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Powerful ground attack carries Redskins
by SCOTT SHERMAN
Aug 21, 2004 | 121 views | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Jon Reynolds' tenure at Cumberland started off with a bang Friday as the Redskins opened the season with a 56-0 thrashing of Fleming-Neon.

The Redskins scored on their first play and never looked back as the host Pirates hit rough waters to start their final voyage.

The Skins used a balanced running game, with 10 players combining to rack up 237 yards rushing.

"We like to spread it around. We keep telling the kids you will get the opportunity to get the ball," Reynolds noted.

Cumberland's defense stepped up as well, holding the Pirates to only 65 total yards and forcing six fumbles.

After forcing Fleming-Neon to punt to open the game, Cumberland's Drew Allison hooked up with Marty Doyle for a 70-yard strike in the middle of the field on the Skins' first play from scrimmage. Eric Huff added the extra point to give Cumberland a 7-0 lead.

Cumberland went to its ground game in its next series to set up Allison's 24-yard touchdown toss to Kevin McIlquham. Huff's kick put the Skins up 14-0.

Fleming-Neon returned the kickoff to near midfield and appeared to have a momentum boost until McIlquham sacked quarterback Shane Fleming for an eight-yard loss. After forcing the Pirates to punt, Cumberland capped a 49-yard drive with Huff's 2-yard touchdown run as the horn sounded to end the first quarter.

Cumberland's defense came up with a fumble on the Pirates' next possession, and the Skins scored on their third play as Michael Washington leapt over defenders to haul in a 14-yard pass from Allison. The extra point pushed Cumberland's advantage to 28-0 with 9:24 left in the second quarter.

On its next possession, Cumberland took advantage of a face mask penalty, allowing Doyle to scamper 15 yards for the score, but the play was called back by a penalty. After moving the ball to the 2-yard line, the Skins hit paydirt once again on Allison's quarterback keeper up the middle.

Doyle started the second half just as he did the first, scoring as soon as he touched the ball, this time on a 82-yard kickoff return to give Cumberland a six-touchdown lead. The senior running back took advantage of several good blocks as he went virtually untouched into the end zone.

The Skins scored with 7:40 left in the game on a 10-play drive with freshman Jay Feltner scoring his first high school touchdown on a 7-yard run. Huff's seventh kick of the evening gave Cumberland a 49-0 advantage.

After the score, the clock ran continuously due to the KHSAA's mercy rule.

Feltner added the Redskins last score on a 16-yard trap play.

Reynolds said he was pleased with his team's performance.

"I'm happy with these guys. Our offense moved the ball well and our defense was good. We only gave up one first down in the first half," he said.

Neon coach Mark Johnson hopes to see better times as his team plays its final season before consolidation. Fleming-Neon fielded its first team in 1932.

Johnson noted the team's lack of experience and Cumberland's defense as key factors in the loss.

"We are very inexperienced, with only one player returning from last year's season. They also had 10 players in the box, which made it hard for us to move the ball," he said.

"Cumberland looked a lot like a playoff team tonight."

Reynolds said his team has to be ready to battle Cawood next week.

"We have our work cut out for us against Cawood. They are always physical and well-disciplined," he said.

Cumberland will play host to Cawood on Friday. Fleming-Neon will travel to Clay County.
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