APPLE VALLEY, MN - For the first time in thirteen attempts the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles (1-3 Overall, 1-2 South Suburban Conference) found a way to get past the Eastview Lightning (1-3, 1-3 SSC). The Eagles had scored just a combined thirteen points through their first three games of the year, but exploded tonight versus the Lightning in Apple Valley on the night they celebrated their Homecoming.

Kennedy's evening did not start out on a good note as the Eagles took the field on their opening drive and quickly turned over the ball. Led by their sophomore starting Quarterback Travon Hearns, the drive started out smoothly until Hearns' first pass attempt landed in the hands of Eastview senior Linebacker Nate McKenzie. The interception marked the first of the season for Hearns and gave the ball to the Lightning with good field position near midfield.

The Lightning offense looked fluid as it marched right up to the goal line and set up the game's first score. Lightning Quarterback Ryan Reger dove in from 1-yard out and put Eastview up 7-0 with the extra-point converted by sophomore Kicker Sam Fluegge. This didn't break the Kennedy Eagles spirit as on the ensuing drive, they found the endzone as well with a 13-yard pass reception by Arich Jugerian from Hearns for the touchdown with 7:03 remaining in the 1st Quarter.

The rest of the 1st Quarter moved along quickly as both teams continuously pounded the rock and kept the clock ticking. Just before the end the quarter, Eastview was forced into a 4th and Goal from the Kennedy 8 yard line and decided to go for three and successfully converted the field goal, thanks to the leg again of Sam Fluegge, who connected from 25-yards out. After the 1st Quarter is was 10-0 Eastview.

As the 2nd Quarter began, the night sky started to go dark over the field and on the sideline of the Lightning. The bounces looked to be going Kennedy's way all evening and their running attack was a forced to be reckoned with. Eagles senior Running Back Lexis Jones was the star of the night for the Eagles, being named the MSBN Player of the Game for Bloomington Kennedy. With the help of Jones' rushing skills, the Eagles moved the ball down to the 5 yard line and looked to take their first lead of the game. How they got into the endzone was just unexpected. Kennedy looked to a double-reverse from the 5 and ended up fumbling the ball on the exchange through the hands of Running Back James Ellis and the ball laid loose in the endzone. It was there for the taking and senior Eagle Lineman/Linebacker Donte Allen fell on the ball and scored the go ahead touchdown for Kennedy.

This score for the JFK Eagles was odd, but yet fitting for the way things seemed to be going all night for the road team. Kennedy would close out the half with a 22-yard field by senior Kicker Abu Kamara. At the Half, Kennedy led 17-10 and left the Homecoming fans mostly excited to see the Lightning Danceline and Marching Bands take the field at the half.

Lexis Jones had over 125 yards rushing after one half of play, but had yet to find the endzone for the Eagles. He wanted to change that and really wanted to help Bloomington Kennedy to their first win of the season. His 3rd Quarter was an eye-opening explosion of his talents and showed the small group of traveling fans that there is still hope in the 2011 season. Jones consistently broke tackles all night and found the outside edge along the sidelines. In the 3rd Quarter on back-to-back possessions he snapped off touchdown runs of 57 & 42 yards respectively. After the 2nd TD in the middle of the 3rd Quarter, the Eagles led 31-10. At this point, it looked like Kennedy was literally going to run away with this game.

In his 2nd year as the starting Quarterback, Ryan Reger, now a senior, needed to find a way to lead his team to victory. His response would breathe life into the Lightning and bring his team within a score in the final moments of the game. After Lexis Jones shook the ground on his big TD runs, Reger would answer back with two big plays of his own. With just under five minutes remaining in the 3rd Quarter, Eastview was down 21 points and on their own 22 yard line. Reger had consistently overthrown his intended targets on deep balls all evening, but finally landed one into the hands of senior Wide Receiver Aaron Wesser, who took off down the sideline for 78 yards and made it 31-17.

Only one play found the endzone in the 4th Quarter and it was another big play by Ryan Reger and those Eastview Lightning who looked to strike back against Kennedy. With time on the clock slipping away quickly, Eastview needed a score to cut the lead in half by the Eagles. The coaching staff decided to look at a target that was not a factor all evening up to this point. Somehow through the numerous defensive backs that Kennedy had on the field, Eastview senior Wide Receiver Austin Hebig sneaked through the defense on a post route from the slot and hauled in a 42-yard touchdown reception to bring the Eastview deficit within seven with 7:09 remaining in the contest.

Kennedy offense continued to move the chains on the ground, but left one last opportunity on the field for the Eastview offense. After good field position off a Kennedy punt, Eastview moved the ball quickly down the field with under two minutes remaining thanks to Reger's legs from the Quarterback position. He scampered for multiple 1st Down runs and brought the ball all the way down to the 18 yard line. This would be the end of the line though for Eastview as a penalty and great pressure from the Kennedy defensive front pressured Eastview into turning the ball over on downs.

The game would expire with the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles getting the 31-24 victory over the Eastview Lightning in South Suburban Conference play. Both teams now stand at 1-3 overall on the season as the Eagles will host Prior Lake next Friday, October 1st. Eastview is now 1-3 in South Suburban Conference play through the first four weeks of the 2011 season and will host rival Apple Valley in Week 5 against another foe nicknamed "The Eagles". The Battle for Apple Valley next Friday can be seen online at MnSportsNetwork.com.

Players of the Game:
Bloomington Kennedy - RB Lexis Jones - 31 carries, 288 yards rushing, 2 TDs
Eastview - QB Ryan Reger - 11 for 20 passing, 184 yards, 2 TDs

Steve Pesek can be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/StevePesek