By: Michael Bohm
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO– Cleveland Heights Tigers’ quarterback Josh Harris had his very first pass picked off by Kenneth Wilkins on Friday night.
Wilkins reached up and, remarkably, yanked the ball out of the sky with one arm and took off down the field into the end zone, juking passed defenders to put the Bedford Bearcats ahead 8-0. As far as the first half went, this was no indication of what was to come. But, it was perhaps an omen of the monumental collapse put forth by the Tigers of Cleveland Heights, who fell to the Bearcats, 48-42.
Following the 8-0 deficit, Harris would cap off the next two Tiger drives with one-yard sneaks up the gut to take a 14-0 lead. Both scores occurred on fourth down, and would mark the start of an offensive explosion for Cleveland Heights.
Not long into the second quarter, Harris connected with Lamaro Smith Jr. on a beautiful 33-yard pass over the shoulder to put the Tigers ahead, 21-8.
After yet another defensive stop by Heights, Harris found heralded high school sensation Tyreke Smith wide open in the back of the end zone on the run for an 18-yard touchdown. Tyreke Smith made plays on both ends, forcing constant pressure on opposing Bearcats quarterback Emmanuel Jenkins and holding him to only five completions on 17 attempts. Tyreke would also receive a throw across the middle from Harris and proceed to carry two defenders on his back for over 20 yards, diving into the end zone for an absolutely insane 41-yard score.
Prior to Smith’s second touchdown, Wilkins took the first play of Bedford’s drive to the house for 47 yards after an impressive kickoff return. The two TDs would leave the game’s score at 35-14 with the Tigers firmly in control and still not slowing down. Receiver Grayson Green executed a back shoulder catch flawlessly as he hauled in the five-yard throw to go up 42-14.
Six seconds remained in the half, and the scoring still did not cease. Bedford’s Deangelo Howard took the ensuing kickoff 81 yards using his immense speed and elusiveness to escape defenders’ grasps and decrease the deficit to 42-20.
The Bearcats deferred the opening kickoff, so they would receive the kick to begin the second half, and Howard was able to again return the boot for the score, this time going for 75 yards to bring Bedford within two possessions at 42-26.
Up to this point, the Bearcats had scored every point on one-play possessions, turnovers, and kickoff returns. In their next opportunity with the ball, the Bearcats drove down the field for yet another score, their first within the red zone, finished off by an eight-yard Wilkins run and a two-point conversion thanks to the toss by Wilkins on the running back pass trick play. Bedford had pulled to within eight, at 42-34.
After several stalled series to wrap up the third quarter, Wilkins would take the game into his own hands. From five yards out, he would again reach the end zone to tie the game up at 42 apiece.
The Tigers were halted and forced to punt on consecutive drives after having not punted for the entire first half. On Bedford’s third down from the Tigers’ 20, Tyreke Smith failed to hang on to a should-be interception.
The very next play, Wilkins took a fourth down carry and broke out of two Tiger tackler swarms to score once more and reclaim the lead for the first time since early in the opening quarter. Wilkins’ 138 yards and four touchdowns on just 16 carries were actually less than his season averages, but he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the season and also forced a crucial fumble late to earn his team great field position on a previously mentioned scoring drive.
The combination of Wilkins plus the incredible special teams success were the catalysts of the inconceivable comeback to continue an unbelievable season.
Bedford, now at 6-1, looks to continue their Cinderella season against Shaw next week. Meanwhile, Cleveland Heights falls to 1-6 and looks to build from their electric first half on Friday night as they travel to Warrensville Heights.
Player of the Game: Kenneth Wilkins – 16 Car, 138 yds, 4 TD; INT TD, Forced Fumble, 5.5 Tkl (1 for loss)
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