Kenston football endured some incredible adversity during the 2026 season and ended it on a high note with a thrilling 43-42 defeat of Barberton.

Fighting through a too-familiar rash of injuries, the Bombers leaned on some old reliable players to complete the year with a hard-fought victory in its last week.

It started with a commitment to its stable of running backs on the first drive. Senior Will Hamm got it going with 39 yards on three carries and junior Jackson Ehrenbeit finished the job with 31 more including a 13-yard touchdown gallop to put Kenston up 7-0.

Next up, after a second staunch team defensive effort, Kahlil Hinton flew into the backfield and blocked a Magics' punt try. While the Bombers gave it right back on an uncharacteristic Hamm fumble that was returned for a Barberton score, that same player fought to force a Magic fumble of their own at his next defensive opportunity.

After standout senior linebacker Jake Rostocil recovered that Hamm punchout, quarterback Michael Cieslak hit Hinton on a 29-yard bomb to put Kenston back up 14-6.

Barberton then went on a two touchdown scoring streak to gain the lead at 21-14 but Hamm came right back with an electric 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to even it at 21-21 to close the first half scoring.

On their second possession of the second half, Cieslak hit Hinton again on a long touchdown pass play for 39 yards this time, giving Kenston back the lead at 28-21.

Barberton was not going away, however, and matched Kenston score-for-score. After they evened it again at 28, they grabbed the lead on an interception return for a score. But Ehrenbeit and Hamm then combined for 49 more yards on the ground before Cieslak called his own number for the score scamper.

With the game now tied at 35, Barberton retook the lead with another touchdown and Kenston had some work to do to steal a Week 10 victory from the clutches of defeat.

So what else - give the rock to Ehrenbeit and Hamm of course. The two again led the Bombers down the field on a 58-yard drive that culminated in Ehrenbeit's second TD followed by a gutsy two-point run by Hamm to give Kenston the 43-42 edge.

Never saying die, Barberton drove the length of the field on the game's final drive but after two savvy ice-the-kicker timeouts and a tough angle to boot, the Magic missed the potential game-winning field goal wide left and Kenston guaranteed another year .500+ football.

Hamm led the rushing effort with 26 totes for 166 yards but Ehrenbeit was not far behind, finishing with 14 carries for 158 yards and the two scores on the ground.

Hinton turned in another masterful, efficient performance with four grabs for 84 yards and two scores.

On defense, the linebacking corps of Rostocil (13 tackles, fumble recovery, two hurries, two TFLs), Teo Triscaro (11 tackles, one TFL), and Tucker Meeks (10 tackles, four hurries, one TFL) led the way.

In heartbreaking fashion, the team learned on Saturday that it had finished as the 13th rated team in Region 9 and narrowly missed its ninth consecutive playoff berth.