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Wildcats Run Roughshod Over Red Devils

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park's Vincent Perry tries to hold on to Hardee's Ezayi Youyoute during Friday's Wildcat victory.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: September 28, 2008

WAUCHULA - Avon Park head coach Andy Bonjokian ran the full range of emotions on Friday night.

From smiles and cheers to frustration, and finally a somber moment at midfield as he shook hands with yet another winning coach.

The Red Devils marched 64 yards for a touchdown - a 10-yard strike from quarterback Albert Moses to Derrick McKenzie - on the game's opening series, but that was as close as they would see the end zone, as Hardee's clock-controlling offense limited Avon Park to just 11 offensive plays in the second half in a 24-7 victory at Wildcat Stadium on Friday.

"It's the same story over and over," Bonjokian said. "This game was for the taking and we let mistake after mistake take us out of our game. I never thought when the game started that the highlight for this team would be that opening drive."

Avon Park's banged-up defense was little match for Hardee's ground attack, led by speedy tandem of quarterback Ezayi Youyoute, who rushed for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and Jake Mayer, who powered his way to 101 yards in the victory.

Hardee finished with 325 yards on the ground for the game against a Red Devil defense that was searching for answers.

"We should've been able to stop him," said Avon Park's Dwyane Council Jr. "We would close the hole up the middle and Youyoute would cut outside for a huge gain. He was great at making plays with his legs and made it very difficult for us to stop him."

There was not to be a Cinderella ending for the Red Devils as in last season's 10-7 upset win over the 'Cats that constituted AP's lone victory for the season.

Avon Park's offense was barely visible after the opening series, as Hardee's speedy backs ate up a ton of yards along with the clock.

What was peculiar about Avon Park's offense is not that they scored just seven points (or a total of 49 points over the past two seasons) but that the Red Devils managed just 11 offensive plays in the second half against a stingy Wildcat defense, including just one play in the fourth quarter.

"We couldn't keep their offense off the field," Bonjokian said. "We had Hardee at third-and-long numerous times and they always seem to make the first down. Our defense has to come up in those situations to give our offense a chance to work."

And it almost looked it was going to be the Red Devils' night.

On the opening offensive play of the game, Moses, who started at quarterback for the first time this season after a wrist injury kept him sidelined the opening weeks, caught Hardee off-guard by connecting with Virgil Cooper for a 31-yard completion, which nearly was taken to the house.

Moses then hit Terrill Conner for six yards and then Derrick McKenzie for another six, which coupled with a 15-yard personal foul penalty against the Wildcats and the Red Devils were sitting pretty with first and goal at the Hardee 10-yard line.

Moments later, Moses hit McKenzie again, this time in the flat, where the senior receiver ran past the Hardee defense and into the end zone for the touchdown.

Bonjokian and his staff celebrated with their players, as McKenzie came back to the sideline, and the Red Devils took a rare 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

"That was the best drive we've had this season," Bonjokian said. "Albert looked so poised and confident running the offense. You couldn't tell that this was his first game of the season."

Moses could hardly contain his excitement after finally putting on the pads and helmet for a real game.

"I had a huge smile on my face in the locker room," Moses said. "I couldn't wait to get out on the field and for this game to begin.

"On that first drive, I felt really calm and I was able to take my time and find the open man."

After forcing Hardee to punt on its first possession, Avon Park had a swagger about them as they took the field at their own 19-yard line. The swagger didn't last for long; however, as penalties pushed the Red Devils back and they were forced to punt, giving the ball to the Wildcats at midfield.

The Wildcats weren't to be contained for long, as they took nearly five minutes and 10 plays to drive 51 yards that culminated Hardee fullback Jordan Baker rumbling in from one-yard out for the touchdown.

With the score tied at seven, the Red Devils went four-and-out to start the second quarter, and Avon Park's Cleveland Nobles pinned Hardee back at their own one-yard line with a beautiful 50-yard coffin punt.

That would be the turning point in the game.

Hardee put together a classic 18-play, 95-yard drive that may have resulted in just a field goal, but what it showed was the blueprint on how to win for the Wildcats: Control the clock.

The 'Cats had the ball for over eight minutes during that drive and converted on a key third and 12 from their 10-yard line and a perfect opportunity for the Red Devil defense to shine, but Youyoute squirted through the defensive front of Avon Park for 15 yards and a first down that seemingly sent a dagger through the heart of the Red Devils.

"That was a perfect chance for us to hold them and get the ball back and hopefully get into the end zone and regain the lead," Council said. "But instead, we missed some tackles and let them get a first down.

"You can't make mistakes against a team like Hardee and expect to win. You can't give them extra possessions because they'll make you pay."

The Wildcats went up by 10 points late in the third quarter on a 15-yard touchdown run by Youyoute for a 17-7 lead.

Midway through the final quarter an Avon Park fumble gave Hardee the ball and Youyoute scored for the second time on a 13-yard run that capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive that sealed the win.

"We simply didn't execute," Moses said. "We knew who was going to get the ball and we couldn't stop them.

"After that opening drive, Hardee had to respect the pass, so they started pressuring me and that threw our offense off a bit."

"There is no way that this season is over," Bonjokian said to his players. "We've just got to get back to practice on Monday and continue to improve. If there is anybody who doesn't think we can win or doesn't want to put in the time and hard work to get better, don't bother showing up on Monday."

Hardee 24, Avon Park 7

Friday at Wildcat Stadium

Avon Park 7 0 0 0

Hardee 7 3 7 7

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

AP - Moses 10 pass to McKenzie (Nobles kick), 9:21

Hard - Baker 1 run (Vega kick), 22.9

Second Quarter

Hard - Vega 15 field goal, 2:14

Third Quarter

Hard - Youyoute 15 run (Vega kick), 2:21

Fourth Quarter

Hard - Youyoute 13 run (Vega kick), 5:47

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING: Avon Park; Allen 6-14, Moses 2-6. Hardee; Youyoute 27-192-2, Mayer 25-101, White 11-31, Baker 1-1-1.

PASSING: Avon Park; Moses 10-15-127-1. Hardee; Youyoute 3-4-39.

RECEIVING: Avon Park; McKenzie 5-64-1, Cooper 3-54, Conner 1-6, Allen 1-3. Hardee;Donaldson 2-27, Mayer 1-12.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5827 or at choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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