Streaks Fight For Winning Record

SEBRING - A week after knocking off arch-rival Avon Park at Firemen's Field, the Sebring football team has a winning record in its sights as it travels to Port Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. tonight for a meeting with the Class-5A Pirates.

The Blue Streaks (5-4), winners of two straight, hope to secure their third winning season in four years, a mark coach Jared Hamlin said says a lot about the direction of the program.
"It'd be huge, because we've only had three winning seasons since 1996," Hamlin said. "It shows that we've got things going the right way."

There was plenty going the right way for Sebring last week: Senior T.J. Williams rushed for 166 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns, a sign, Hamlin said, that the offensive line was on its game.
"Our whole offensive line did a heck of a job," he said. "They've gotten better every week, and it was very positive for that group to create holes like they did."

Hamlin also noted that his team has done a solid job finishing drives the past two weeks, something the Streaks weren't doing early on this season.

"We've moved the ball decent all year, we just weren't able to finish in the red zone," he said. "But we finished last week and we did it early, and that's something that really helps."

The Pirates (3-6) have lost four of five but won last week on the road at Charlotte. Hamlin said they're straightforward on offense, but that they execute well and feature a mobile quarterback.
To combat that, he said, the Streaks will need to stick to their assignments.

"They run the option a bit, so we have to stay with who we're assigned to," Hamlin said. "We've got to follow through on plays and stay with them."

With the confidence of dispatching their rivals in their back pocket, the Streaks are ready to end the season on a positive note and use the win over AP as a springboard.

"We have confidence we can win every week," Hamlin said. "We go into every week thinking we can win the game. Last week didn't change anything, winning that one was a good thing, but now it's over with and we have another game to play."