THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
LD Bell High School Athletics

BEDFORD Kallin Sipe only attempted five passes Friday night. But the Abilene quarterback made his throws count. The senior passed for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 3 of 5 passing – and the special teams added a score – as the Eagles upended Hurst L.D. Bell 28-7 in a 3-6A game at Pennington Field. The win was an emotional one for Abilene (5-1, 2-0) coach Del Van Cox, whose father died during the week. The coach teared up several times while addressing his team after the game. “It’s real special,” he said. “It was a tough week for all of us. … The defense came out and stopped them in the second half and the offense was able to score a few touchdowns for us.” The Eagles ran just 12 offensive plays in the first half but led 14-7 at intermission after receiving a big boost from its defense. The score was tied at 7 midway through the second quarter when Abilene defensive lineman Griffin Cooke blocked a 24-yard field goal attempt. Defensive back Tyler Simpson scooped up the ball and returned it 72 yards for the score. An L.D. Bell (1-4, 0-2) drive reached the Abilene 20 in the final minute of the first half, but Nathaniel Jones intercepted a Blue Raiders pass at the 2-yard line. Sipe, who threw a 49-yard bomb to Clay Cox for a first-quarter touchdown, added a 77-yard touchdown pass to Marcos Garcia in the third quarter. Bell’s lone scoring drive came on its first possession of the game. The Blue Raiders drove 43 yards, converting two fourth-down plays in the process, and took a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard Zion Hardy run. Play of the game: Bell’s offense found consistent success on the ground, rushing for 222 yards. And the biggest of those plays was a 51-yard carry by Beni Kabongo. He broke a tackle in his own end zone and then found a seam and raced into Abilene territory. The Raiders got 15 more yards at the end of the play because of a late hit out of bounds. Offensive player of the game: Sipe completed passes of 18, 49 and 77 yards with his two longest throws going for scores. Defensive player of the game: Cooke and Simpson share the honors after teaming up on a 72-yard field goal block for an Abilene touchdown. Unsung hero of the game: Kabongo and Hardy combined for 161 yards rushing for Bell. What’s next? Abilene returns home to face San Angelo Central at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12. Bell heads to Birdville Fine Arts/Athletic Complex to play Richland at 7 p.m. Oct. 11.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
LD Bell High School Athletics

ABILENE 28, L.D. BELL 7

MARK WRIGHT

Star Telegram | 10/5/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Raiders Athletics