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From The Opening Kick, Liberty Overpowers Lake Placid

Contributed Photo by Amanda Moore

Zack Reynolds (left) and Daniel Brinke work together to bring down a Charger running back on Friday during the Green Dragons' preseason loss to Liberty in Kissimmee.

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By WOODY WOMMACK

For Highlands Today

Published: August 30, 2008

Updated:

KISSIMMEE - There were many different ways in which first-year Lake Placid football coach Jason Holden envisioned the first "live" play of the 2008 season playing out.

But the worst possible scenario for Holden and the Green Dragons became a reality on Friday night, when Liberty's Darius Bentley returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to spark a 33-7 Charger victory over the Dragons in their preseason opener.

The Dragons, who traveled only 27 players, appeared overmatched all night, and advanced the ball into Liberty territory just once, early in the fourth quarter when Chevontray Wilson took a handoff 70 yards inside the Chargers five-yard line. Two plays later fullback Navahri Holden scored the only touchdown of the game for Lake Placid, rumbling for a five-yard score.

"It was great, Wilson kept saying 'let me run it up the middle' and he ran hard, made a couple nice cuts and got us down there," Coach Holden said. "Then our fullback finished it off, those are the kind of things we wanted to see."

Navahri Holden finished the game with 22 yards on seven carries and also had the Dragons lone reception of the game, a 12-yard catch. Wilson led all rushers in the game with 69 yards on seven carries.

Bentley had an outstanding game for the Chargers, rushing for a 1-yard score just before the half, and returning a Lake Placid punt 80 yards for a score - all before halftime.

"We had a little breakdown on special teams," Coach Holden said. "We just haven't had the time to work on special teams live. That's all on me right there."

Liberty took a 19-0 lead into the half, and after a quick third quarter touchdown put the team up 26-0, Chargers coach Doug Nichols took out most of his first-string players.

Coach Holden said the Dragons' lack of preparation, not the intimidation factor of playing a much bigger school in Liberty was to blame for his team's performance.

"We've got to coach them up better, we've got seven offense plays in and that's it," he said. "Right now we have no misdirection plays so their defense keyed on our fullback and he took them right to the ball every time."

The Dragon offense could never really get going, and finished the game with 120 yards of total offense, compared to Liberty's 265. Lake Placid running back Caleb Jones was stifled by Liberty's defense, gaining five yards on 10 carries.

Liberty was led on the ground by Malik Folkes, who carried the ball nine times for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Holden said if nothing else, the experience of playing a high-caliber opponent like Liberty will help prepare the Dragons for the tough regular season road ahead.

"We have 27 players right now, which is great, but it's still 27, so when we're scrimmaging it's hard," Coach Holden said. "You need the game speed to help the kids adjust and it just helps you when you play someone else."

Liberty 33, Lake Placid 7 Friday at Kissimmee

Lake Placid 0 0 0 7 - 7

Liberty 6 13 14 0 - 33

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

Lib - Bentley 98 kick return (kick failed).

Second quarter

Lib - Bentley 5 run (run failed)

Lib - Bentley 80 punt return (Augustin kick).

Third quarter

Lib - Kelly 5 run (Augustin kick)

Lib - Folkes 2 run (Augustin kick).

Fourth quarter

LP - Holden 5 run (Guelff kick).

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING: Lake Placid; Jones 10-5; Campbell 2-4; Wilson 7-69; Lara 2-8; Holden 7-22. Liberty; Folkes 9-60

PASSING: LP; Campbell 1-4-12-0; Wilson 0-1-0-0

RECEIVING: LP; Holden 1-12.

The Highlands Today sports department can be reached at 863-386-5841 or sports@highlandstoday.com.

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