WORTON — Kent County senior Jonah Somerville piled up more total yardage than Washington as a team in last week’s homecoming victory, thanks to a pair of touchdown receptions of 40-plus yards and a pick 6 — all in the opening 26 minutes.
The final score was 26-0.
The Trojans (2-5) halted a run of four lopsided losses in a row.
“I think that they were so tired of getting beat up that they told themselves, ‘I’ve had enough. Let me step up and see what I can do,'” Kent County head coach Harold Somerville told The Evening Enterprise about the Oct. 17 game.
“They were ready,” coach Somerville added. “It had been a half-day of school and they were going to be off the next day [because it was the state teachers’ convention], and it was homecoming.”
The Trojans scored on their initial possession, a drive that started near midfield due to a poorly executed onside kickoff. They moved the chains to the Washington 25 after quarterback Dwan Harris connected with Tyrell Fennell on third-and-long.
A pass interference penalty on fourth-and-4 put the sticks at the Washington 10.
After two incomplete passes, Harris scampered to the 1. He scored on the next play on a quarterback keeper right up the middle with six minutes to play in the first frame.
On the try for two, Harris was tackled behind the line of scrimmage.
But the 6-0 lead was all that would be needed on this night.
It was a cool, crisp evening with a full moon rising above the scoreboard — ideal conditions for a Thursday night under the lights game.
The Trojans fumbled away the ball on their second drive when Harris was sacked, but they made good the next time.
Kent started on its 47 following a Washington punt that shanked to the right and out of bounds.
There were penalties, more than one on both teams, before Harris found Jonah Somerville sprinting down the sideline in front of the Kent County bench for a catch-and-run of 44 yards into the end zone with 2:46 remaining in the half.
Again the try for two failed when Washington broke up Harris’ pass intended for JySir Valentine.
The Jaguars (0-8) continued to struggle offensively and went three and out on their ensuing possession.
Kent County squeezed in one more drive before halftime, starting on its 23-yard-line after a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on the punt return.
With 32 seconds to go, Jonah Somerville slipped behind the Washington defense and hauled in a 48-yard scoring strike from Harris to extend the spread to 18-0.
Following a longer-than-usual halftime, which included a performance by the high school’s Brigade of Blue marching band and crowning of the homecoming king and queen, the Trojans put eight more points on the board with only 1 minute, 16 seconds elapsed in the third quarter. Jonah Somerville returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown and Harris hooked up with Dylan Hurtt for the 2-point conversion.
Harris was protected up front by center Taeshaun Demby and linemen Andrew Fennell, Wesley Townsend, Wyatt Toulson, Shakur Wilson and Hunter Hawn.
The running game was led by Scottie Ford, Tyrell Fennell and Kalief Roberts.
NOTE: Kent County wraps up its home schedule tonight (Friday, Oct. 25) against Colonel Richardson (4-3). It’s Senior Night so before the 6 p.m. kickoff, senior football players, cheerleaders, Brigade of Blue musicians and members of the color guard will be honored.
The regular-season finale is Friday, Nov. 1 at Snow Hill.