Keith remains unbeaten with win over Billingsley

Published 2:05 am Saturday, October 6, 2012

Keith’s Delmuss Irby (10) attempts to elude Billingsley’s Garrett Price during Keith’s 33-6 win over visiting Billingsley. -- Dennis Palmer

ORRVILLE — Walton Young rushed for 59 yards and one touchdown and Maurice Crumpton was 2-for-2 passing for 80 yards and two touchdowns as the ninth-ranked Keith Bears beat visiting Billingsley 33-6 and ran their record to 6-0 for the first time in school history.

“We’re in territory we’ve never been before,” said Keith head coach Harry Crum. “Every step we take, we’re making history.”

Billingsley (3-3, 2-2 Class 1A-Region 3) sputtered on its first possession as fourth string quarterback Torrey Green threw and interception to Keith’s Deanthony Griffin who returned it to the Billingsley 27-yard line. Keith capitalized on the miscue with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Crumpton to Charles Johnson. The PAT failed, giving Keith the lead, 6-0.

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“We had a new quarterback in there this week,” Billingsley head coach Tyson Mclean said. “We lost all three of our first string quarterbacks so we had our fourth string quarterback in there. He had only a couple days practice in that position and never took a snap [in a game] before.”

The rust showed again after Billingsley drove the ball deep into Keith territory when Green threw another interception to Jabari Moore in the end zone for a touchback. Keith took advantage of the mistake quickly as Rodney Ellis took the handoff from Crumpton and raced 76-yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. The PAT by Damarquis Lumpkin was good, giving Keith the 13-0 lead.

“(Ellis) had an incredible counter. He got behind them and they realized they couldn’t catch him,” Crum said. “Watching kids on film is one thing, but when you line up against kids with the quickness and speed we have it’s a different thing.”

The turnover bug bit Billingsley again on their next series when Green had a pass tipped and intercepted by Jareece Bryant who took it 38-yards for a TD. Keith tried a 2-point conversion but failed giving them a 19-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“We just committed too many turnovers early in the game,” Mclean said. “If we don’t give up the 19 early, it’s a 14-6 game. We just need to get a little better.”

Billingsley’s lone touchdown came mid-way through the second quarter as Green raced around right end on a keeper 34 yards for a touchdown. A 2-point conversion failed, cutting the lead to 19-6.

Billingsley would get no closer after Keith scored on a run by Young and a 50-yard bomb from Crumpton to Ricky Jackson to close out the scoring.

“Our kids are doing a really good job and God willing we’ll be able to continue to do it,” Crum said.

Lumpkin led Keith on defense with 14 tackles with Carstella Hayes and Moore each adding 11 tackles.

Billingsley travels to Selma Friday for another key region matchup against Ellwood, while Keith goes on the road to Akron.