Keller Central prevails after Keller conversion fails

By Eric Liles

Special to the Star-Telegram

KELLER -- Keller made a dramatic drive in the final minutes of play only to come up short on a failed extra-point attempt with 43 seconds to play as Keller Central held on to a 14-13 victory in District 4-5A on Friday night.

Keller (0-5, 0-2) started its final drive on its own 37-yard line with 2:01 left in the game.

After three incomplete passes, Gabe Martinez found Cameron Martin for a 15-yard completion to keep the drive moving. From the Central 24, Martinez lofted a high pass that Martin took from the defender to set up the Indians on the Central 2.

Dalton Mills ran in for a 2-yard touchdown on the next play to bring the Indians within a point. The conversion attempt to tie the game failed after a bobbled snap allowed the Chargers to tackle the holder for a loss. Central recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Keller Central (3-2, 1-1) marched 69 yards in 11 plays on its opening drive. Jake McClurg's 35-yard completion to Cody Burd set up Central at the Keller 24. Three plays later, McClurg ran 11 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring.

Keller answered with its own long scoring drive on the following series. With the Indians starting at their own 25, Mills broke a run for 37 yards to move Keller into Central territory. Mills finished the drive with a 10-yard run to tie the score at 7-7 with 2:22 remaining in the first quarter. The game remained tied at halftime.

The Chargers jumped out in front midway through the third quarter. On fourth-and-2 at the Keller 40, Central's Corey Beahm extended the ball over the 38-yard line for a 2-yard gain. McClurg found Burd wide open over the middle on the next play for a 38-yard touchdown pass.

Mills finished as the game's leading rusher with 162 yards on 28 carries. Martin led all receivers with 11 catches yards for 119 yards. Burd led Central with 118 yards receiving on five catches.

Looking for comments?