With only four seconds left to play and the game knotted at 6 all, Keith crashed into the endzone to put a damper on John Essex’ homecoming festivities Friday night.

The Hornets (3-4, 2-3 Region) struggled with the Bears rushing attack for most of the night and ultimately it led to their undoing in a gut wrenching 14-6 loss.

John Essex jumped out to an early lead, marching their first possession of the game down the field and scoring on a lateral from AJ Bennett to Denzell Charleston to take a 6-0 lead.

The Bears rolled up 117 yards on the ground in the first half, but the Hornet defense held up when it counted most.

With Keith driving and just more than a minute to play in the half Korey Jones and Anthony McIntosh met in the backfield for a 15 yard sack, forcing a third and 21, which eventually led the Hornets to a 6-0 halftime lead.

Keith rarely turned to its passing game but on the bears’ first attempt Terry Fountain plucked the ball out of the air for a Hornet turnover.

The third quarter opened on a similar note, this time with Bennett snagging the Bears second pass attempt of the game.

The Bears run game, which had been eating chunks of yardage at a time, took Keith to the outskirts of the redzone. Keith took to the air again, this time for a 25 yard touchdown strike, knotting the game at 6 all late in the third.

The ball would change hands several times as the clock wound down but it was Keith’s final possession that proved the death knell.

The Bears marched more than 60 yards in 2:15 to score the go-ahead touchdown and converting the 2 point conversion.

The Bears finished the night with 208 yards rushing.

Bennett led the Hornets in total offense with 27 yards rushing on 10 carries. He also had 57 yards receiving on two catches. Charleston was the leading rusher with 59 yards on 11 carries.

John Essex hosts Holy Spirit next week.