It's taken the Kennard-Dale football team a year and a half, but it seems like they have finally mastered the option offense. And with crafty quarterback Duncan Leftridge, speedy running back Jordan Senkbeil and bruising fullback Ethan Hornbarger hitting their respective strides, the Rams are going to be tough for anybody to stop.
The defense has been consistent all year, allowing fewer than 20 points in the last five games. But only recently have the Rams been able to get to the point where they could effectively pitch the ball to the outside and utilize Senkbeil's speed. Plus, Leftridge has the arm strength and the accuracy to come up with big plays through the air.
With all of those elements clicking, Kennard-Dale has created a well-oiled offensive machine that may lead them to the postseason. The fact that they use the option system makes them even more effective, if you believe some area coaches.
First-year Hanover coach Jason Potts discussed the merits of the option offense at length in August, and said he believes at the high school level, a true option football team is the most difficult to stop.
"You have to realize that at any given time, any given play, you're not blocking two of their best athletes," Potts said. "You're reading them. If I can send two to three linemen at the next level of linebackers and not block their two best players, that's efficiency. Along with the option, teams have to sell out to stop it. To stop the run, they have to sell out."
And once teams "sell out" as Potts put it, the offense can look to the air. Leftridge went 6-of-9 last week for 102 yards without an interception. He threw a 24-yard touchdown pass and found Jordan Shenk for an 18-yard gain on a 4th-and-8 during Kennard-Dale's second scoring drive.
Kennard-Dale has now won three in a row after beating undefeated Littlestown 34-13 and should move above .500 on Saturday when they take on Northeastern. Coach Doug Wilkinson, who implemented the system before the 2007 season, said his team has made progress each game.
"Every week," Wilkinson said. " We've gotten better every week. Duncan's gotten better reading the option every week. We're blocking better every week. We're starting to pitch the ball and that's huge. If you make everybody defend all three elements of it, it's tough to stop."
Three is clearly the magic number, and suddenly Kennard-Dale has a legitimate shot at the Division II title.
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