TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Green Dragons Break Through

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Lake Placid senior Chevontray Wilson (11) stretches into the end zone while Celebration's Justin Temple (44) and Phillip Araujo (70) attempt to keep him from a score on Friday during the Green Dragons' 29-10 victory over the Storm at Roger Scarborough Memorial Field. Wilson was ruled down within the one-yard line but scored two plays later.

ADVERTISEMENT

By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: September 13, 2008

Updated:

LAKE PLACID - With every move he made, every cut-back and quick burst of speed he employed on his way to the end zone, Caleb Jones' smile only grew larger.

On his way to scoring the touchdown that all but sealed the Lake Placid football team's 29-10 victory over Celebration on Friday night, the junior tailback saw the catalyst for his team's first victory of the season right there in front of him.

And after the game, he was still smiling.

"I love my line," Jones said after the Dragons rushed for 163 yards and scored three touchdowns on the ground to beat the Storm for the second straight season. "Every move I made, I saw a blocker. I can't take any credit, I have to give it all to the line."

Perhaps Jones should join the club.

Senior Chevontray Wilson and junior Navarhi Holden each had touchdowns and senior quarterback Zach Campbell led the team with 57 yards on eight carries as Lake Placid wore down the Celebration offense and took advantage of passing opportunities down the stretch to send its homecoming crowd home happy.

"Blocking helped us so much tonight," said Wilson, who also had a 55-yard punt return. "We haven't blocked as well the past couple games, but they stepped up. I hope they step up the rest of the season."

Campbell, who picked up the homecoming-king crown at halftime, called the line's play "awesome."

"They handled all their responsibilities," he said. "Making those blocks really opened up the field and gave us some opportunities."

The victory was extra special for first-year coach Jason Holden, who earned his first career win on the night his class of 1988 was celebrating its 20-year reunion and Roger Scarborough Memorial Stadium with filled beyond capacity on the home side.

His bright-green dress shirt half-soaked from a celebratory Gatorade shower, coach Holden called the night "almost like a godsend."

"I told the guys, I knew we'd get the lead, it was all about what we did with it," coach Holden said. "I couldn't have been more pleased that they were able to play harder and feed off a lead, and never let down."

Celebration grabbed the early edge after the Dragons fumbled on their first play from scrimmage and gave the Storm good enough field position to boot an early 28-yard field goal. But two drives later, Lake Placid got into a groove, marching 64 yards on 13 plays and scoring on a three-yard run by Navarhi Holden with 7:05 remaining in the second quarter.

After a quick three-and-out by Celebration, Wilson broke loose for a 55-yard punt return, setting up the Dragons at the Storm 11-yard line. Five plays later, and after a sweep to the right nearly got him into the end zone, Wilson finished the job with a one-yard blast to the left that give LP a 13-3 lead with 3:48 left in the half.

But the Dragons were far from done: After another three-and-out from Celebration, LP went to the air, first on a 39-yard toss from Wilson to senior receiver Avery Young and then for a score when Zach Campbell hooked up with leaping Jacob Campbell for a 13-yard strike and a 19-3 lead just before half.

"When we showed we were able to run, they had to bring everyone up in the box, and our line did great job of sealing them out of rollouts," coach Holden said. "We were able to get out there and get rid of the ball."

Lake Placid hardly let off the gas in the second half, but early penalties threatened to slow them down.

Infractions brought back three big plays to open the third quarter - including a would-be touchdown) - but the Dragons were able to bounce back one drive later when Jones cut and sliced his way to a nine-yard score and a 26-3 lead.

The Lake Placid defense held strong for nearly all 48 minutes, but the Storm gave their fans something to talk about on the drive home with a 70-yard touchdown pass from third-string QB Miguel Torres-Bruno to a wide-open Deatrick Green with less than a minute to play.

"Everyone's understanding their assignments, especially on defense," coach Holden said. "The defensive line really closed up the inside, tackles did a great job getting penetration upfield and stringing everything outside. The linebackers and safeties were really flowing and the corners did a great job on bump coverage and sticking with receivers."

The Dragons head into a bye week before welcoming district power Tampa Catholic to town on Sept. 26, and Coach Holden said the victory sets just the right tone for the two weeks ahead.

"This is critical so the guys feel good about themselves and understand they can win and be winners," he said.

Jones agreed.

"It gives us momentum, and we know we can go out there and win this game," he said. "If the line blocks like it did tonight, we can win."

NOTES: LP junior Steven Guellf showed off his range with a 45-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter ... Celebration starting quarterback Geoffrey Bangley was injured with a minute to play in the first half and did not return ... The Dragon defense held the Storm to 45 rushing yards on 38 carries ... The Dragons had seven penalties for 70 yards, while the Storm had seven penalties for 50 yards.

Lake Placid 29, Celebration 10

Friday at Lake Placid

Celebration 3 0 0 7 - 10

Lake Placid 0 19 7 3 - 29

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

Celeb - Alex Sunnarborg 28 field goal

Second quarter

LP - Holden 3 run (Guellf kick failed)

LP - Wilson 1 run (Guellf kick)

LP - ZCampbell 13 pass to JCampbell (Guellf kick failed)

Third quarter

LP - Jones 9 run (Guellf kick)

Fourth Quarter

LP - Guelff 45 field goal

Celeb - Torres-Bruno 70 pass to Green (Sunnarborg kick)

STATS

RUSHING LP; Wilson 12-36, Jones 11-28, ZCampbell 8-57, Young 2-12, Holden 2-28, Lara 1-2. Celeb; Francis 15-25, Baker 2-10, Bangley 6-(-4), Saragusa 2-1, Talley 1-0, Francis 3-0, Akins 3-9, Torres-Bruno 1-(-5), Taunton 1-(-4), Temple 1-3, Green 3-10

PASSING LP; ZCampbell 5-6-39; Wilson 1-1-39. Celeb; Torres-Bruno 2-2-95, Bangley 0-3-0, Taunton 1-7-0.

RECEIVING LP; Young 1-39, JCampbell 2-21, Wilson 2-18. Celeb; Talley 1-25, Torres-Bruno 1-0, Green 1-70.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT