Phenomenal Falcon
Keller sparkles in Connellsville’s 28-14 win at LH
Connellsville and Laurel Highlands were stuck in a scoreless battle midway through the second quarter with each team looking for a spark.
That’s when Linkon Keller stepped into the spotlight.
Keller returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown to give Connellsville the lead and added three more scores during an outstanding all-around performance that sparked the Falcons to a 28-14 victory in a non-conference football clash at Mustang Field on Friday night.
Keller pulled in touchdown passes of 86 and 5 yards from Jeffrey Nicholson in the third quarter and added a 1-yard TD plunge early in the fourth to help Connellsville build a commanding 28-0 advantage.
The Mustangs scored twice in the closing minutes but it was too little too late.
“I’ve got to give credit again to No. 11,” Falcons coach Jace McClean said of Keller. “He’s a special player, both sides of the ball. He was all over the field. I can’t say enough about that kid. He’s one of a kind. Wherever he plays next year, they’re going to love him.
“I’m going to maybe petition to get him back a fifth year in high school,” McClean added with a chuckle. “We’ll see how that works. He had a heck of a game.”
Keller accounted for 159 of the Falcons’ 225 total yards with 11 carries for 62 yards and five receptions for 97 yards.
Connellsville successfully rebounded from an agonizing 33-28 at Albert Gallatin last week to up its record to 2-1.
Laurel Highlands falls to 0-3.
Mustang coach Ian Edenfield was well aware of Keller going into the game.
“That’s the one player we focused on all week is 11,” Edenfield said. “He’s a good player. I told him that after the game. He was excellent. He was hard to tackle. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical.”
The Mustangs corralled Keller in the opening quarter, limiting him to 5 yards on three carries as both defenses dominated early on but he would play a key role in setting up the game’s first score in the second quarter.
The Falcons notched a pair of first downs before stalling and Keller’s 34-yard punt pinned Laurel Highlands at its own 5-yard line.
Mustang quarterback Gabe Centofanti ran for 8 yards but Connellsville’s Tanner Johnson dropped Nick Crouch for a 1-yard loss at the LH 13. On third and 3, Centofanti attempted an out pass to Wyatt Mahoney but Keller read the play, stepped in front of the throw and took it back 14 yards down the sideline for the touchdown.
Keller then reached up to snag a high snap on the extra point and got the ball down for Tucker Beaman to kick it through the uprights for a 7-0 lead.
“He made a great play,” Edenfield admitted.
“We had them pinned back pretty deep,” McClean said. “Linkon read an undercut and he did exactly that.
“He watches film all the time so he knows where to be, and he’s always at the right place at the right time. I can’t say enough about him.”
It was Connellsville’s second interception of the quarter. Jeremy Jenkins picked off a long fourth-down pass at the Falcon 24 to end LH’s previous drive.
Braden Fowler gave the Mustangs some life with a 43-yard return into Connellsville territory on the ensuing kickoff. The Falcons’ defense stiffened after allowing a 13-yard run by Crouch and stopped LH on downs.
Laurel Highlands’ defense opened the third quarter by throwing Jenkins for a 6-yard loss back at the Falcon 14. That only set the stage for the longest play of the night.
On second down, Nicholson tossed a screen pass to Keller who broke free and raced 86 yards down the right sideline and suddenly the visitors were up 14-0.
“When that happened I could kind of sense everything kind of going downhill,” Edenfield said. “We finally regrouped in the fourth quarter but it was too late then.”
The Mustangs got one first down before their next drive fizzled out and punter Jackson Nairn took off running after having to collect a high snap and was dropped well short of a first down at the LH 32.
Keller rambled 27 yards to the 5, then made a leaping catch of Nicholson’s pass in the corner of the end zone on the next play, just getting his foot down inbounds for the touchdown and a 21-0 advantage.
Connellsville followed that with a 10-play, 73-yard drive, capped by Keller’s 1-yard touchdown plunge on the second play of the fourth quarter to make it 28-0. Nicholson completed all four of his passes for 38 yards during the drive.
Nicholson connected on 10 of 13 throws for 143 yards and two touchdowns during the game, including a 7-for-7 performance in the second half for 132 yards.
McClean commended Nicholson.
“Jeffrey’s got a lot on his plate,” said an emotional McClean after the game. “His mom is going through a rough time right now. She’s battling cancer. Jeffrey tries to show up every day at practice with a positive attitude. He’s only a sophomore but to do what he’s doing, it means the world to us, to the team. The kids know that.
“He stepped up tonight. I told him be a game manager and that’s what he did today. He’s doing a heck of a job. Hat’s off to him and to his family.”
Nicholson completed passes to five different receivers, including two to Rocco Farrell for 27 yards.
Down 28-0, the Mustangs got a spark from Easton VanMeter in the fourth quarter.
VanMeter’s 66-yard run set up a 9-yard touchdown pass by Centofanti to Mark Reed with Nairn’s extra point making it 28-7 with 4:20 remaining.
After forcing a three-and-out, Laurel Highlands scored again on VanMeter’s 47-yard run with 1:44 left.
Nairn’s onside kick was recovered by the Falcons’ Phoenyx Nicholson and Connellsville ran out the clock from there.
Edenfield lauded VanMeter and Reed.
“In the fourth quarter we played how we should play.” Edenfield said. “I was just trying to establish some sort of run game and we started to do that in the fourth quarter. Easton went in and ran hard. Nick’s a little banged up so we’ve got to get him back healthy. That’s why I put in Easton. Fresh body, fresh legs.
“And Mark, there’s a reason he’s our captain. He’s really learned how to be a good leader. Him and Coach (Cedric) Lloyd are really tight. If he has any questions he’s always asking. He makes everyone right on the defensive side of the ball. I was happy that he got to get in there on offense and got a score.”
VanMeter wound up with five carries for 121 yards.
Laurel Highlands had just 194 total yards and seven first downs and was hurt by eight penalties for 72 yards.
“The defense stepped up,” McClean said. “We played downhill. They played as a team today.”
The Mustangs’ defense gave up only 225 total yards and 11 first downs despite coughing up 21 points.
Edenfield shouldered some of the blame for his offense’s woes.
“We’re going to simplify some stuff for next week,” he said. “I may have put a little too much in, one too many plays. I’ll learn from it.
“I tell them after every game I’ll be back Monday ready to work. I’m hoping they keep doing the same.”