North East [0-3] fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and sophomore Alijah Floyd came up with the loose ball to set up Kent County’s second TD — Harris’ 23-yard
strike up the middle to Hurtt.
Harris found sophomore Landen Gross for the PAT pass to extend the spread to 16-0 less than two minutes into the opening quarter.
Any doubt as to the outcome of this game was quashed soon after when North East was forced to punt after going three-and-out and KCHS scored on its next possession when Wilson, on the first snap from scrimmage, outran everyone 47 yards into the end zone.
By the end of the 12-minute first quarter, which lasted more than an hour due mostly to penalties, Wilson had scored four touchdowns — including a 33-yard punt return and a pick six for 95 yards — and the Trojans had built an insurmountable 36-0 lead.
The spread at halftime was 58-0.
By that time, KCHS had cleared its bench.
Paul “Bang” Tue IV took over the quarterback duties in the second half, with a directive from the coaching staff to work the play clock down to 5 seconds before each snap.
The only score after intermission was Floyd’s rushing touchdown with 3:47 remaining in the third quarter. He finished with 47 yards on five carries.
Wilson [109 yards on two carries, 65 yards on two receptions] had five touchdowns and 300-plus all-purpose yards.
Harris and “Bang” Tue were collectively 6-of-6 in the air. Harris completed five passes for 154 yards and three TDs.
Hurtt had three receptions for 89 yards and two scores.
In an interview with The Evening Enterprise, coach Paul Tue emphasized that this was a team victory.
“Everybody did their job,” he said.
The offensive line of Finn Dierker, Karter Moody, center Tae’Shaun Demby, NaCaden Outland and Chiedozie “Dozie” Orakpu provided some clean pockets for Harris, while the defense — what Tue described as a “punishing group effort” — got solid play from the linebackers and the secondary of Adren Walker and TJ Wright.
Outland led with four tackles, including one for a loss, and a fumble recovery.
Floyd and Walker also had four tackles apiece.
Wilson, Gross, Wright and Jordan Turner-Henry each had two or more tackles.
North East was held to 34 rushing yards on seven carries and 91 yards in the air on nine [of 29] completions.
While encouraged by how KCHS played, Tue acknowledged that this is “very much one game at a time.”
“We’re not back,” he said in referencing the Trojans’ storied program, “but we’re building.”
The Trojans are 1-1 heading to Monday afternoon’s game at Nandua, Virginia; the game was pushed back from today [Sept. 25] because of weather-related school closings in Accomack County.
The next home game is Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 3 against Queen Anne’s. Kickoff will be at 11 a.m.
