Prep Football: Big plays from Kemp helps CMB top PCM

Sept. 27--BAXTER -- An hour before kickoff, a rainbow arched over Jerry Lee Robinson Field. Whatever lie at the end of that rainbow, any luck that happened under it would have to be self-made.

Collins-Maxwell-Baxter battled through self-inflicted wounds and a powerful PCM rushing attack to stay perfect with a 31-28 victory over the Mustangs on Friday evening.

The Raiders (5-0) turned the ball over three times and committed numerous ill-timed penalties that killed drives, but responded with big plays at key junctures to insure that an early 17-0 lead didn't go to waste despite the gritty showing from PCM (2-3).

"That showed a lot of character," CMB coach Rob Luther said. "We could have folded. We're a better football team than we've been playing. It's tough when you turn the ball over three times to win a football game."

The Raiders, though, had the services of Bryce Kemp and Blake Coughenhour.

The sophomore Coughenhour rushed 26 times for 239 yards while Kemp made two of the biggest plays of the game.

Coughenhour ripped off an 88-yard score in the first half and then was the driving force behind CMB's offense for much of the night.

"He ran great," Luther said. "He ran north-south and ran hard."

An early second-half fumble led to a PCM touchdown four minutes into the second half. It trimmed the CMB lead to 17-14. The Raiders made a little headway on their ensuing drive, but then Luther put Kemp, a tight end/wide receiver, in at quarterback for a wildcat look. Kemp faked a handoff and then sprinted through a huge hole for a 44-yard touchdown.

"My line was outstanding," Kemp said. "They were working their butts off.

"It was like Moses parting the red sea."

PCM, undaunted, rallied with an 80-yard, 13-play drive, capped off by Richard Reeve 19-yard touchdown reception, that pulled it back within a field goal. The drive was powered by running back Ronald Marshall, who finished with 194 rushing yards.

The two teams then traded punts until PCM began to move the ball midway through the fourth quarter. Starting at its 9-yard line, PCM moved the ball 57 yards in five plays until quarterback Logan Gilman dropped back to pass. When he released the pass, CMB's Frank Sposeto got a hand up, tipping the ball into the Kemp's arms. He took the interception 70 yards for the score.

"You don't coach that," Luther said of Kemp's big plays. "He's a freak. You just don't see guys as big as he is and as fast as he is."

But PCM scored again after the interception to keep things interesting, but CMB was having none of it. The Raiders picked up four first downs to run out the final 4 minutes, 8 seconds and preserve their flawless record.

"It's incredible," Kemp said. "Five-and-zero is a great mark. We've got to keep going."

CMB 31, PCM 28

PCM 0 7 14 7 -- 28

CMB 10 7 7 7 -- 31

First quarter

CMB -- Joey Nissan 33 field goal, 8:17

CMB -- Blake Coughenour 88 rush (Nissan kick), 5:10

Second quarter

CMB -- Hunter McWhirter 10 pass from Brady Stover (Nissan kick), 4:11

PCM -- Ronald Marshall 2 rush (Chase Wilkie kick), 1:37

Third quarter

PCM -- Marshall 2 rush (Wilkie kick), 8:23

CMB -- Bryce Kemp 44 rush (Nissan kick), 6:34

PCM -- Richard Reeve 19 pass from Logan Gilman (Wilkie kick), 2:09

Fourth quarter

CMB -- Kemp 70 interception (Nissan kick), 5:25

PCM -- Noah Clark 12 pass from Gilman (Wilkie kick), 4:08

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