With under a minute to play, sophomore Kezio Snelling stood ready to return the Alonso kickoff. He did, for a touchdown, and carried the Warriors to a 22-21 win with his three touchdowns.
“It was a team effort,” said Snelling, who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns Thursday night. He had never returned a kickoff in a game before.
The Spring Football Jamboree was opened by a half of football played between Gaither and Sickles, Sickles winning 22-14. The Warriors and Ravens were slated for the second half, and Alonso seized the early momentum.
Quarterback Chris Oladokun threw for a score and the Ravens took a 14-0 lead, but the Warriors fought back. They tied the game with just over three minutes to play on a Kezio Snelling touchdown run from 18 yards out, but Oladokun drove Alonso down the field and threw a touchdown to Marcus Mosely, with under a minute to play.
This is where Snelling, the former quarterback, flashed his brilliance. The returned kickoff put the Warriors an extra point away from a tie, but head coach Andres Perez elected to go for two.
“I thought about it for a second. It’s a spring game, win or lose it would’ve left a sour taste in our mouth to leave with a tie,” said Perez. He handed the ball off to current junior Shyheem Barthel, who went around the right side and pushed his way into the endzone for the decisive two point conversion.
The Warriors were 5-5 last season, and lost 27 seniors, so according to Perez, this win builds a good amount of momentum for next season. Their first currently scheduled game will be at Spoto on September 13.
Zealand Shannon/Sports Editor
story sucks. hard to comprehend