ALTON – Kendall Abdur-Rahman was certainly a difference-maker for Edwardsville's football team Friday night.

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

The junior quarterback had two rushing touchdowns, including a 47-yard sprint to the end zone in the early stages of the third quarter that gave the Tigers a 20-17 lead on Alton at Alton's Public School Stadium.

That touchdown proved to be the game-winner for EHS, taking their record to 2-3 on the year and 2-1 in the Southwestern Conference going into this Friday's home game against O'Fallon.

Article continues after sponsor message

“We knew it wasn't going to be a blowout (against the Redbirds,” Abdur-Rahman said. “We knew it was going to be a fight; the coaches told us all week, and we prepared and worked hard all week. Every win's not going to be a big win, but we'll take any win the way it comes.”

The Tigers' slow start out of the gate certainly did get the attention of other teams, Abdur-Rahman said. “We know what kind of competition we've faced in our first few games, and we knew what we had to do to get better and we're doing it. Everyone's out for the Tigers; everyone's talking about the Tigers – we've just got to work hard. We have to keep our heads up and everyone's got to work.”

The Tigers found ways to run out the clock down the stretch when they needed to. “We knew we had to move the ball,” Abdur-Rahman said. “We had to win the turnover battle – we scored four times that got called back and we turned the ball over, but we kept our heads up; we had to keep fighting. We knew it wasn't over.”

After Friday night's game against the Panthers, the Tigers close out the season Oct. 7 against Belleville East, travel to Belleville West Oct. 14 and host Collinsville Oct. 21.

More like this:

Feb 13, 2024 - Semith Leads With 19 Points, Peel Adds 11, Tigers Use Two Critical Runs To Eliminate Collinsville 59-35 In 4A Regional  

Mar 20, 2024 - Tigers Take First Set, Play Well, Vianney Rallies To Take Final Two Sets, Defeats Edwardsville In Season Opener

Mar 22, 2024 - Freshman Brooke Burris Delivers Walk-Off Hit, Tigers Take 2-1 Win Over Gillespie

Feb 29, 2024 - Sean Tyus Was Sharpshooter For Redbirds Basketball Boys, Is An Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month

Feb 17, 2024 - 30th Win: Kiyoko Proctor Leads Alton to Decisive 63-38 Victory over Edwardsville