Keller shuts out L.D. Bell as Indians have best start to the season since 2018
Keller dismantled Hurst L.D. Bell in almost workman-like fashion as the Indians drubbed the Blue Raiders, 34-0, in a non-district football game on Thursday night at Keller ISD Stadium.
It’s the first time that Keller has started a season 3-0 since the 2018 season. The Indians, who are ranked No. 6 in the Fort Worth-area Class 6A rankings, began that season 5-1 and finished 8-3.
The Keller defense, led by middle linebacker Grant Simpson and defensive back Zac O’Day (No. 38 in the Star-Telegram Top 100 players), was dominant forcing Bell to punt on 10 of its 11 possessions in the game. The other possession ended in an interception by Simpson.
O’Day came into the game second in the Fort Worth-area with 30 tackles this season.
The Blue Raiders (0-3) picked up four first downs through the first two quarters with three coming on penalties by the Indians. Bell had six first downs and 77 total yards in the game compared to 31 first downs and 471 total yards for Keller.
It took Keller a possession to get going, but after the defense forced a punt at the Bell 13-yard line, Cade Whitmire returned it to the Blue Raiders’ 34 and the Indians got rolling.
It took nine plays, six on runs by Austin Coleman (No. 75 in the Top 100), capped by a 1-yard jet sweep toss from quarterback Tre Guerra to Whitmire to give Keller a 7-0 lead with 4:47 left in the first quarter. Coleman led all rushers with 145 yards on 23 carries.
Guerra capped another long drive with an 8-yard scoring pass to Amarion Henry with 6:19 left in the second quarter. Coleman made it 20-0 with a 3-yard TD run with 2:54 left before intermission.
The second half mirrored the first half as the Blue Raiders punted the ball while Keller controlled the ball, clock and scoreboard.
L.D. Bell’s lone spark came early in the third quarter when Gabriel Lugo-Matos recovered a Keller fumble at the Indians’ 40. But four plays later, Simpson picked off a Blue Raider pass at the 31 and returned it 45 yards to the Bell 24.
Following a 19-yard scoring run by backup running back Jackson Kraatz that gave Keller a 27-0 lead with 5:15 left in the third quarter, the Indians started substituting liberally on both sides of the ball.
Jayden Hart capped the scoring for the Indians with a 2-yard run with 9:05 left in the game. Simpson even took a turn at quarterback on Keller’s final possession.
Guerra played well completing 17 of 26 passes for 190 yards and the two scores, and added 27 yards rushing on six carries. His favorite target was Henry, who caught seven passes for 75 yards. Kraatz gained 48 yards on three carries and Hart picked up 42 yards on seven totes in backup roles.
Emmanuel Oluwasile led Bell with 42 yards rushing on 11 carries. The Blue Raiders had 54 rushing yards on 26 carries and were 6 of 19 passing for 23 yards.
This story was originally published September 9, 2021 at 9:58 PM.