Roos win first playoff game in 7 years Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 15 2008 08:05 AM By Kevin Posival
Killeen Daily Herald

PFLUGERVILLE – Killeen's offensive line paved the way for the Roos' running attack to put up more than 400 yards and support two 100-plus rushers, but it was the Killeen defense that sealed the deal on the Roos' first playoff win since 2001, 34-21 over Austin Crockett (6-5) in a Division I-4A bi-district game at Kuempel Stadium.

Sophomores Jaquail Haskins and Michael Cummings combined for 319 yards and four touchdowns behind the Roos senior-laden offensive line led by Texas A&M pledge Rhontae Scales, but it was a sack and then a fourth-down stop on the Cougars' final drive that pits Killeen (7-4) against 2007 Class 4A Division I state champion Alamo Heights in next week's area-round game with a date, site and time yet to be determined.

"It's an excellent feeling. It's great for the kids," Killeen coach Sam Jones said. "The weather was a major factor. (The wind) took away our passing game but our O-line did a great job."

Killeen rushed for 409 yards on 56 carries and Cummings completed just two of four passes, both to junior Ja'Corie Baker, for 18 yards.

For the better part of the game, Killeen kept Crockett standout running back Darrell Cantu-Harkless contained, but he still ran for 129 yards and a touchdown.

"We knew we had to stop No. 42 (Cantu-Harkless)," said three-year starting linebacker Titus Barnes.

Behind its offensive line, Killeen marched the field and scored on every possession, except its final drive of the first half, in the first three quarters before it stalled, going into the wind, in the fourth quarter.

"Our kids definitely need to learn how to put together a full four quarters," Jones said. "Our defense played well for three quarters. Overall, the kids played hard and they did what we asked them to do."

With Killeen's offense out of steam, Crockett quarterback Zach Bosier took advantage of the wind at his back and fired two touchdown passes to Kevin Park in the fourth quarter and then got the ball back with just under 2 minutes to play in the game trailing by just 13.

Ackeel Lewis and Josh Hodges combined for the Roos' only sack of the night that put Bosier and the Cougars in a second-and-17 hole. Bosier misfired on his next two attempts and then scrambled 14 yards on fourth down only to be brought down 3 yards short by the senior, Barnes.

"It feels real good," Barnes said of the win. "That was a big down and I give credit to my defensive line for making it happen."

Killeen, which was making its first playoff trip since 2004, converted three third downs and a fourth down to sustain all four of its first-half drives and built a 20-7 lead at halftime on the way to its first playoff victory since a 22-10 win over Klein Oak in the 2001 Class 5A Division II area round of the playoffs.

"I really believe the offense would've done much better if the weather hadn't forced us to be one-dimensional."

Haskins (167, 2 TDs) converted a third-and-five on the Roos first drive that led to Cummings' 6-yard touchdown run and the first lead.

Crockett mounted a 45-yard, 4?-minute drive with Cantu-Harkless churning out 39 until he was dropped for back-to-back losses that lost 9 yards and forced the Cougars into punting for the second time in as many drives.

Cummings (152 rushing yards, 2 TDs) then earned 14 on a third-and-eight and LeMarquis Jones (8-79) raced for 55 on a second-and-16 that led to Haskins' 8-yard touchdown run.

With the wind at their backs, Cantu-Harkless and the Cougars were finally able to put their first points on the board with Cantu-Harkless' 6-yard touchdown run with 6? minutes left in the half.

Cummings picked up 49 on a fourth-and-four that set up Haskins' second touhdown run of the first half, this one for 16 yards, that put Killeen up 20-7.

Contact Kevin Posival at kposival@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7562.