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Plant City’s Makenzie Kennedy propels East to Hillsborough all-star win

The East has now won five straight in the senior showcase.
 
Plant City QB Makenzie Kennedy threw three touchdowns in the Hillsborough County Senior All-star Game at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night.
Plant City QB Makenzie Kennedy threw three touchdowns in the Hillsborough County Senior All-star Game at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night. [ CHUCK FRYE | Special to the Times ]
Published Dec. 15, 2019|Updated Dec. 15, 2019

TAMPA — From the showing Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium, there’s still plenty of quality talent available to bolster some lucky college rosters.

Getting one final chance to showcase his skills at the 21st Hillsborough County All-Star Game, Plant City quarterback Makenzie Kennedy took full advantage of his opportunity in leading the East squad to a 21-9 victory over its West counterparts.​

Related: Plant City quarterback Makenzie Kennedy comes into his own

During a 1:41 stretch late in the first half, Kennedy and Bloomingdale wide receiver Gabriel Akpewero connected for a pair of scores, the first a perfect fade pass covering 21 yards. Then, after a key interception by Tampa Bay Tech’s Damarhi Pettaway that earned him his squad’s defensive MVP award, Akpewero blew past Gaither’s Hunter Mintzer and hauled in Kennedy’s 30-yard TD bomb.​

“(Robinson’s Destin Gainer) went inside and did a fade,” Pettaway explained. “I saw it and picked it off.”​

“In the second quarter, I started focusing, got rid of my jitters and did what I thought I was going to do,” said Kennedy, the East offensive MVP who finished 6 of 14 for 151 yards. “At Plant City, we have one of the best receivers in the nation (in junior Mario Williams and his 795 yards in 2019) and that helps adjust to different people. We just started doing the stuff we knew would attack their defense and it worked.”​

Such a performance could get Kennedy more collegiate options.​

“Right now I have three offers but I don’t know where I’m going right yet. Hopefully in March on the second signing day I’ll know.”​

The same is true for Pettaway (leaning toward Hampton University in Virginia with a February decision in mind) but any extra moments on the gridiron is time well spent.​

“This is a lot of fun and this is what I want to do,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll keep doing it.”​

An active defense led by East Bay’s Logan Webb (interception) and Lennard’s Braden Nash (five tackles) held a West attack headed by standout Gaither quarterback Tony Bartalo to just 160 yards of offense. Bartalo was picked off twice as part of a three-takeaway effort from the East.​

“There's a lot of competition in these games but it's definitely more fun for everybody,” said Nash. “I think I play better when it's a lot more competitive, I play a lot harder.”​

For the West, Alonso’s Austin Walters opened the game’s scoring with a 28-yard field goal and offensive MVP LeeJah Johnson of Tampa Bay Christian registered his squad’s lone TD on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter. Mintzer rebounded from the East’s earlier score to pull in an interception and earn defensive MVP honors while Jefferson’s Caleb Weldon also had a pick.​

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The victory is the fifth in a row for the East and the third straight for head coach Matt Kitchie from Lennard.​

“Somehow, I keep getting volunteered for this job,” Kitchie said with a smile. “The big thing here is for the kids to have fun and have the chance to do something — catch a ball, run, make a play out there. We’re looking to get everyone involved.”