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Highlands Today

Streaks Show Off Their Strengths

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Sebring's Gus Williams (left) and Toney Tevin sack Tenoroc quarterback Chris Stovall on Friday during the Blue Streaks' 40-6 victory over the Titans in Lakeland.

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: August 30, 2008

Updated:

LAKELAND - Matt Grubb didn't have many expectations heading into Sebring's preseason opener against first-year program Tenoroc.

All the sophomore quarterback wanted to do was pick up a victory in his first career start and gain the confidence of his teammates.

Next challenge, please.

Grubb completed 13 of 24 passes for 206 yards and four touchdowns on Friday night to lead the Blue Streaks to a 40-6 victory over the Titans.

"I was just hoping we'd win the game," Grubb said, adding he didn't expect to throw four TDs. "Everyone rallies behind everyone, good performance or bad, and it takes a lot of pressure off."

Daniel Burnett had 24 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown to pace the Sebring offense, including 11 carries on the Streaks' opening drive of the third quarter to help put the contest out of reach. Burnett accounted for 57 yards on that drive alone, a credit, he said, to his offensive line.

"I was seeing everything because my blockers did really good tonight," the junior running back said. "Every time we got in the huddle, I said, 'let's go,' and they did."

Sophomore Devin Clarke caught two touchdown passes - one 19 yards and the other 24 yards - to finish with five catches for 64 yards and two scores, while junior Michael Hankerson had two catches for 41 yards and a touchdown and senior JC Howard added a 53-yard touchdown.

"They kept loading the box, and that's why we kept throwing the ball," said Sebring coach Jared Hamlin. "The offensive line came off the ball real nice and Daniel ran hard all night.

"All in all, good things happened, but we just have to cut down on those mistakes that will kill us in the regular season."

Hamlin pointed at the 118 penalty yards the Streaks racked up, which stalled multiple drives and put Sebring in one situation where they were 2nd-and-goal from the 26-yard line. That drive resulted in an interception - one of two Grubb threw - and put a fire in the belly of defensive leader and senior Kenny Daniels.

"Those kind of penalties and mistakes can cost you games," Daniels said. "We have to get after it and keep up the intensity no matter who we're playing, but we don't want to lose a game because of penalties."

Hamlin agreed.

"I'm happy for the win but I'm disappointed in how we won it," Hamlin said. "We made a lot of young mistakes tonight. And those will kill us in the regular season."

After a scoreless first, Sebring got on the board with 6:41 remaining in the second quarter when Burnett took his seventh straight handoff of the drive seven yards for the score and a 7-0 Sebring lead.

The Streaks struck again less than two minutes later when Clarke made a leaping catch over the middle, fumbled into the end zone and recovered for a 19-yard score and 13-0 Sebring lead.

But Tenoroc responded, scoring the program's first-ever touchdown on a 27-yard lob from quarterback Chris Stovall to running back Ervin Day to bring the Titans back within one at 7-6. Day finished with 56 yards on 15 carries and four catches for 79 yards.

"It kind of made us mad when they scored," Daniels said. "So we got back out there and got after it."

Sebring struck once more before the half on a two-play, 66-yard drive, culminating in a 53-yard catch and run by Howard to put the Streaks up 20-6 at the half.

"Our offensive line did a great job protecting," Grubb said. "We've been having a bunch of really good practices lately, but getting in there and actually playing was great."

The Streaks opened up the third quarter with a 16-play, 86-yard drive that all but put the game away. After Burnett took his 11th run of the drive 15 yards on a key third-and-four, Grubb sold a play-action pass to Hankerson for a score a 27-6 Sebring lead.

"Grubb showed poise, made the proper reads and did a great job," Hamlin said. "I expected it out of him because of his personality, but for the majority of sophomore quarterbacks, especially pocket-type guys, you don't usually see that every often.

"He hung in there, stepped in nice and did the things we've been working on."

Sebring added two more scores in the fourth, first on a 24-yard strike from Grubb to Clarke on an athletic, high-flying catch for a 34-6 lead. They tacked one more on in with 5:38 remaining, when sophomore speedster Clarence Counts took one 10 yards for his first career varsity touchdown.

"Sebring was very disciplined and came prepared to take advantage of what they could get," said Tenoroc coach Dave Robson. "We gave them a short field several times and they were very impressive calling plays at the line and hitting hard on defense."

Hamlin said the Streaks showed many positive signs, but there will be plenty to work on before they open the season at home against Martin County on Friday.

"It's a good quality win because we showed we can do some things on both sides of the ball," Hamlin said. "We just have to get a lot better by Friday."

Sebring 40, Tenoroc 6 Friday at Lakeland

Sebring 0 20 7 13 - 40

Tenoroc 0 6 0 0 - 6

SCORING SUMMARY

Second quarter

Seb - Burnett 7 run (Schroeder kick)

Seb - Grubb 19 pass to Clarke (Schroeder kick failed)

Ten - Stovall 27 pass to Day (Bell kick blocked)

Seb - Grubb 53 pass to Howard (Schroeder kick)

Third quarter

Seb - Grubb 1 pass to Hankerson (Schroeder kick)

Fourth quarter

Seb - Grubb 24 pass to Clarke (Schroeder kick)

Seb - Counts 10 run (Schroeder kick failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING: Sebring; Burnett 24-120, Grubb 5-25, Daniels 1-0, Counts 7-51, Clarke 1-30. Tenoroc; Day 15-56, Stovall 3-(-5), Jesse 4-(-10), Bates 1-2, Arcinega 1-(-4), Absonson 1-(-9).

PASSING: Sebring; Grubb 13-24-206-2. Tenoroc; Stovall 6-22-115-0

RECEIVING: Sebring; Sanders 3-40, Hankerson 2-41, Clarke 5-66, Howard 1-53, Johnstone 1-3, Welborn 1-3. Tenoroc; Day 4-79, Absonon 1-27, Bates 1-6

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