TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

BREAKING NEWS: Red Devils Steal Hardee's Thunder

AVON PARK EARNS FIRST WIN OVER ‘CATS SINCE 1998

ADVERTISEMENT

By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: September 21, 2007

AVON PARK - AVON PARK - Avon Park High School Football Gallery

AVON PARK - How 'bout them Red Devils!

Joe Franza Stadium was rockin' on Friday and for good reason, as the hometown Avon Park Red Devils brought pride back to this little area of Highlands County, stunning the previously undefeated and the defending Class 3A-District 12 champion Hardee Wildcats 10-7 for the biggest win in recent school history.

"I have no words to describe how I am feeling right now," an elated Virgil Cooper, quarterback for Avon Park, said after the game. "We just got tired of being criticized.

"This is our Super Bowl."
Avon Park had been winless since 1998 against Hardee and suffered its worst loss in '06, when the 'Cats pounded the Red Devils 55-6, the most points scored by the Hardee in the series.
Vindication for an entire Avon Park football team that has come under fire after dropping the first two games of the season in lopsided fashion –– a combined 89-0. Red Devil skipper Earnest Perkins looked like a proud father on graduation day.

"Its all about these kids," Perkins said. "All the crap they have had to put up with the last few weeks, this is for them.

"I think this game brought Avon Park back together as a community."

Celebrations could be seen from the student body and Perkins was showered with congratulations from Avon Park principal Stu Guthrie and athletic director Mort Jackson, who stood behind their coach when the chips were down.

"This is a huge win for this school," Jackson said. "This brings the fans back and it is nice to be sitting at the top of the district."

Before the celebrations could commence, Avon Park and Hardee were engulfed in a trench war, that would come down to the bitter end.

After their first two series' came up with nothing, Avon Park was again, on the ropes, as senior tailback Jayquan Gandy busted through the Red Devil line for a 64-yard touchdown with four minutes left in the opening stanza.

The two teams traded jabs for the rest of the first quarter and it looked like Hardee was going to have its way with the Red Devils –– until.

The turning point in the game came on a 2nd-and-11 play moments into the second quarter, when junior lineman Vincent Perry stripped 'Cats quarterback Jordan Grimsley and recovered the ball at the Hardee 15-yard line.

Fans were on their feet, as the Red Devils pounded the ball into the heart of the 'Cats defense, until Teddy Allen punched through for Avon Park's first score of the season. After the extra-point by Casey McKibben, the game was tied at 7 with eight minutes to go before the half.

On the very next series, Cooper made his presence known on defense, nearly picking off a Hardee pass to force the 'Cats to punt.

The half came to an end with little fireworks on either side.

"Tonight, we're going to win. I can feel it." an Avon Park player said on the sideline as the team walked off the field for halftime.

That sentiment carried over to the second half, with the Red Devil defense, which has had trouble stopping the run all season, put the 'Cats runner's on their heels to stump Hardee's first possession of the third quarter.

With the ball at the Avon Park 20-yard line, Perkins and his staff put together a drive for the ages. Allen, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound sophomore, showed that he is going to a star of the future, finding daylight in the 'Cats defense and rumbled 36 yards before being brought down by Grimsley deep in Hardee territory.

Starting at the 'Cats 40, Cooper's quarterback keeper netted 21 yards to put the Red Devils in scoring position. After being halted at the Hardee 16-yard line, McKibben was as cold as ice, as the Avon Park fans watch the ball sail through the uprights for a 10-7 lead with four minutes left in the third.

Avon Park's Marvin Williams wrapped up Hardee tailback Jimmy Cimeus on the 'Cats very next play for no gain. The play may have been minimal in yardage but the message was sent that the Red Devils were here to play football, as the defense found their swagger.

Midway through the fourth, Hardee put together an impressive 11-play 51-yard drive and a chance to tie the game, but the Avon Park defense exposed a glaring weakness in Hardee, their ineffectiveness in the passing game.

The 'Cats failed to complete a pass when they needed a first down and keep the drive alive. Hardee was forced to attempt a field goal after Williams and Perry dropped Cimeus for a two-yard loss. Jose Canstandeda's kick sailed wide and the Avon Park players, coaches and fans rejoiced., but only for a moment.

Cooper lay clutching his leg and had to be helped off the field, but the Red Devils would not be denied, as Albert Moses ran the offense and the seconds ticked off the clock. A face mask penalty by the 'Cats gave Avon Park a first down and Cooper returned to the game, handing the ball off to Alvin Hinson, who ran for six yards. Allen took over at that point, sealing the win with a pair of runs for the first down, allowing Cooper to kneel and the celebration began.

"We never practiced like an 0-2 team," Avon Park defensive coach Dwayne Council said. "We never stopped believing."

On paper, Hardee had the upper hand, racking up 262 yards of total offense to the Red Devils' 161, but Avon Park won the turnover battle (2-1) and late penalties by the 'Cats was key to Red Devils running out the clock.

After the team prayer at midfield, Cooper could be seen carrying the Avon Park school flag and running around like an Olympic athlete after he won a gold medal. No trophies were given or television cameras were around, but this sure did feel like a Super Bowl –– if only for a moment.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT