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Posted on Sat, Oct. 31, 2009

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Randle's finale is too much for East

BY PATRICK SHELTRA

Eagle correspondent

There are players in the City League that get more publicity by virtue of the position they play, the statistics they have accumulated or the wins they have racked up.

And then there's Southeast's Joe Randle, who put his many talents on display Friday night against East and showed why there might not be a more versatile player in all of Sedgwick County.

Randle ran for one score, threw for another and sealed the game with a 95-yard interception return for another score as the Buffaloes trounced rival East 35-15 in the season finale for both teams.

"I just wanted to win and have a good last game," Randle said. "I love this team. I know we didn't live up to our full potential this year, but I had a great time with these guys."

And therein lies the catch: For all of Randle's talents, this is the end of his high school career. Southeast was eliminated from the Class 6A playoff chase when it lost last week to Heights. East was eliminated last week against Derby.

With nothing to play for, and with a collegiate career to protect, no one would have second-guessed the Oklahoma State commitment if he didn't give a full effort. No one except for Randle himself.

"I love the game," Randle said. "I come out here to have fun. This isn't something I do because I've got to do it. I love being out here, being part of a team sport and all that good stuff."

And there was plenty of good stuff for the Southeast faithful, although it was East that started quickly, going 70 yards in 11 plays for a 7-0 lead. C.J. Graham ran nine times for 52 yards on the drive, but the big play was Erick Heiman's 13-yard touchdown pass to Jameal Farrison on fourth and 12.

Randle returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the East 29, then carried four times, capping the drive with a 1-yard run with 5:04 left in the first quarter.

It remained 7-7 until Southeast quarterback Jeremiah Plowden kept the ball on an option play and ran 59 yards for a 14-7 lead with 4:34 left in the first half. East promptly drove deep in Southeast territory, but Jamarcus Robinson stepped in front of an East receiver and picked off Heiman on his own 5 with 25 seconds left in the half.

Finally, Southeast was on the receiving end of an opponent's mistake.

"Defensively, the kids played pretty good for the most part," Southeast coach Gary Guzman said. "When you can come up with big plays like that and the offense can take advantage, that's a plus."

On Southeast's second drive of the second half, Plowden handed off to Randle, running right. He pulled up and found Nick Taylor all alone and in stride for a 60-yard touchdown and a 20-7 lead.

Again, East responded by driving 55 yards to the Southeast 14. But Randle stepped in front of a Heiman pass and ran it back 95 yards for a back-breaking touchdown. After a 96-yard rushing touchdown against Kapaun Mount Carmel as a sophomore, it was the longest scoring play of Randle's career.

"As soon as he picked it, I said, 'That's a problem,' " East coach Brian Byers said. "But he's a heck of a player and a good kid."

East (2-7, 0-3) 7 0 0 8 — 15 Southeast (4-5, 1-2) 7 7 14 7 — 35

E—Farrison 13 pass from Heiman (O'Quinn kick)

SE—Randle 1 run (Rhodes kick)

SE—Plowden 59 run (Rhodes kick)

SE—Taylor 60 pass from Randle (kick failed)

SE—Randle 95 interception return (Smith pass from Plowden)

SE—Smith 7 run (Rhodes kick)

E—Johnson-Reed 50 pass from McGee (Graham run)

Individual Statistics

Rushing—East, Graham 30-153, Heiman 3-18, Dukes 1-5, Stanford 1-4, Farrison 1-(-7), McGee 2-(-18). Southeast, Randle 17-96, Plowden 5-69, Metcalfe 7-63, Smith 4-44, Le 2-5, Johnson 1-1.

Passing—East, Heiman 7-13-69-2, McGee 3-6-71-1. Southeast, Plowden 3-6-89-0, Randle 1-1-60-0.

Receiving—East, Farrison 4-35, Johnson-Reed 2-64, Graham 2-19, Johnson 1-11, Burns-Guidry 1-9. Southeast, Le 2-66, Taylor 1-60, Carter 1-23.