LAKE PLACID - What started out as a shootout quickly descended into a bombardment.
Braden River had three rushers top 100 yards and the Pirate defense forced six Lake Placid turnovers Friday night as Class 3A Braden River cruised to a 38-14 victory over the Class 2A Green Dragons.
Pirate sophomore back Jajuan Bell had 141 yards on 13 carries and two scores, senior back Tim Grider had 143 yards on 14 carries and junior quarterback Willie McNeal added 101 yards and two more touchdowns to lead Braden River (2-3), a third-year program playing its first full varsity schedule this season under head coach Josh Hunter.
"We have a young team, and they're always looking for instant gratification," said Hunter, whose Pirates had lost their previous three games. "So when you get your butts kicked week after week, it's tough to listen to coach yell at you.
"This is a very important win for us."
LP junior running back Chevontry Wilson had 148 yards on 21 carries to lead the Dragons (2-3), who scored on their first two possessions but were snake-bitten by six interceptions over the final three quarters.
"We were opening some holes up out there, but once they started blitzing, that's when everything got messed up," Wilson said. "We have to come back and do our thing next week, because it's a district game."
Both teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter, with Braden River striking first on a 20-yard run by McNeal on its opening drive. Not to be outdone, the Dragons marched the ball down the field on their first crack on offense, scoring on a 1-yard run by senior quarterback Conlin Veley to tie the game at seven.
Lake Placid took the lead on their next drive, riding Wilson to the red zone and scoring when Veley found senior Evaton Bailey on the left side of the end zone for a 14-7 advantage.
But that's all the Dragons would get in front of their homecoming crowd, as the Pirates ripped off three touchdowns in the second quarter, including a 43-yard dagger with 1:11 to play before half by Bell to put Braden River up 35-14.
"My guys did a good job blocking for me - the line really stepped up and did their job," Bell said. "This is big for us. After three straight losses, it's good to get some confidence for next week."
After a promising start, the Dragons' offense stalled in the second half thanks to three straight drives that ended in interceptions. Three of the six INTs were off tipped passes, something Wilson said the offense needs to get a handle on before next week.
"We have to catch the ball," he said. "There were a lot of mental mistakes out there."
The LP defense also took an early hit when senior linebacker and fullback Rashaad Brown, who was named homecoming king at halftime, was ejected from the game along with a Braden River lineman.
The Pirates travel to face Avon Park on Friday, while the Green Dragons look to rebound at home against Mulberry.
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