Streaks Hold The Chain

AVON PARK --

Virgil Cooper sat on the Avon Park locker room floor with a brace on his right knee as teammates and friends filed past the senior who'd likely just played his last game of football for the Red Devils.

"Nobody can every say that Virgil Cooper didn't give everything he had," AP head coach Andy Bonjokian said. "I never expected anything less from him and he delivered. I just wish we could've given him a better result on the scoreboard."

The Red Devils were in the driver's seat for most of the second half, but four costly turnovers set up a Sebring comeback late in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Grubb didn't waste the opportunity, as he connected with senior JC Howard on a huge fourth-and-10 play for the 13-yard, game-winning touchdown to give Sebring a 14-13 victory over arch-rival Avon Park in a Class 3A-District 12 showdown at Joe Franza Stadium on Friday.

Howard, who caught just three passes on the night (all in the second half) explained later that the play was for sophomore teammate Devin "Bubba" Clarke, and not him.

"Bubba ran a post, but he was covered pretty well," Howard said. "Matt rolled out and saw me open and I got a great block from Kevin Welborn and I knew I was in the end zone."

The win improves Sebring to 2-7 overall and 1-3 in the district, while Avon Park drops to 2-7 and 0-4 on the season.

Sebring head coach Jared Hamlin praised his players and opponent in taking solace in this win after seven straight losses.

"This season hasn't gone the way we'd hoped for," Hamlin said. "But it really has shown what kind of character we have on this team. I give a lot of credit to Avon Park, who gave us all that we could handle tonight. They stopped our running game and we had to find a way to win.

"We've been in some unbelievable games this year and we just keep fighting."

Sebring tailback Daniel Burnett, who came into the game with 764 yards rushing in six games, was held to just 33 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown by Avon Park's defense.

"Avon Park focused on me and made me earn every yard tonight," Burnett said. "I knew we had to get some big plays from our passing game or our defense."

The Red Devil defense forced a fumble and intercepted Grubb twice in the third quarter that gave Avon Park numerous chances to put their rivals away, but the Streaks kept fighting back.

"We never doubted that we would win this game," Howard said. "We knew that we had a big play left in us and our defense came up with those big plays to allow the offense the opportunities we had to win the game."

After the go-ahead touchdown by Howard, Avon Park was still in a position to win.

With the ball on the Blue Streaks 40-yard line, Cooper ran a sweep to the left and split the Sebring defense and raced down the sideline. But he suffered a huge hit, and as the ball tumbled out, Sebring linebacker Lorenzo Lowe recovered to seal the victory.

Cooper, who had suffered a stinger earlier in the game, lay on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field.

The AP tailback is seeking medical attention and his status is doubtful for the season finale.

Preliminary reports are good for a quick recovery, but not in time for next week's season finale against Palmetto, meaning the senior's football career is over.

"Virgil showed us all what level we need to play the game at," AP receiver Alonzo Robertson said. "He literally gave it everything he had tonight."

Luck was not on Cooper's side most of the night, who was wearing the No. 19 jersey as his customary No. 3 was tattered and torn from a season of hard hits, as a pair of touchdowns were called back on holding penalties that would've given Avon Park a sizable advantage.

But despite the setbacks, Cooper hauled in a 34-yard bomb from senior quarterback Albert Moses for the touchdown and to break a 7-7 tie, but the extra-point was botched - a mistake that would come back to haunt the Red Devils - as Avon Park took a 13-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

The fourth is when Sebring turned up the heat on defense and forced three key turnovers, including a fumble that was recovered by defensive back Brad Pryce near midfield that set up the game-winning drive.

"Our defense played their best game all season tonight," Hamlin said. "Robertson really hurt us with some big receptions and forced us to make adjustments at half time.

"Robertson is going to be a dynamite receiver and one to watch in the coming years for the Red Devils."

Sebring opened the game with a 16-play, 60-yard scoring drive that included a textbook fake punt that saw linebacker Caleb McGee pass to Welborn for 15 yards for a huge first down.

Burnett would cap off the drive by bowling through the AP front for a two-yard touchdown run and an early 7-0 lead for the Blue Streaks.

But Avon Park responded with a drive of its own.

Robertson grabbed a pair of 28-yard passes over the top of the Sebring defense and Cooper ran for what looked to be a 55-yard touchdown, but a holding penalty nullified that score.

Avon Park tailback Teddy Allen ran six yards in for the score to tie the game with 1:30 left in the first.

But after the fans were walking to their cars and the band had ceased to play, Cooper was still on everyone's mind, as Fred Mixon Sr. walked in and inquired about the senior tailback.

"Virgil has never given up since I've been watching him play and he had Avon Park on the cusp of winning tonight," Mixon said. "He is a good kid and a heck of a football player."

Sebring 14, Avon Park 13

Friday at Joe Franza Stadium

Sebring 7 0 0 7 - 14

Avon Park 7 0 6 0 - 13

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

SHS - Burnett 2 run, (Buck Schroeder kick), 6:21

AP - Allen 6 run, (Calero kick), 1:30

Third Quarter

AP - Moses 34 pass to Cooper, (kick no good), 6:09

Fourth Quarter

SHS - Grubb 13 pass to Howard, (Buck Schroeder kick), 3:14