TURTLE CREEK, Pa. — With two teams separated by state lines and over 100 miles, the inaugural KDKA Kickoff Classic at the Wolvarena started off with its own classic contest.
The Uniontown Lake (Ohio) Blue Streaks and the WPIAL Class 4A runner-up McKeesport Tigers took two overtimes to decide an eventual winner, but it was a risky two-point conversion that lifted the crew from out of town to a 36-35 victory.
A game fueled by the ground game took its turn with less than two minutes in regulation as Lake blocked and recovered a punt in the end zone, setting up overtime action.
With both teams trading blows, Uniontown Lake opted to defer in double overtime. After its sophomore quarterback Ty DeGeorge scored from three yards out, the Blue Streaks chose to gamble and attempt the two-point conversion. DeGeorge got the call again and stretched across the plane as it sent his sideline and visiting crowd into a frenzy.
DeGeorge accounted for seven carries, 41 yards and three touchdowns in the winning effort.
Coming into the contest, Uniontown Lake (1-0) knew it had to deal with the top running back in the Class of 2027 in Kemon Spell. The McKeesport (0-1) sophomore showcased why he is one of the elite recruits in the nation with 84 rush yards and three scores on nine carries.
Spell — a 5-foot-10, 195-pound athlete — highlighted his performance with a mean touchdown run early in the second quarter. After receiving the handoff, the Penn State commit burst through a hole, lowered his shoulder and stayed on his feet as he wheeled down the sideline, adding a stiff arm before scoring the 55-yard run for the first points of the contest.
KEMON SPELL TD!
The sophomore would not be denied as he puts McKeesport on the board with the 55-yd score. pic.twitter.com/9vtEsd6N3m
With the score, McKeesport kept the Blue Streaks in check throughout the first quarter and a half. However, the Lake ground attack found a way to move down the field, including a 32-yard run by senior Charlie Christopher.
Moments later, the drive was capped off with a two-yard quarterback keeper from Ty DeGeorge that evened the score 7-7.
After shutting down the ensuing drive that started with a successful Lake squib kick and recovery, McKeesport engineered its second scoring drive of the evening.
Senior Brady Eastman, who takes over the play-calling duties under center this season for the Tigers, completed a pair of key passes, including a 21-yard toss to senior Valdez Stuvaints to get deep into Lake territory. Then, it was back in the hands of the young superstar as Spell bounced it to the outside for an easy two-yard score to put the Tigers up 14-7 in the second quarter.
Too easy for Kemon Spell.
He scores for two-yards out for his second TD of the day.
As McKeesport’s defense continued to keep Uniontown Lake in check, the Tigers slowly but surely navigated down the field midway through the third quarter. Two lengthy plays on a 14-yard reverse run by Anthony Cromerdie and a 10-yard catch by Stuvaints situated the ‘Port at the three-yard line.
Then, McKeesport’s 1,300-yard bell cow from a year ago, senior Anthony Boyd, punched it in for the Tigers’ third rushing score of the game to extend the lead to 21-7.
As the clock changed to the fourth quarter, Lake was looking for answers and it found some as the Blue Streaks marched down the field, setting up a 12-yard touchdown connection from junior Alex Quior to senior Ethan Hunt.
The Blue Streaks weren’t done as they shut down McKeesport’s offense once again in the fourth. As Uniontown Lake looked to orchestrate another successful drive, DeGeorge fumbled after getting sandwiched in Tigers territory. With the ball on the turf, Spell jumped on it to give McKeesport possession.
With 1:49, Lake needed to pull off some magic as McKeesport punted the ball away. It was senior Korey Darell-Miller who shot the gap to block the punt and recover it in the end zone to tie the game 21-21.
With overtime underway, Uniontown Lake struck first with a one-yard score from DeGeorge. Then it was the Tigers’ top player in Spell that rushed into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown.
Uniontown Lake took a different approach in the second overtime as they deferred. At first, it did not look like a promising decision as Cromerdie took a handoff 10 yards on the first play into the end zone.
The Blue Streaks did not waver, however, as DeGeorge used his feet again for a seven-yard rushing score. The visitors did not want to waste any more time as DeGeorge converted on the two-point try for the victory.
The road does not get easier for McKeesport as a Week 1 matchup awaits the Tigers with the Class 5A reigning champion Peters Township Indians next Friday.
