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Dragons ready for district finale

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Lake Placid tailback Caleb Jones (20) will need to be more physical inside the red zone if the Green Dragons want to get back above .500. Last week's loss dropped Lake Placid back to 4-4 overall, and it travels to play winless Gateway Charter tonight.

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By MARK PINSON

Highlands Today

Published: November 6, 2009

LAKE PLACID - With a win tonight against Class 2B-District 6 opponent Gateway Charter, the Lake Placid football team can do something that hasn't been accomplished in many years - finish with a winning district record.

The Green Dragons come into tonight's road game against Gateway Charter (Fort Myers) with a record of 4-4 overall and 2-2 in district play, while the Griffins limp in at 0-8, 0-3.

"This is a big game for us because it's our last district game of the year and it would help us toward our goal of finishing with a winning record," said Lake Placid second-year coach Jason Holden. "I'm really proud of our guys and a win against Gateway Charter would just add to what we've accomplished this season.

"Gateway Charter has some good athletes, but they've suffered some injuries and it's affected the way their season has gone."

Lake Placid is coming off a tough 20-3 loss to district rival Fort Myers Dunbar last week, but the Green Dragons must put that disappointing loss behind them and prepare for a Gateway Charter team that would like nothing better than to snap its winless streak with a win in front of its home fans.

The Griffins like to spread it out on offense by using four- and five-wide receiver sets.

"Gateway Charter likes to throw the ball, but because of injuries, they're down to their fourth-string quarterback," said Holden. "They have a wide receiver that's being recruited by the University of Miami, but he hurt his ankle and hasn't played the last few weeks.

"We're going to have to tackle well and read our keys with the kind of offense they run and we want to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback and try to take him out of his game and force some turnovers."

Gateway Charter uses a 4-3 defense, but the Griffins like to bring their linebackers and safeties close to the line of scrimmage to take away the running game.

Lake Placid will use the potent one-two combination of senior running backs Caleb Jones and Navahri Holden to pound away at the Griffins defense behind a solid offensive line.

Jones is an elusive tailback with the speed to break any play for a long gain, and Holden is a bruising fullback who picks up the tough yardage between the tackles.

"Caleb and Navahri run hard and give us a solid set of backs," said the Green Dragons skipper. "Our offensive line has improved a lot over the course of the season and I think we have the chance to dominate the line of scrimmage and get our running game going against Gateway Charter.

"When they bring their players up close to the line of scrimmage, it leaves nobody back and if we can block and execute our offense, I think we'll have a chance for some big plays."

Lake Placid is on the road for tonight's 7:30 kickoff and the Green Dragons return home next Friday night for the last game of the season against Lemon Bay.

Two wins in the next two weeks would give Lake Placid its first winning season in 10 years.

"We're a little beat up after last week's game, but we had a great day of practice on Wednesday and the kids are fired up about playing Gateway Charter," Holden said. "We're not overlooking them at all, but if we can get a win it would set up a huge game for us next Friday against Lemon Bay.

"I think we're going to play a great game against Gateway Charter and we're looking forward to finishing with a winning record in district play."

Green Dragons at Griffins

When: 7:30 p.m. tonight

Where: Fort Myers

Cost: $5

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

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