Klein Oak Field was a flurry of excitement on this breezy September evening as the Klein Oak JV Black Football team soundly defeated arch rival Klein Collins 40-22.   A solid offensive performance, combined with some excellent strategic moves on defense and spectacular special teams play contributed to the victory.

The game started with Alex Mirenda returning the opening kickoff 21 yards to the Oak 40 yard line where the Panthers began their offensive attack.  Quarterback Wes Theiss led the team downfield on a balanced scoring drive culminated by a Chase Thomas 5 yard touchdown run with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter.  A Theiss to Justin Besier pass was successful for two point conversion using the first of four successful different versions of the swinging gate play.  The 8 – 0 deficit didn’t discourage the Collins Tigers however who scored on their first two possessions with sustained drives utilizing a solid running game with an occasional pass mixed in.  The first quarter ended with the Tigers leading the Oak Panthers 16 – 8.  The JV Black Coaching staff appeared to make some defensive adjustments after the second Collins touchdown by employing a more aggressive blitzing attack.  This strategy completely changed the tone of the game as Klein Oak began disrupting the Collins offense with many tackles for losses throughout the remainder of the game.  With 45 seconds left in the first half, Scott Arthur scored on a 5 yd, 4^th down scamper.  Theiss converted the 2 pt conversion via the ground again on the swinging gate play.  The drive that evened the score at 16 – 16 was set up by the first of several excellent special teams plays by Oak.  Cameron Kilpatrick made a heads up 40 yd return of a Collins punt down the left sideline to the 5 yard line.  His return was aided by a pancake block along the sideline by Mike Rayburn.  These exciting plays had the Panthers emotions running high at halftime. 

Klein Oak’s first score and conversion in the second half occurred with 3:22 remaining in the 3^rd quarter.  Rayburn raced several Collins players to recover a bad snap on a Collins punt play into the Tigers end zone and recovered the ball for the score.  Theiss passed to Kilpatrick for another 2 pt conversion.  After a David Lemon fumble recover on the ensuing kickoff, the Panther offense would drive down field utilizing fine running by Thomas behind an offensive line led by Tyler Condiff, Casey Baltzell, and Greg Neal, and a 25 yard catch and run by Rayburn.  A Thomas TD run and Theiss running conversion with 27 seconds left in the quarter would make the score 32 – 16 to end the third quarter.  Collins employed the hurry up offense to score their third touchdown of the game with 3:50 remaining, but the Panther defense would stop their conversion try to leave the score at 32 – 22.  Later in the quarter, after a 47 yd coffin corner punt by Theiss and a Colton Morgan interception, Thomas scored his third TD on a 10 yd run, and would also convert the two point conversion with a run up the middle.  This would be the end of the scoring making the final tally Oak 40 – Collins 22.  Offensive statistical leaders for the game were as follows:  Thomas (68 yds on 18 carries, 3 TD’s), Theiss (20 yds, 7 carries, 8-13 passing, 88 yds, 4 conversions, 2 pass, 2 run), Arthur (12 yds, 3 carries, TD), Rayburn (5 receptions, 61 yds, TD), and Justin Sisson (1 reception, 27 yds).    

Defensively, once the Panthers began blitzing and constantly changing up the look of the defense, the Klein Collins offense ended up dazed and confused.  Various Panther players including Logan Studdert, Lee Bell, Mirenda, Rafeon Stots, Kilpatrick, Justin Sisson, Morgan, and Eric Cables recorded tackles and sacks in the Klein Collins backfield.  Interceptions by Morgan and Kilpatrick were key plays in the game.  The aggressive defensive effort also led to several Collins false start and delay of game penalties.  Defensive statistical leaders were as follows:  Bell (6 tackles), Mirenda (5 tackles), Rayburn (5 tackles, Fumble recovery), Morgan and Kilpatrick (4 tackles, 1 int each), Sisson, Besier, Stots, Ernesto Villanueva, and Studdert (4 tackles each). 

This strong performance over one of our local rivals should be an excellent springboard into the 2005 season.  The Klein Oak JV Black intends on building on this victory next Thursday on the road against Oak Ridge.