Kinkaid Game

The St. John's Mavericks headed to Rice Stadium for the annual showdown with the Kinkaid Falcons. Both teams had one conference loss and the stakes were high with the winner earning a spot in the SPC championship game. The Mavericks received the opening kickoff and wasted no time with Caldwell Flores breaking free on the fourth play from scrimmage covering 69 yards on a run for the first score of the game while Dan Tweardy tacked on the extra point and the Mavs led 7-0. The Falcons answered back though going 73 yards in just 5 plays only to have the extra point kick go wide and the Mavericks still on top 7-6. The next SJS series was not as productive and the Mavs were forced to punt. Kinkaid was able to go on top with a big 44 yard pass play that set up a one yard run for their second score to take a 13-7 lead. After a 14 yard kick return from Ben Griffin SJS put together a 15 play drive but had to settle for a Tweardy 27 yard field goal when facing fourth and goal from the 10 which cut the lead to 10-13. Again Kinkaid made good on their next drive with a big play. Facing a fourth and 12 at the SJS 25 the falcons were able to connect on a 17 yard pass to keep the drive alive scoring on the next play from 8 yards out to increase their lead 20-10. The Mavericks came back with a big play of their own when Josh Winslow pitched the ball to Dan Tweardy who hit Tim Otey on a 68 yard pass for a touchdown. The Mavs then missed an extra point pass but the lead was now cut to 16-20. On the ensueing kickoff by Tweardy the Falcons were able to get good field positon with a 36 yard return to midfield. In just two plays Kinkaid found the endzone again to jump out to a 27-16 lead going into halftime. The second half started with Kinkaid receiving the kickoff and the Mav defense holding them to a three and out. Ben Griffin then returned the punt 17 yards and the Mavricks found themselves with good field position on the Kinkaid 47. The offense then went to work covering the distance with Stephen Firestone, Josh Winslow and Caldwell Flores running the ball. Flores finished the drive with an 8 yard scamper capturing the momentum and cutting the Kinkaid lead to 23-27. After two back and forth possessions the Falcons mustered up another score. Again facing a fourth down and 7 this time at the SJS twenty the Falcons were able to thread the needle with a perfect pass in the endzone and with 9:29 left in the fourth quarter the Mavericks found themselves trailing 23-34. On the next two SJS possessions the Mavericks gave themselves a chance but could not convert on a fourth and goal at the 15 and a fourth and 10 from the 39 on the last drive. Kinkaid then took over and was able to run the clock out for the upset.