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COMPLETE STORY: Streaks Maintain Bragging Rights

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Sebring's T.J. Williams stiff-arms Avon Park's Dwayne Council on Friday night during the Blue Streaks' 36-14 victory over the Red Devils at Firemen's Field.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: November 4, 2007

SEBRING — All T.J. Williams was missing was a cape.

That was the kind of performance the senior tailback put on for the home crowd on Friday night during Sebring's 36-14 victory over arch-rival Avon Park in front of a capacity crowd at Firemen's Field in the Class 3A-District 12 showdown.

"All I wanted to do was come out and get this win for the fans," the senior said.

The fans were sure enthralled, as the Sebring tailback put his team on his big shoulders and asked for the ball, rushing for 166 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns and throwing for a touchdown in the win.

"We knew we had nothing to lose since Hardee spoiled our playoff berth," Williams said. "I knew this was my last chance to beat Avon Park and I wasn't going to lose to them."

With the win, the Blue Streaks improve to 5-4 on the season and 2-2 in the district, but the loss to Hardee gave the Wildcats the tiebreaker against the Streaks.

Defense and winning the trench war is what led the Blue Streaks to victory on a breezy, cool night at Firemen's Field.

Sebring's defense held AP to just 72 yards of offense in the first half, while building a commanding 24-0 lead.

Avon Park, which had endured a very difficult season thus far, controlled its own destiny coming into the game.

A win over their cross-county rival and a Hardee loss to DeSoto and the Red Devils would be in the playoffs, as they held the tiebreaker over the Wildcats thanks to an early season win.

The table was set, since Hardee lost to DeSoto 17-0, but Avon Park couldn't hold up their end of the bargain, as Sebring played the part of spoilers.

"We just made way too many mistakes," said AP senior Fred Mixon Jr. "We played a way better in the second half, but the hole was just too big for us to dig ourselves out of."

Mixon and the rest of the seniors will leave Avon Park, knowing they went just 1-3 against Sebring in their four years in school.

"It stings to know that we only got one win against them," Mixon said. "I'm really sad we let this one slip away."

Sebring's play early on was the main cause of the slippage by Avon Park.

Dedication to the run early on enabled the Blue Streaks to march down the field on a 76-yard scoring drive on their opening possession. Williams accounted for 42 of those yards on the ground, breaking a 22 yarder that set up quarterback Steve Fortner's nine-yard touchdown pass to senior Kyle Long.

A two-point conversion pass from senior Sam Robinson to junior Caleb McGee gave Sebring an early 8-0 lead.

After forcing Sebring to a four-and-out, Avon Park's Virgil Cooper zig-zagged through the Blue Streak defense for a 67-yard punt return that put the Red Devils on the Sebring 18-yard line.

But like most Avon Park big plays this season, this one was called back on offsetting penalties.

Avon Park was poised to respond with a 14-play, 30-yard opening drive, but penalties cost the Red Devils, who turned the ball over on downs at midfield.

Nearing the end of the second quarter, Williams began to heat up.

The senior tailback found the end zone with 4:29 left in the half, bursting through the heart of the Red Devil defensive front for a seven-yard touchdown.

Moments later, Williams hit paydirt once again, this time with his arm, as he hurled a 30-yard strike to Robinson that gave the Blue Streaks a 24-0 lead going into the locker room at half time.

The status quo was maintained through the third quarter, with both teams taking each other's best shots.

Avon Park's luck looked to be changing at the end of the third, when Sebring fumbled the ball and Alvin Hinson recovered the miscue for the Red Devils, who had the ball on the Blue Streak 30-yard line.
Seven plays later, junior quarterback Albert Moses connected with senior Shevas Hicks in the back of the end zone for his first touchdown pass at the varsity level.

"I am so relieved to get that monkey off my back," Moses said. "It really felt good."

But that euphoria wouldn't last, as Williams responded with a 42-yard touchdown run on Sebring's next possession to effectively bury the Red Devils' playoff hopes.

The Blue Streak fans responded to the win in grand fashion, cheering and celebrating with friends and family, many sticking around to congratulate the players on keeping hold of the bragging rights for one more year.

"These kids were focused all week," Sebring head coach Jared Hamlin said. "Games are won in the trenches and we came out on top in that battle against a very good young team.

"We came out tonight with lots of heart, took their best and finished what we started. I told these boys at the beginning of the week that if you can't get up for this game, something is wrong."

The Avon Park players knew they had let an opportunity slip through their fingers, as they team boarded the bus without stopping at the locker room after the game.

Sophomore Teddy Allen and Cooper led the ground attack for the Red Devils, finishing with 40 and 53 yards, respectively in the loss.

Both teams finish up the season next week, with Sebring traveling to face Port Charlotte, while Avon Park visits Palmetto.

Sebring High School Football Photo Gallery

Avon Park High School Football Photo Gallery

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