Brahmans Bully Red Devils

The Lonnie Pryor Show made an appearance at Joe Franza Stadium to rave reviews at the expense of the home team.

Okeechobee's talented, 6-foot, 185-pound tailback did everything but sell popcorn, scoring four touchdowns (two on offense, one on defense and one on special teams) in leading the Brahmans past Avon Park 48-0 on Friday night.

The loss dropped the Red Devils to 0-2 on the season, while Okeechobee improves to 1-1.
Pryor, an elusive back with great speed, lived up to the hype, gaining 120 yards on 13 carries, all in the first half.

The Brahman junior, who rececently received scholarship offers from South Carolina, Boston University and Florida International University, made mince meat of the Avon Park defense, spinning and juking his way to the end zone almost at will.

The fear of Pryor taking it to the house help set up Okeechobee's first score -- a 25-yard touchdown strike by junior quarterback Garrett Madrigal to Nate Pollard, after the Okeechobee tailback had wore down the Red Devil front line with three successive runs.

Okeechobee exacted its own brand of revenge, after suffering defeats at the hands of Avon Park the last two seasons, including a last second, 10-7 loss in front of the home fans in '06.

"They beat us the last two years and we lost last week to Lakeland," Pryor said. "Coach told us that someone had to pay for it."

The Red Devils suffered another lopsided defeat in front of the home fans, being outscored 89-0 so far this season -- 128-0 if you factor in the preseason loss to Lake Wales.

The Brahmans collected 330 yards of total offense to Avon Park's 52 yards.

The Red Devils have gained a miniscule 146 yards of total offense in two games this season.

Avon Park looked lost from the opening kickoff, as Okeechobee caught the Red Devils off-guard with an onside kick to start the game -- recovering the squib at midfield that led to the first score.

On its first possession, Avon Park had the ball for two plays, before Okeechobee linebacker Dustin Robinson picked off an Albert Moses pass at the Red Devil 36.

On the very next play, Pryor took it to the house, using a pretty spin move at the line of scrimmage to avoid the rush and scampering 36 yards to the end zone and a quick 14-0 lead for the Brahmans just four minutes into the game.

The punishment for Avon Park was just beginning, as Okeechobee recovered another onside kick that culminated in the third Brahman touchdown -- a two yard blast by Timmy Williams for a 21-0 lead with five minutes left in the first quarter.

Both offenses stalled until four minutes into the second period, when Pryor scored his second touchdown of the game on a 51-yard run off another spin move that broke him free down the sidelines on the first play of that possession for Okeechobee.

Avon Park's highlight on defense was when Avon Park's Rashad Young intercepted a pass by Madrigal to give the Red Devils the ball at their 26-yard line.

But whatever positive injection that play may have given the home team, it would be fleeting. Pryor stripped Virgil Cooper and took the fumble back 51 yards for another touchdown and a 34-0 lead with four minutes remaining in the half.

Okeechobee would pile on another score -- a 72-yard bomb by Madrigal to a wide open Pollard for a 41-0 lead courtesy of Pryor, who made a spectacular interception to foil Avon Park's attempt to put points on the board before halftime.

Pryor got one last touch of the ball -- the opening kick off of the second half -- in which he raced 65 yards for his final score of the game to the amazement of the home crowd.

To add insult to injury, Avon Park lost Cooper minutes before the end of the game with a leg injury.
Cooper, who rushed for 44 yards on 10 carries, was carried off the field, his status for the season is up in the air.

Avon Park shot themselves in the foot with another batch of mental mistakes, fumbling four times in the game and losing three of them and two interceptions.

Moses had another game of rushing to throw the ball before his receivers were in position and Okeechobee stuffing the run to force the Red Devils into pressure situations.

Avon Park has two weeks to right the ship that is sailing toward the abyss, as the Red Devils host the Hardee Wildcats on September 21, after a week off that will most likely be spent putting the pieces together of their splintered football team.

Avon Park head coach Earnest Perkins was at a loss for words after the loss, addressing his team with love and encouragement.

"As long as I love you, that is all that should matter."