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Red Devils Host LaBelle Cowboys In Season's Final Home Game

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Braden River’s Willie McNeal is dragged down by the Avon Park defense during last week’s district match. The Red Devil offense will look for a spark this week against LaBelle.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: October 12, 2007

AVON PARK — There's a saying in prize fighting: Everyone has a plan until they've been hit.
Well, the Avon Park Red Devils have been hit from all sides — even from themselves — and now find themselves on the gridiron canvas.

The question is whether they can pick themselves up and turn around what looks to be a lost season. Or is it?
People seem to forget that the Red Devils were 6-1 at this time last season and went on to lose their final three games and the tiebreaker against arch-rival Sebring.

Avon Park head coach Earnest Perkins has his team in a situation where they have a chance to turn things around — if they believe.
"We are a little healthier this week and the kids are upbeat about tonight's game," Perkins said. "We are looking for another breakout week. This starts the second half of the season and I've been telling the kids to not look back."

Looking back is not something that any Avon Park fan relishes in doing this season — except the monumental win over the Hardee Wildcats. That win is not only the Red Devils' lone victory of the season, but the only time they have visited the end zone.
It isn't as if the offense is at a standstill, more like a case of players trying to make plays that aren't there and putting themselves in bad positions when in scoring position.

"The kids are trying hard and they're not giving up even when they are losing," Perkins said. "In this game, you never know what is going to happen. I think the kids are trying too hard. You're seeing it with the New Orleans Saints in the NFL. That team was great last season, but they can't seem to turn the corner. Well, that is happening to us, but I believe we can turn that corner and it starts tonight."

Tonight marks the final home game of the season for Avon Park against the LaBelle Cowboys and one last chance to show the fans that Red Devil football isn't dead this season.

LaBelle (3-2) is coming off a 35-10 win over Lemon Bay and Avon Park will have to try and contain tailback Gabriel Puente, who rushed for 189 yards on 23 carries in that game. Puente has rushed for over 100 yards in four of five games this season for a total of 721 yards and eight touchdowns on the year.

The Red Devils have had a hard time stopping the run and with many players on defense banged up, there will need to be a consorted effort to attack the line of scrimmage and limit Puente's second effort.
Avon Park quarterback Virgil Cooper is the undisputed leader of the offense, but the frustration of a lackluster performance was prominent at the end of last week's 17-0 homecoming loss to Braden River.

The loss of tailback Teddy Allen to injury forced Cooper to take the majority of the carries. That tactic backfired, as Cooper fumbled the ball three times when he attempted to break through the Pirates front line when on the goal line.
Allen will be again be sidelined for tonight's game and Cooper will be key to ending the offensive drought.

"We're going to get Virgil some help," Perkins said. "He can't be expected to do everything, but I'm proud that he is resilient and is ready for the game."

Now that the first half of the fight is done and has taken the districts best punches and is bleeding but not dead.
Avon Park is in a position to turn the corner and make something out of nothing in terms of this season. With their backs against the wall, the Red Devils have to go back to the basics in taking care of the ball and believe they can win.

Avon Park High School Football Photo Gallery

Both Lake Placid and Sebring have a bye this week.
The Green Dragons are away next week to face Lennard High School in a district matchup. As of Oct. 11, Lake Placid is 2-4 overall, while Lennard is 0-6.
Lake Placid High School Football Photo Gallery

The Blue Streaks are at DeSoto High School next week in a district matchup. As of Oct. 11, Sebring is 3-2 overall, while DeSoto is 5-0.
Sebring High School Football Photo Gallery

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