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Pirates Bowl Over Streaks

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Sebring's Caleb McGee left Zac Morris right and Kevin Welborn 8 can't hold back Braden River's Tevin Bryant from plowing into the end zone on Friday night during the Pirates' 28-11 victory over the Blue Streaks at Firemen's Field.

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: November 1, 2008

Updated:

SEBRING - After Braden River's 28-11 victory over Sebring on Friday night, Blue Streak coach Jared Hamlin called Pirate running back Tevin Bryant "a bull."

Then, upon further reflection of Bryant's 263-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Streak defense, Hamlin decided Bryant's short, powerful frame better resembled "a bowling ball."

But before Braden River's Class 3A-District 12 victory over Sebring on its homecoming night, Bryant was better known as "the back-up."

"I was happy to get the start," said Bryant, who filled in when all-district back Jajuan Bell felt sick before Friday's game. "They were fast and coming over the top, so I cut back, which is what this zone offense is for."

Whatever the scheme, it was an all-too familiar site for Blue Streak fans, as a 200-yard rusher burned the Streak defense and ran away with the game.

"We were there and made contact every time," said Sebring sophomore defensive back Devin Clarke. "We'd have him, but we'd let him go and he'd slip away."

Hamlin said called Bryant "short, stocky, thick and strong," noting his defense did a solid job of holding him back for much of the first half. But a lack of offensive rhythm kept the Sebring defense on the field too long, and Bryant's relentless running wore down the Streaks.

"We didn't play well enough offensively to make a difference," Hamlin said. "We couldn't run the ball well, and that hurt because we couldn't control the clock.

"When you've got a power team like that that's going to run it down your throat, you have to control the ball a little bit. We just never got to that point."

Sebring took an early lead when Clarke returned a Braden River punt 73 yards to set up a one-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown by Matt Grubb two plays later. After a two-point conversion scored on a sideways-snap and run by Caleb McGee, the Streaks lead 8-0 with 5:40 to play in the first.

The Pirates answered two drives later, when Willie McNeal turned a fake punt on 4th-and-5 from Sebring's 35 into a touchdown to bring Braden River within a point.

After a quick Streak three-and-out, Bryant ran 68 yards on three plays, but an interception in the end zone by Sebring's JC Howard gave the ball back to Sebring and spoiled the go-ahead attempt.

After Howard's 103-yard interception return was called back and ruled a touchback because the pick occurred in the end zone, Sebring added to its lead just before the half when kicker Buck Schroeder booted a 24-yard field goal with 52 seconds left.

Hamlin said despite the lead, the Streaks' offense was not where it needed to be heading into in the half.

"We had a long punt return that set up a score, but that's not an offensive touchdown," the fifth-year coach said. "Offensively, we just weren't consistent. We had a couple of plays, but we just weren't consistent at all."

The second half proved to be all Bryant's, as the bruising back rumbled for three scores, including runs of eight and 17 yards on the Pirates' first two drives of the second half. The Blue Streak running game, meanwhile, struggled, gaining just 21 total yards on the night. Senior Daniel Burnett led the Streaks with 35 yards on 12 carries, while Clarke had the best day offensively with 88 yards on seven catches.

Sebring - which has lost seven straight since opening the season with a home victory over Martin County - travels to arch-rival Avon Park next week.

"A win there would erase everything," Clarke said. "That's the game people want us to win, and that's one we know we can win."

Hamlin said his team will be ready for the Red Devils, and that despite the tough recent stretch, the Streaks are still fighting.

"It's been a rough season," Hamlin said. "But they've never quit."

Braden River 28, Sebring 11

Friday at Firemen's Field

BradRiv 0 7 14 7 - 28

Sebring 8 3 0 0 - 11

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Seb - Grubb 1 run (McGee run)

Second Quarter

BR - McNeal 35 run (Kerns kick)

Seb - Schroeder 24 field goal

Third Quarter

BR - Bryant 8 run (Kerns kick)

BR - Bryant 17 run (Kerns kick)

Fourth Quarter

BR - Bryant 7 run (Kerns kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING Braden River; Jackson 6-21, Bryant 32-263, Fischer 4-(-11), McNeal 2-36. Sebring; Burnett 12-35, Grubb 3-(-9), Clarke 2-(-5).

PASSING Braden River; Fischer 10-20-106-1. Sebring; Grubb 13-26-116-1.

RECEIVING Braden River; Bryant 2-25, No. 3 1-4, McKoan 1-4, McNeal 5-60, Garcia 1-13. Sebring; Clarke 7-88, Burnett 2-16, Howard 3-8, Sanders 1-4.

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at 863-386-5841 or bgjurgevich@highlandstoday.com.

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