Keller continues best start in 54 years with blowout over Central in district opener
The Keller Indians finished their non-district schedule a perfect 4-0 last week, but their next test would be Friday night’s district opener against cross-town rival Keller Central.
During the last five cases Keller went unbeaten in non-district, the Indians dropped their district opener.
Keller had little to worry about against the Chargers.
Keller, which moved up to No. 4 in the Week 5 Star-Telegram Class 6A rankings, defeated Central, 41-7, to begin District 4-6A play and continued its best start since 1967, when it won its first 11 games and finished 11-1.
“The kids played hard and when you play hard, good things happen, and that’s been our blue print,” Keller coach Carl Stralow said. “This is a good bunch. We play defense well, we run the football well, we block and tackle, and when you play real hard, the game comes easy.
“It’s a family environment. We ask them, ‘what are you willing to do for your brother on this team’ and they’re really closer than brothers...it’s a family. They feed off each other and it’s a special group. I’m proud to be coaching them.”
On Friday, Keller (5-0, 1-0 in 4-6A) scored the game’s first 27 points and led 27-0 at intermission. The Indians scored two touchdowns in less than two minutes, first with a one-play scoring drive following a Central punt.
Quarterback Tre Guerra connected with Seth Henry on a 45-yard touchdown with 3:43 left in the first quarter. Then the defense forced a three-and-out and Cade Whitmire took the ensuing punt 53 yards to the house that extended the lead to 13-0 with 2:05 left in the period.
“We do what we do...it’s the Keller offense. The guys are incredible. We have great receivers, linemen and running backs, and we’re all brothers,” Guerra said. “I’m just glad we came out and got some good touchdown plays.”
Again, it took Keller to score a pair of touchdowns in less than two minutes just before halftime.
Guerra threw his 10th TD pass of the season when he found Tre’ Griffiths on a 24-yard toss that made it 20-0 and on Keller’s next possession, Guerra called his own number on a 7-yard scoring run to make it 27-0.
Central (2-3, 0-1) finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when quarterback Kelden Ryan scored on a 28-yard TD run with 7:26 to go on the clock.
Three minutes later and the Indians extended their lead to 34-7 on a 10-yard run by Jackson Kraatz. Keller added another touchdown when Guerra threw a short pass to the outside to Amarion Henry, who turned on the jets and scored 64 yards out that made it 41-7.
Keller running back Austin Coleman led all rushers with 117 yards on 22 carries. Guerra completed 10 of 17 passes for 204 yards and three TDs. Seth Henry and Amarion Henry had 87 and 73 yards receiving, respectively.
Zac O’Day and Ryan Ventura, both among the leading tacklers in the Fort Worth-area, also intercepted Central pass attempts in the second half.
“The coaches come up with a game plan on Monday and we work on it during practice all week. Every week we trust our coaches and teammates, and go out and execute on Fridays,” said O’Day, who registered his third interception of the season. “We have to clean up some stuff, some busted coverages, but we work hard and fly around the ball. We trust each other and it showed on the field.”
Keller will get another test next week, Thursday Sept. 30, when it hosts undefeated Southlake Carroll, the top-ranked Fort Worth-area football team in Class 6A.
“Coming for more. We’re excited and looking forward to it,” Guerra said.
Added Stralow, “I told them to enjoy it...go to Whataburger. When you wake up in the morning, they have until our morning recovery and lift to enjoy it, then it’s on to the next one. That’s a good football program we got signed up next week.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2021 at 9:21 PM.