The season did not start out well for the Kenmore West football team. It continued that way right up until the second week in October, when the Blue Devils began turning a corner.
After dropping their first five games this fall, Ken West is riding a three-game win streak into tonight’s meeting with Clarence in the Section VI Class AA Bowl Consolation Final. Kickoff is 7 p.m. on the turf field at Depew High School.
Clarence, out of the AA South, was in the same boat as West as they too lost their first five games. The Red Devils closed the regular season winning two out of their last three.
That has West coach Rich Harris thinking that tonight’s game will feature two closely matched teams.
“We’ve gotten hot the second half of the season. We’re starting to play and starting to execute, and you can see the same from them,” Harris said.
Two big things changed for West in the second half of the season. First, sophomore quarterback Marcus Lobdell had more game experience under his belt, and the Blue Devils drastically reduced their turnovers. Ken West was a minus-21 on giveaway/takeaways through its first five games, but has cut that staggering stat down to a minus-11.
Lobdell has blossomed during West’s win streak, and had his biggest game last week, throwing four touchdown passes in a 46-14 win over West Seneca West.
“Marcus has really come on as a sophomore quarterback,” Harris said, adding, “He can run the ball and throw the ball effectively. He’s got a great awareness on the field, and he reads defenses now.”
West also has received strong performances from running backs Warren Hemphill and Martin Bailey, and receivers Zach Bouley and Dan Hannon have been prime targets for Lobdell.
“They’re going to have their hands full,” Harris said of Clarence, while noting that the Red Devils present a challenge of their own. “They’re a tough team to figure out,” he said of the Clarence offense.
Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.
GAME NIGHT
• WHO: Clarence (2-6) vs. Kenmore West (3-5)
• WHAT: Class AA Consolation Bowl Final
• WHEN: 7 tonight
• WHERE: Depew High School, 5201 Transit Road
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DOUG BENZ/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER
October 28, 2009
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