Telegraph Staff Writer
Keystone Heights High School’s football team accomplished a first by winning a playoff game this past Friday (see related story), so, of course, this week brings another first — an appearance in the second round of the postseason, which will have the Indians taking on The Villages in a Region 2-4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m.
The Indians, who are the region’s third see, actually have only two less playoff wins than the Buffalo (10-0). The Villages, the region’s second seed, has qualified for the playoffs nine years, going 3-8. The Buffalo, like Keystone, are seeking to advance beyond the second round for the first time ever.
Friday’s winner will either travel to play top-seed Cocoa or host fourth-seed South Sumter for the Region 4 championship on Friday, Nov. 26.
The Villages played six teams that finished the regular season with a winning record or at least were .500. Five of those teams qualified for the playoffs: Class 5A Leesburg (35-6 win), Class 4A Hernando (42-15 win), Class 4A South Sumter (33-7 win), Class 1A Wildwood (27-21 win) and Class 7A Wiregrass Ranch (31-29 win).
The Buffalo are scoring an average of 37.1 points per game, while opponents are averaging 13.7 points per game.
Senior Ed Williams leads a rushing attack that averages 192.9 yards per game. He has 1,182 yards and 13 touchdowns on 137 carries.
The passing game averages 139.7 yards per game, with senior quarterback Brandon Kennard having completed 73-of-113 passes for 1,392 yards and 19 touchdowns. He’s been intercepted only once.
Sophomore Q Kennedy is the leading receiver, having caught 25 balls for 488 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore Alvon Isaac has 14 receptions for 310 yards and three touchdowns, while senior Tyler Wonus has 12 catches for 223 yards and six touchdowns.
The Buffalo have created 26 turnovers (14 fumble recoveries, 12 interceptions). Their leading tackler is senior linebacker Ellis Poplaski with 92 (15 for loss). Senior linebacker Tyrone Henderson and senior defensive back Alec O’Rourke have 77 and 70 tackles, respectively, while senior defensive back T.J. Kennedy has 62.
