COMPLETE STORY: Hardee Handles Sebring

Hardee came into Friday night's game against Sebring determined to get back into the Class 3A-District 12 race.

Mission accomplished.

Senior tailback Jimmy Cimeus rushed for 205 yards on 19 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Wildcats past the Blue Streaks 31-19 at Firemen's Field.

Senior quarterback Jordan Grimsley added 95 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries as Hardee improved to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in district play.

"This was big game for us and we came out focused on getting a win," Grimsley said. "Our goal is the district championship and going to the state playoffs and we're on track for that if we take care of business the rest of the way."

Hardee's only loss was a stunning 10-7 upset at Avon Park two weeks ago and the Wildcats made sure they didn't suffer another letdown on their return trip to Highlands County.

Hardee took the opening kickoff and marched 74 yards in six plays, with Cimeus exploding up the middle for a 41-yard touchdown.

The extra point by Jose Castaneda was wide left and the Wildcats led 6-0 just 3:01 into the game.
On Sebring's first possession, senior tailback T.J. Williams, who finished with 42 yards on 16 carries, was hit hard and fumbled, and Hardee's Lance Mason recovered the ball on the Blue Streak 14.

Cimeus carried four consecutive times and scored on a 3-yard burst off left tackle.

"My line was opening the holes and I just ran through them," Cimeus said. "We knew we had to come out and take charge and we did that from the beginning.

"We lost to Avon Park and we were determined not to let that happen again, and now we just have to stay focused and keep playing hard."

The 2-point run came up short, but the Wildcats led 12-0 with 6:44 remaining in the first period.
Sebring managed to pick up a first down against the swarming Hardee defense, and then Sam Robinson pinned the Wildcats inside their 10 with a good punt.

On first down, Cimeus headed up the middle, broke two tackles and then outraced the Blue Streak secondary for a dazzling 91-yard touchdown.

"The offensive line did a great job all night and once I got into the secondary, I just kept going," the Wildcat speedster said.

The extra point put Hardee up 19-0 with 3:26 remaining in the opening quarter.

Sebring finally put together a 42-yard scoring drive with quarterback Steven Fortner hooking up with tight end Kyle Long for a 14-yard touchdown pass.

The extra point was no good and the Blue Streaks trailed 19-6 with 3:03 remaining in the half.

After the kickoff, Hardee took over at its 30, and Grimsley, who normally plays wide receiver but was filling in for an injured Esayi Youyoute, ran the option to perfection and raced 70 yards for a touchdown.
"I love being a wide receiver, but it's exciting playing quarterback," Grimsley said. "I'll do whatever the coaches want me to do because we want to win a district championship, and that's all that matters."
The two-point run was stuffed by the Blue Streak defense, which stiffened after the first period and forced three turnovers, but Hardee took a 25-6 lead into halftime.

Sebring managed to trim its deficit midway through the third quarter when Robinson took a lateral and raced 65 yards down the sideline for the score.

Robinson's extra point pulled the Blue Streaks within 25-13 with 7:03 remaining.

After an exchange of punts, Hardee broke the game open with a 67-yard punt return.

The point after was no good and the Wildcats led 31-13.

Sebring refused to fold and Fortner, who completed 6-of-18 passes for 104 yards in his second career start, found Robinson open over the middle for a 42-yard touchdown pass.

"Steven looked good when we gave him time to throw," Hamlin said. "We wanted to get the ball in Sam's hands because of his speed and he did a good job with the chances he had."

The 2-point run was denied and the Blue Streaks trailed 31-19 with 7:48 remaining in the game.
Hardee, which had 253 rushing yards, took the ensuing kickoff and put together a drive that didn't produce any points, but did take valuable time off the clock.

After a punt, Sebring got the ball back at its own 13 with under three minutes to play.

Hardee, which had five sacks and an interception, sacked Fortner once and forced three incomplete passes to take possession of the ball.

The Wildcats ran out the rest of the clock to seal the win.

"I'm proud of our effort," said Hardee first-year coach Tim Price. "We played hard, overcame some injuries and we don't have any superstars, but we do have a heck of a football team."

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