Football: Kellen Watson leads Penn to thrilling win vs. Valpo

Penn Football opened the 2024 season with a heart-thumping 49-42 victory against Valparaiso in high school football action at Everwise Freed Field on Friday, Aug. 23.

The game was the first for Pete Riordan as the Kingsmen head coach.

Kingsmen quarterback Kellen Watson, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound Senior, rushed for 291 yards. Watson, who finished third in the state in the 100-meter dash last season, sprinted for four touchdowns on runs of 77, 64, 63 and 26 yards.

Watson had a hand in all seven of Penn’s touchdowns. He connected with Junior Tayshon Bardo for TD strikes of 15, 31 and 50 yards.

Junior Defensive End Quinn Watson, Kellen’s brother, stuffed Valpo’s hopes with a quarterback sack on the final play.