Facing a win-and-in playoff situation for their first postseason berth in 14 years, the Durant Lions struggled offensively and defense had its back to the wall much of the night in a 38-8 Bishop Kelley victory that advanced the Comets to the Class 5A playoffs.
The Lions, who finished the season with a 4-6 record, amazingly won the turnover battle 4-0 but only had a 23-yard fumble return score from Bear Bell to show for it as Kelley controlled the ball and clock most of the contest while racking up a whopping 360 yards on the ground.
Durant managed just 24 yards on its first four possessions while the Kelley offense scored on each of its series during that span while building a commanding 24-0 advantage that proved too much to overcome.
It was Aiden Polk that gave the offense a spark with an 18-yard run and Cole Robbins added a pair of completions and 10-yard burst over the next three plays to advance the Lions to the Kelley 24. The drive stalled however with four consecutive incompletions.
Bell got the ball right back for Durant on the very next play with an interception at the Comet 32 with 1:08 remaining in the half.
A pair of fourth down conversions moved the ball to the Kelley 2 but a Robbins sneak on the final play of the second period netted just one yard and kept the Lions off the board.
Eight straight rushes by Kelley to open the third stanza found paydirt again as the hosts marched 69 yards to push the margin to 31-0.
Kacin Mazey’s fumble recovery thwarted the next Comet possession and Axel Thurman forced another Kelley fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter that Bell cashed in for points. Mazey threw to Robbins on the following two-point conversion try. The Lions caught another break when Shajen Davis recovered the ensuing onside kick but after a 14yard strike from Robbins to Holdan Robinson they gave it right back on downs.
Kelley pounded that one in for a 27-yard touchdown run.
Durant came up with its fourth turnover on the next Comet possession on a Cleveland Williamson fumble recovery at the Durant 8 in the waning minutes.
The Lions then picked up 71 yards on six runs before time ran out.
Kelley ended with a 397 to 257 edge in total yardage for the game and scored on six of its 10 possessions.
Stephen Manhard tallied 47 yards on 14 rushes in his final DHS game while Robbins carried for 38 yards and threw for 112 on 11 of 29 through the air. Robinson snagged a pair of passes for 30 yards while Polk ended with two for 60.
Britton Trotter contributed 42 ground yards on three attempts.
