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Highlands Today

A Shootout For The Ages

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Sebring's JC Howard leaps for a touchdown catch while Hardee's Devante Carter defends on Friday during the Wildcats' 57-51 overtime victory over the Streaks.

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: October 11, 2008

Updated: 10/11/2008 04:11 pm

WAUCHULA - As Hardee fans rose to their feet for kickoff following the Wildcats' sixth score of the first half, Hardee's public address announcer said perhaps the most prophetic statement of the night over the loudspeakers: "At least we're all getting a lot of exercise."

Of course, the workout had just begun.

Junior Ezayi Youyoute's five-yard touchdown in overtime - his fifth rushing score of the night - proved to be the difference in a Class 3A-District 12 slugfest on Friday, as Hardee survived a furious Sebring comeback and defeated the Blue Streaks 57-51 in an offensive shootout for the ages.

Sebring, which was down by 15 heading into the fourth quarter, scored twice in the final 5:30 of regulation to tie the game at 51. But the Blue Streaks failed to reach the end zone from the 10-yard line in their first and only possession of overtime, and Youyoute capped off a 288-yard rushing performance by keeping his team undefeated in district play.

"I feel like I just ran a marathon," said Hardee coach Tim Price. "I'm just totally exhausted."

As were the scorekeepers, who watched the Wildcats take a 45-28 halftime lead behind three scores by Youyoute and two touchdown runs by sophomore Jake Mayer. When the dust settled, Hardee racked up 488 rushing yards on the night, while Sebring senior Daniel Burnett picked up 116 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns and sophomore Matt Grubb completed 15 of 32 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

"This kind of game wears you out," said Sebring senior linebacker Caleb McGee, who scored on a key two-point conversion late in the third and recovered a fumble late in the fourth. "You can't prepare during the week for a game like this, because you don't have time to do enough conditioning for it.

"It comes down to how much you want to give and who makes the most mistakes."

The two teams combined for six lost fumbles a piece, while Sebring (1-5, 0-1) had five fumbles and two passes picked off by Hardee sophomore defensive back Scott Donaldson. But the Streaks made the Wildcats pay for their miscues: Sebring had two fumble recoveries for touchdowns and stripped the ball on key defensive stands late to keep its comeback hopes alive.

"We played like warriors," said Sebring senior captain Kenny Daniels. "I feel like this is the best we've played all year."

Sebring coach Jared Hamlin said he's never been a part of a game quite like this.

"I guess it was a great game to watch," Hamlin said. "And in 15 years I'll look back at it and it might be fun, but not now."

Sebring jumped on top with 8:34 remaining in the first on a one-yard run by Burnett that was set up by a fumble recovery by senior Kevin Welborn following a Blue Streak punt. After a two-point conversion on a tricky lob from sophomore Trini Sutton to Welborn, Sebring was up 8-0. Hardee, however, didn't take long to respond, scoring on its third play from scrimmage when Youyoute used misdirection and broke three tackles to scamper 61 yards for the score.

Sebring fumbled the ensuing kickoff, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by Mayer to put the 'Cats (4-2, 2-0) up 14-8 with 6:24 left in the first. After another Sebring fumble, Hardee marched down to the Streaks' 16-yard line, but a blocked field goal by senior JC Howard led to a 78-yard rushing score by Burnett, who went left and reversed right for the touchdown and a 15-14 Sebring lead.

On Hardee's next play from scrimmage, Welborn was Johnny-on-the-spot again, picking up a Wildcat fumble and taking it 27 yards for the score and a 21-14 Sebring lead with 2:32 still remaining in the first. But Hardee scored on its next possession, this time on a 12-yard run by junior back Kelsheem White to tie the game at 21 as the first quarter ended.

"Their linemen were doing a good job blocking us downfield," Daniels said of Hardee's rushing offense. "They were slipping through the holes and we had to change up some schemes."

The Wildcats jumped ahead with 8:05 left in the half when Mayer followed a 45-yard run with a five-yard touchdown score and a 28-21 lead. The Wildcats then appeared to break the game open when Youyoute found the end zone again on a six-yard score and kicker Martin Vega booted a field goal from 26 yards out to give Hardee a commanding 38-21 lead with 3:01 before half.

But Sebring responded quickly, going 79 yards in four plays, highlighted by a 61-yard bomb from Grubb to fellow sophomore Devin Clarke and culminating in Burnett's third score of the half, a 12-yard blast up the middle to bring Sebring within 10.

Not to be outdone, Hardee stretched its lead one more time before half when Youyoute got loose for an 82-yard run to give the Wildcats a 45-28 lead at the half.

"We never felt like we put them away," coach Price said. "But we came out in the second half with that goal in mind. We've had some problems finishing this year because we get a little lax, and it got a little scary for us there at the end."

Sebring struck first in the second half when Grubb again lobbed one down the visitors' sideline to Clarke, who beat two defenders and jogged into the end zone for a 48-yard score to bring the Streaks back within seven. But Hardee appeared to put the nail in the coffin with 49 seconds remaining in the third, as Youyoute again found pay dirt and scored on a six-yard misdirection play that finished an eight-play, 62-yard drive to put Hardee up 51-36.

"We never felt like we were out of it," McGee said. "There's always a chance to come back, no matter the deficit."

Things didn't look good after Sebring's first play from scrimmage following the Hardee score was picked off by Donaldson, but after a Wildcat field goal attempted missed, Sebring marched down field again, netting big gains on a 39-yard Grubb-to-Clarke hookup and scoring on a fluke play that appeared to swing the momentum back toward the visitors.

On 4th-and-24 from Hardee's 30-yard line, Grubb threw a lateral pass to JC Howard, who heaved a long pass to the goal line into the waiting arms of a Hardee defender. A hit by Sebring's Devin Clarke jarred the ball loose, and Burnett picked up the ball and, not hearing a whistle, dove into the end zone for the score to bring the Streaks back within eight with 5:30 to play.

Hardee then fumbled its next play from scrimmage, and after Howard recovered, Grubb found the senior three times on the next drive, culminating in a 14-yard lob to the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown and a chance to tie the game.

"I told Grubb just to throw it in the corner and I'd jump and get it," Howard said. "He did exactly what I said, and it worked."

The Streaks ran nearly the same play on the two-point conversion and, much to the delight of the Blue Streak fans, converted the play to tie the game at 51 with 3:37 left.

Both teams had their chances to end the game in regulation, but both defenses stepped up and held the opposing offenses in check. That trend continued in overtime, when Sebring was stopped four times from within their own 10-yard line in the "Kansas Shootout"-style period, setting up Youyoute's game-winning run into the end zone and a victory for the ages.

"The kids showed the type of guts they had tonight," said Price while many of his players sobbed uncontrollably as fans poured onto the field. "It's just tremendous."

Hamlin said despite the loss, he saw a new side of his team.

"Their heart's grown 300 percent," he said. "We're young, and to show that kind of emotion and heart and fight, sometimes guys don't know how to deal with it, and it's a great asset to have."

Sebring has an open week next week. They're back in action on Oct. 24 when they host DeSoto.

Hardee 57, Sebring 51 (OT)

Friday at Wauchula

Sebring 21 7 8 15 0 - 51

Hardee 21 24 6 0 6 - 57

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Seb - Burnett 1 run (Sutton pass to Welborn)

Hard - Youyoute 61 run (Vega kick)

Hard - Mayer 1 run (Vega kick)

Seb - Burnett 78 run (Schroeder kick)

Seb - Welborn 27 fumble return (Schroeder kick failed)

Hard - White 12 run (Vega kick)

Second Quarter

Hard - Mayer 5 run (Vega kick)

Hard - Youyoute 6 run (Vega kick)

Hard - Vega 26 field goal

Seb - Burnett 12 run (Schroeder kick)

Hard - Youyoute 82 run (Vega kick)

Third Quarter

Seb - Grubb 48 pass to Clarke (McGee run)

Hard - Youyoute 6 run (Vega kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

Seb - Burnett 3 fumble return (Schroeder kick)

Seb - Grubb 14 pass to Howard (Grubb pass to Howard)

Overtime

Hard - Youyoute 5 run

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING Sebring; Howard 2-5, Burnett 27-116, Clarke 1-7, Sutton 1-6, Grubb 1-(-9). Hardee; Mayer 12-85, Youyoute 22-288, White 10-83, Jones 4-24, Neuhauser 1-2, Lindsey 3-6.

PASSING Sebring; Grubb 15-32-242-2, Welborn 1-1-39-0, Howard 0-1-0-1. Hardee; Youyoute 1-6-7-1.

RECEIVING Sebring; Howard 7-92, Sanders 1-5, Clarke 3-90, Burnett 4-89, Williams 1-5. Hardee; Mayer 1-7

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

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