On a cold and gray New England day, Taft escaped from Kent with a hard-fought victory, 28-27. After trading punts to start the game, Kent scored first and went up 7-0. On the ensuing kickoff, Skyler Bell ‘21, caught a short pooch kick, broke six tackles and returned the ball sixty-four yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Kent would respond with a long drive deep into Rhino territory that ended with a missed field goal. However, Kent would force a Taft fumble a few plays later and proceed to score and go up 14-7. With momentum clearly in the hands of the home team, Taft responded with a thirteen-play, seventy-five yard drive that culminated in Nolan Grooms ‘19 hitting Diante Vines ‘20 on a fourth and goal from the six. Pete Kenerson ‘19 boomed the extra-point and the score was tied, 14-14 with a little over four minutes remaining in the second quarter. Jacob Rooks ‘21 would pick off a long Kent pass on the next drive and the teams went to the half tied. After receiving the second half kickoff, Taft fumbled on its first offensive play and Kent took over at the Rhinos fifteen yard line. A few plays later, Kent would score to go up 21-14. Once again, Taft would respond. Ayinde Johnson ‘20, filling in at running back, picked up almost half the yardage of the seventy-yard drive which he capped off with a scamper over the goalline from five yards out. Kennerson’s extra-point tied the game at 21-21. Three plays into the following Kent drive, Jamal Ahmad ‘19, would recover a Kent fumble and give the offense excellent field position on the home team’s thirty-one. Four plays later, Johnson would score his second touchdown of the game on a rush from four yards out. Kennerson’s lead foot put the ball through the uprights once again and the Rhinos were on top 28-21 with 4:37 left in the third quarter. Kent’s resilience would be on display once again as they marched down the field looking to tie the score. However, on a third and eight from the Taft ten, Vines stepped in front of an errant Kent pass and picked it off. Taft couldn’t manufacture any significant yards on the ensuing possession and was forced to punt. The Lions took over with excellent field position, once again, in Taft territory. On a third and goal from the twenty, Kent’s quarterback rumbled up the middle heading for the endzone. However, captain Liam Akpata ‘19, forced the ball carrier to fumble just before crossing the goal line. Diante Vines ‘20 fell on the loose ball and Taft regained position on its own one yard line. On a third and five from the Taft six, a Grooms pass sailed just out of the reach of Vines down the right sideline that would have given the Rhinos a much needed first down. Instead, once again, Kent would be on the receiving end of a Taft punt and get excellent field position (the Taft thirty-one) . With 1:19 left in game, Kent scored on a quarterback sneak and elected to go for the two-point conversion. Kent’s pass sailed wide of its intended target and Taft still lead, 28-27. Kent elected to kick the ball deep rather than try for the onside kick as it had all three timeouts. Facing a third and eight from the Taft seventeen with a little over a minute remaining, and needing a first down to run out the clock, Grooms fired a bullet to the soft hands of Vines on the right sideline for fourteen yards. Taft emerged victorious, 28-27. The Rhinos return to action on Saturday, November 10, after a bye-week, when they host their rivals, the Hotchkiss School. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30pm.