Kennedy Catholic claims 'Battle of Burien' bragging rights in win over Highline, 3 takeaways
BURIEN, Wash. — Up 30 points heading into the fourth quarter, everything looked smooth-sailing for Class 4A Kennedy Catholic in the 'Battle of Burien' over Class 2A Highline.
The Lancers' offense was cruising and after some defensive stops in the fourth quarter, coach Pat Jones sent in his second-team defense.
What followed was 23 unanswered points from Highline in just a little more than four minutes.
Highline made the stops it needed to in order to force a Kennedy Catholic punt with 37 seconds left, but with no timeouts left, an injured Highline player on the field called for a 40-second runoff that ended the game without the Pirates getting a last drive to try and tie it up. The Lancers escaped with a 45-38 win.
Kennedy Catholic quarterback Devon Forehand threw for three touchdowns in the win. Junior Indy Jones also found himself in the end zone three times with a rushing, receiving and interception returned for a touchdown.
Highline junior Adam Estrada scored the Pirates' first touchdown on a 53-yard reception from Ronan Rasmussen. Marquawn McCraney scored on a 62-yard catch and score, seven-yard reception and four-yard run. Jamaine Matthews scored the Pirates' other touchdown an a short run.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
MORE AIR RAID OUT OF NECESSITY FOR KENNEDY CATHOLIC
Kennedy Catholic coach Pat Jones didn't sugarcoat things after the game: The Lancers need to clean things up.
The Lancers' offense was called for nine holding penalties, consistently putting them behind the line of scrimmage and forcing Kennedy Catholic to focus more on its Air Raid attack instead of balancing that out with its Wing-T.
"We had to overcome nine holding penalties and they were good calls – it's on us to stop doing that stuff," Jones said. "Our (starters) are a good group if they keep their hands in and we stop shooting ourselves in the foot."
IS HIGHLINE A TRUE CLASS 2A CONTENDER THIS YEAR?
Last year's 'Battle of Burien' didn't go the Pirates' way in a 41-6 blowout.
After toppling Class 3A Rainier Beach last week and nearly pulling off the upset against the Lancers this time around, Highline looks like it has the makings of a team building off its Class 2A playoff appearance last year for a deeper run this season.
"This team is unified. You saw a great example of that – nobody lowered their heads and they kept fighting until it said 0:00," Highline coach Deontae Cooper said. "To be a real contender we just have to stay consistent and find ways to get better week by week and we'll do that."
2024 RECRUIT MARQUAWN MCCRANEY IS THAT GUY FOR THE PIRATES
Highline wide receiver and defensive back Marquawn McCraney had a busy offseason.
With multiple PAC-12 offers rolling in left and right, McCraney's recruitment is coming to an end soon with 247Sports expecting him to commit to California.
McCraney's decision is yet to be made official, but in the meantime, the dynamic playmaker showed off Saturday, scoring three touchdowns for the Pirates.
