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Falcons Fly Past Blue Streaks

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Jensen Beach tailback Gerald Footman scores the first of his five touchdowns in the first quarter of Friday night's game against Sebring.

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By MARK PINSON

Highlands Today

Published: October 4, 2008

Updated: 10/04/2008 03:23 pm

JENSEN BEACH - There were plenty of fireworks in Jensen Beach on Friday night and they weren't just relegated to the sky.

Jensen Beach senior tailback Gerald Footman carried the ball 23 times for 211 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead the Falcons to a 55-42 homecoming win over Sebring.

Blue Streak sophomore quarterback Matt Grubb did his best to entertain by completing 19-of-42 passes for 288 yards and four touchdown passes in the losing effort.

The win improved Jensen Beach to 2-3 on the season, while the loss dropped Sebring to 1-4.

Jensen Beach scored on its first possession of the game by marching 63 yards in seven plays with Footman scoring on a four-yard sweep.

The point after by William Meyer was wide left and the Falcons led 6-0 with 5:56 remaining in the first period.

After a Sebring drive stalled inside the Falcon 20, Jensen Beach running back Cody Hager, who rushed for 117 yards on just five carries, broke loose for a 67-yard scoring run.

Footman ran for the 2-point conversion to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead with a minute left in the quarter.

The Blue Streaks fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Jensen Beach recovered at the Sebring 31.

Fullback Ben Lauderdale, who gained 58 yards on 12 attempts, picked up a first down and Footman capped the drive with a 14-yard scamper.

The extra point by Meyer put the Falcons up 21-0 heading into the second quarter.

Sebring refused to quit as sophomore speedster Devin Clarke took the kickoff and broke free for a 69-yard touchdown run.

Buck Schroeder's point after pulled the Blue Streaks within 21-7 with 11:46 remaining in the second stanza.

Sebring's defense stiffened and forced a Falcon punt.

Senior linebacker Caleb McGee came clean, blocked the punt and retuned it inside the Jensen Beach 10.

Junior tailback Daniel Burnett scored on a 5-yard run and Schroeder's point after made it 21-14 with less than nine minutes to play in the first half.

The inspired Blue Streak defense forced another punt, and Sebring took over at its 32.

Grubb hooked up with Clarke for a 60-yard pass and found Burnett open in the right flat for a 5-yard touchdown pass.

Schroeder's extra point sailed wide left and the Blue Streaks trailed 21-20 with 5:40 remaining in the quarter.

Jensen Beach, which rushed for 432 yards, couldn't pick up a first down against the swarming Sebring defense, but a fumbled punt gave the Falcons the ball at the Blue Streak 33.

Jensen Beach took five plays to score with Footman slashing his way in to the end zone from 15 yards out.

Sebring took over with less than 40 seconds remaining in the half, but Grubb's pass was picked off by linebacker Ryan Burke, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.

A 2-point pass was good to give Jensen Beach a 35-20 lead at the half.

The Falcons took the second-half kickoff and scored in one play as Footman scored on a 72-yard run.

The extra point made it 42-20 with 11:47 remaining in the period.

Sebring failed on a fake punt on fourth down and Jensen Beach took possession at the Blue Streak 48.

The Falcons scored in two plays as wide receiver Kevin Drennan took a reverse and rambled 39 yards for the score for a 49-20 lead.

Once again, Sebring mounted a furious rally as Grubb found Clarke in the corner of the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown pass.

The 2-point pass attempt was no good and the Blue Streaks trailed 49-26.

After forcing a punt, Sebring marched 41 yards in three plays as Grubb connected with Jack Howard for a 35-yard scoring pass.

Grubb hooked up with Howard for the 2-point conversion to pull the Blue Streaks within 49-34 with 3:52 left in the quarter.

Sebring forced a Falcon punt and moved 75 yards in 11 plays as Grubb hit Clarke for a 7-yard touchdown pass.

Grubb found Clarke for the 2-point pass to make it 49-42 with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Clarke finished the night with 12 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Jensen Beach answered as Footman shook loose for a 62-yard scoring run to seal the non-district win.

Sebring begins its Class 3A-District 12 schedule next week with a road game at Hardee.

Jensen Beach 55, Sebring 42

Friday at Jensen Beach

Sebring 0 20 14 8 - 42

Jensen 21 14 14 6 - 55

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Jen - Footman 4 yd run ( Meyer kick failed) 5:56

Jen - Hager 67 yd run (2-point run good) 1:04

Jen - Footman 14 yd run (Meyer kick) 0:00

Second Quarter

Seb - Clarke 69 yd kickoff return (Schroeder kick) 11:46

Seb - Burnett 5 yd run (Schroeder kick failed) 8:51

Seb - Burnett 5 yd pass from Grubb (Schroeder kick failed) 5:40

Jen - Footman 15 yd run (Meyer kick failed) 42:8

Jen - Burke 37 yd interception return (2-point pass good) 14:7

Third Quarter

Jen - Footman 72 yd run (Meyer kick) 11:47

Jen - Drennan 38 yd run (Meyer kick) 8:38

Seb - Clarke 30 yd pass from Grubb (Schroeder kick failed) 6:37

Seb - Howard 35 yd pass from Grubb (2-point pass good) 3:52

Fourth Quarter

Seb - Clarke 7 yd pass from Grubb (2-point pass good) 10:20

Jen - Footman 62 yd run (Meyer kick failed) 7:24

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHNG: Sebring; Burnett 8-14, Counts 3-2, Jensen; Footman 23-211, Hager 5-117, Drennan 2-45, Graham 8-14.

PASSING: Sebring; Grubb 19-42-288-4-1, Jensen: Glenn 3-4-25,Tortorici 2-3-4.

RECEIVING: Seb; Clarke 12-171, Welborn 3-21, Howard 5-72, Burnett 2-12, Jensen; Drennan 2-26, Stauffer 1-7, Lauderdale 2-11.

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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