CLACKAMAS -- Richard Kennewell said his left foot was down when he caught the ball. Video evidence seemed to indicate otherwise.
Regardless, in a hotly disputed finish Friday night, Kennewell’s 10-yard touchdown catch with 22 seconds left stood as the go-ahead points as No. 2 Clackamas rallied from a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit to beat No. 1 Lake Oswego 49-39.
The 6A football nonleague showdown became a showcase for the 6-foot-3, 180-pound junior receiver, who made several mind-bending plays in finishing with eight catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns. He made two sensational – albeit controversial – catches on the final drive as the Cavaliers (4-0) overtook the Lakers (3-1).
“That’s a Division I wide receiver right there,” Clackamas senior linebacker Justice Pagan said of Kennewell. “That’s the greatest two catches I’ve ever seen in my life. He comes in clutch when we need him.”
Kennewell was in a daze as he tried to put his night into perspective.
“I knew I was going to start to get noticed, but I didn’t think I’d have a breakout game like this,” Kennewell said. “Those last two catches were pretty crazy for me. I’m still … I’m confused.”
Clackamas junior quarterback Caleb Jordan marveled at Kennewell.
“I know he’s going to go up and get it every time I put it up in the air,” Jordan said.
Kennewell already had made two acrobatic catches in the game – a 48-yard touchdown on a jump ball in the second quarter and a 47-yarder that he tipped to himself in the third quarter – before his performance rose to near mythical proportions on the team’s final drive.
Reigning state champion Clackamas trailed 39-36 with 52 seconds left when it took over at its own 39-yard line.
First, Kennewell hauled in a 36-yard pass from Jordan to the Lake Oswego 10, reaching around a defender while falling back over the right sideline. Two plays later, he got behind Lakers senior Matthew Sebolsky in the right corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown with 22 seconds on the clock.
The Lakers argued that both catches were out of bounds. On the touchdown, a replay from a broadcast crew and an on-field video appeared to show that Kennewell landed out of bounds on his right foot after making the catch. But Kennewell said the catch was legit.
“I knew my left foot was in,” Kennewell said. “I went up and I saw it come down.”
Down 43-39, the Lakers had one last chance to answer. But Clackamas junior Garrison Tooke intercepted a pass by Lake Oswego senior Jackson Laurent and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown as time expired.
It was a crushing loss for the Lakers, who outgained Clackamas 505-406.
“I’m just disappointed for the kids,” Lake Oswego coach Steve Coury said. “It’s just a shame it had to be a game like that, in my opinion. … Like I told my kids, they made plays and we didn’t in the end. But it’s just tough to leave the field, feeling like I’m feeling.”
Said Lakers junior receiver Casey Filkins: “We’ll just use it as fuel. It’ll only be a good learning experience for us.”
The Cavaliers, who entered allowing a 6A-low 28 points, struggled to contain Lake Oswego’s diverse attack. Laurent completed 17 of 33 passes for 293 yards, including touchdowns to juniors Filkins (four catches, 101 yards) and Thomas Dukart (five catches, 101 yards). Senior Collin Bracken rushed for 141 yards on 11 carries before leaving with an ankle injury late in the third quarter.
“We knew they had a lot of good skill players, and they were going to make some plays, but we couldn’t let it get the best of us,” Clackamas senior linebacker Jake Bushman said. “We couldn’t blame each other. That’s what’s so special about our defense is we stay together the whole time.”
The Cavaliers opened a 28-20 lead when senior Jailen Hammer scored on a three-yard run to open the third quarter. But the Lakers scored the next 19 points to lead 39-28, getting a 64-yard touchdown catch from Filkins and scoring runs of nine and three yards by senior Keenan DeRaeve, who replaced Bracken.
Clackamas got within 39-36 with 3:14 left when senior Nemo Dedmon caught a four-yard touchdown pass from junior Austin Atkenson and added a two-point conversion run.
Lake Oswego was in position to seal the win, but the Cavaliers’ defense held on third-and-one at the Laker 36 with 1:30 to go. Facing fourth-and-one, the Lakers opted to punt rather than go for a potential clinching first down.
“We were talking about it, kind of debating it,” Coury said of his decision. “But they have a good field-goal kicker, so we punted it. I think we did the right thing.”
Kennewell and the Cavaliers capitalized on their final chance, much like they did in coming from behind to beat South Medford in the 6A championship game last year.
“We never give up. We never quit,” Kennewell said. “We’re never going to quit.”
Clackamas struggled to run against the Lakers, but Jordan and Atkenson combined to pass for 313 yards. Atkeson was 8 of 13 for 151 yards and Jordan was 7 of 11 for 162 yards.
