The two adages for playing winning football are a tough defense and controlling the game on the ground. Kenston was successful in both areas in their 30-13 dismantling of future Suburban League rival Solon.
Though the two teams will be in separate divisions of the league beginning in 2026, fans were treated to a potential preview of a perennial matchup between the two crosstown foes.
The game got off to a slow start with each team trading ineffective drives. After a 30 yard loss by the Comet punt team though, Kenston capitalized. First-time starter at quarterback Jack Bryner was stuffed on two rushing attempts, but then went to the air, hitting sophomore sensation running back Ethan Burge for the touchdown to put the Bombers up 7-0 after the Grady Kucharson extra point.
The Kenston D stuffed Solon on their second drive which culminated in a fumble recovered by Bomber linebacker Jayden Fox at midfield. The Bomber offense would capitalize again, first on an electric catch and 33-yard run by wide receiver Khalil Hinton, then a 13 yard run by Burge, and finally a 4-yard scamper by running back Will Hamm. A missed PAT would put it at 13-0 Kenston.
The Solon offense sputtered again on their third drive and punted the ball away. On the first play of the second quarter, though Kenston coughed the ball up and that led to a 48-yard TD pass play by the Comets to make it 13-7.
Kenston would turn the ball right back over again on the ensuing drive by tossing a deep interception into the hands of a Solon defender. The Comets were stymied though and turned the ball over on downs.
The Bombers went on an impressive 81-yard drive after that, and Bryner hit wideout Max George for the first of their two big pass plays of the night for 33 yards. Burge ran it in from 9 yards out for his second touchdown of the night and made it 20-7.
Just before the half, Solon added a touchdown on another pass play, this one an impressive tippy-toe grab in the corner of the end zone, to draw Solon within a score before the break at 20-13.
The second half was all Kenston as Solon punted three times and threw three interceptions on their six drives to close the game. Linebacker Colin Weiland tallied two of those interceptions while Hinton grabbed the third. A second Hamm touchdown run and 44-yard field goal by Kucharson completed the scoring.
With his field goal and six points, Kucharson moved into sole possession of the Kenston school records for career field goals and points scored by a kicker. His 44-yarder also represented the third longest field goal in program history.
Bryner finished 11-17 with 162 yards passing, a TD and 2 INT. Burge finished with 24 carries for 156 yards and a TD rushing and 1 catch for a 14-yard TD through the air. George led all Bombers with three catches for 87 yards.
On defense, linebacker Tucker Meeks was all over the field with 15 tackles (7 solo), a sack, one hurry, and a pass broken up.
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