They call that a barn burner in the biz. Before Kenston arrived in Eastlake for their annual WRC tilt, few may have expected as much of an offensive explosion as was witnessed from both sides. Kenston was able to escape with a 42-38 road victory over North with some big plays on offense, defense, and special teams.

Kenston began the game in their hurry-up offensive set and mixed in a couple of pass plays to Gianni Tomaselli with a steady ground attack from Will Hamm and Adam Barr. Barr finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown scamper to put the Bombers up 7-0 very quickly.

North looked to be ready to answer right away, gaining 66 yards and entering the Kenston red zone. However, a miscommunicated center-QB exchange resulted in a loose football in the Ranger backfield that was swept up by Dominic Silla and taken all the way home for a school-record 88-yard touchdown fumble return.

On their ensuing possession, down 14-0, North was undeterred and stuck to the ground game. On one of many long Ranger runs, North pulled to within 14-7 on a 57-yard touchdown play.

Kenston threw a costly interception on their next drive and North scored again on the ground to make it a 14-14 draw.

On the next kickoff, Kahlil Hinton made a dazzling 50-yard return to set Kenston up nicely but they could not capitalize on the field position for another score. After Kenston failed a fourth down attempt, North ran it in from deep again with a 70-yard rushing touchdown. The PAT failed though and North held a 20-14 lead.

Kenston answered with its first score through the air when Barr hit Max George for a two-yard touchdown pass, giving Kenston the 21-20 lead into halftime.

North came out of the locker room with what else, but a sustained drive on the ground that culminated in a TD run and 2-point conversion to give them a 28-21 lead.

The scoring would not stop as Kenston came back with a dual running attack from Hamm and Tucker Meeks that set up an acrobatic 14-yard grab in the back of the end zone by Ethan Black to knot it at 28.

North was again undeterred and added its third 50+ yard rushing score of the night to take the lead 35-28.

On the ensuing kickoff, a second school record was nearly set when Hamm had a 96-yard touchdown return (Sean Patrick, 98 yards on 9/18/23 vs. Boardman) to tie the game again at 35-35.

On the next possession, North continued to pile up first downs before a huge defensive play by Colin Weiland stopped the Ranger run attack. Weiland stripped the runner of the ball and Jayden Fox jumped on it for the second turnover forced by the defense.

Kenston was then forced into its first, and the game's only, punt by Grady Kucharson. North rambled back into scoring position and kicked a go-ahead field goal, making it 38-35 in favor of Eastlake.

When the Bombers got the ball back, another big play by Hinton electrified the crowd when Barr hit him for a 51-yard gain down the sideline. A couple of plays later, Barr hit Hinton again for 17 yards and a score to give Kenston the 42-38 lead.

In a game where it felt like the team with the ball last just might win, the Kenston defense came up with another huge play. Fox was in on a tackle again and this time he forced a fumble that was recovered by Black with just over two minutes to play.

Hamm delivered with 38 more yards rushing before Barr took a knee to finish the contest.

The Kenston offense was led through the air by Barr who finished 12-of-18 for 170 yards and three TDs. In addition to the amazing kickoff return, Hamm carried the ball 29 times for 153 yards to lead the ground attack. Hinton led the team in receiving with four catches for 92 yards and a score.

Despite giving up an eye-popping 619 yards rushing to North, the Bomber defense came up big when it needed to. Jake Rostocil led the team with 16 tackles and Weiland added 12 tackles to his forced fumble.

The team is next in action on October 3 as they host Willoughby South.