UCF quarterback Rob Calabrese answered critics Saturday night with a phenomenal performance against South Dakota, leading the Knights to touchdowns on each of the three drives he engineered in the first two quarters of a decisive 38-7 win at Bright House Networks Stadium.

Sure, the Coyotes compete in what was formally known as Division I-AA, but the way the Knights dominated this matchup will make for a pleasant week as the team heads into its meeting with N.C. State on Saturday.

Rob Calabrese (Photo by Scott McCall)

“Offensively, we executed very well for a first game,” said UCF Coach George O’Leary.

And much of that had to do with the best collegiate effort of Calabrese’s career. The junior completed every one of his nine pass attempts in the first half for 140 yards, closing out the second quarter with a strike to A.J. Guyton (with 1:11 remaining) once the junior wideout broke free in the end zone.

“A.J. did a great job, and I had all the time in the world up front,” said Calabrese. “That comes with experience and working together all summer.”

Guyton finished with a career high 127 yards on eight catches. As a team, the Knights offense put together a balanced effort that totaled 472 yards in all.

That final scoring drive of the opening half pushed UCF’s advantage to 24-7 and came after coaches gave much-hyped freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey a shot at running the show. His only drive in the first half ended in a 30-yard field goal by Nick Cattoi after Godfrey was nearly picked off on a third-down pass, which was well short of the first down marker.

Throughout the night the two quarterbacks encouraged each other from the sideline.

“We knew he was going to play in the third series and I kept [telling] him ‘get your mind right’, telling him to just go out there and do what he does best,” said Calabrese.

Godfrey finished 6-of-7 for 65 yards and a touchdown pass to Quincy McDuffie in the fourth quarter. He also ran for 10 yards on three carries.

“He makes plays. He did real well today as a true freshman,” said Calabrese. “You can see what he can do with his feet, and his arm, too. He’s going to be a great quarterback.”

Calabrese clearly looked comfortable while leading the offense, whether it was during rare moments in which he faced any real pressure or while tucking the ball and running at the defense. It was quite a debut to the season for a player whom fans have seemingly given up on.

“He’s really grown up since last year,” said running back Jonathan Davis of Calabrese afterwards.

“He’s a great leader. You can’t do nothing but rally behind Rob,” he said. “Especially when he made that run and ran over the defensive back (during a seven-yard scramble in the third quarter).

“That was a great move. I just felt like that after that moment everything just came together because we’ve seen the quarterback, our leader, out there laying his body on the line for us. The only thing we can do is at least do the same for him.”

Calabrese’s passes were pinpoint accurate, and aside from his first pass of the third quarter, which he overthrew downfield, any incompletion from there came by way of dropped passes as he finished 12-of-15 for 176 yards and picked up another 14 yards on four carries.

“I just felt everything clicking,” Calabrese said. “We were meshing real well.”

It was because of the way he handled himself – with a confident poise and a seemingly newfound comfort in the pocket – as he registered his options.

“He made the right checks, he threw against some pressure and I thought he got us in the right checks in the run game,” said O’Leary. “Hopefully he’ll grow with some confidence from that.”

Because as worthy an effort such as this one is to warranting any sort of high level of praise, N.C. State is no South Dakota, as he’ll soon find out.

– DE Kyle Wilber – Apopka – The junior led Wake Forest with eight tackles (five for a loss), three sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked extra-point in a 53-13 win over Presbyterian.

– DB Ray-Ray Armstrong – Seminole – Intercepted a pass and took it back 22 yards for a score in Miami’s 45-0 win over Florida A&M. It was the first career pick and touchdown for the sophomore.

– DB Chimdi Chekwa – East Ridge – Finished with 2.5 tackles (one for a loss), a forced fumble and a pass breakup to begin his senior season in Ohio State’s 45-7 win over Marshall.

– OL Michael Brewster – Edgewater – Started at center for Ohio State, where the junior helped make room for 280 yards on the ground and 249 yards through the air against Marshall.

– LB Michael Lockley – Olympia – The senior made 7.5 tackles (one for a loss) in Florida Atlantic’s thrilling 32-31 win over UAB.

– OL Joseph Bailey – Gateway – Started his sophomore season at right tackle for Florida Atlantic, who passed for 254 yards and rushed for 93 yards on 28 attempts (3.3. per carry) against UAB.

– PK Alan Gendreau – Orangewood Christian – The junior kicked a 31-yard field goal and was perfect on two extra-point attempts for Middle Tennessee State in a near-upset 24-17 loss to Minnesota.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

If you were unable to catch the Elite 24 High School All-Star Game broadcast from Venice Beach, Calif. this past Saturday, you missed out on an MVP performance from Winter Park High School senior Austin Rivers.

The son of Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers led Team Marques Johnson with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists despite landing awkwardly on his right arm in the second half. Rivers returned to the game after icing his wrist, but came out on the losing end against Team Raymond Lewis 131-128.

Austin Rivers (Photo by Scott Kurtz, ESPN RISE)

The game featured seven of the top seniors on ESPNU’s Top-100 list and three of the nations top-rated juniors. Rivers, who moved to No. 1 overall this week, was the only participant from the Sunshine State but found himself one-on-one against a University of Florida recruit.

After coming up empty on his first attempt from the field and grabbing a rebound on the offensive end, Rivers managed to get going by splitting two defenders and gliding midair towards the hoop, where he finished with an underhanded shot off the backboard just three minutes in.

Moments later, he drained a 3-pointer while Missouri’s Bradley Beal, verbally committed to Florida, had a hand in his face. On the other end of the floor Rivers grabbed a rebound, pushed up court and dished off to fellow co-MVP James McAdoo, a Virginia product committed to North Carolina, for his first assist.

Later in the half Rivers got an easy put-back off a rebound, then drove to the hole against Beal and another defender to finish with a finger roll before getting back on defense to recoup yet another missed shot.

The battle with Beal, No. 5 at ESPNU, was just getting started though as Rivers blocked two of Beal’s shots in the opening minute of the second half then coasted through the lane for an uncontested layup.

Rivers blew past Beal twice off the dribble a few minutes later while attacking the basket, not long before going down with an injury when he was caught off balance midair while reaching up for an inbound pass. He returned to the game with 9:40 to play and scored on a breakaway two-handed dunk. Still in noticeable pain, Rivers resorted to the left hand for his final highlight when he put a spin move on Beal and banked a shot off the backboard for a bucket as a few minutes remained.

Last season Rivers, listed at 6-foot-4 and 189 pounds, was named the ESPN RISE National Junior Player of the Year after averaging 24.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for Winter Park’s Class 6A state title team. ESPN lists his current college choices as Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, Florida and UCLA.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

The final chapter in a four-year varsity volleyball career began this week for Boone High School senior Kristin Faust, who verbally committed to Clemson before the start of the season.

Kristin Faust (Photo courtesy of Boone Volleyball)

Faust joined the Braves as a freshman with already plenty of talent. And coaches say she’s since blossomed into a leader her team can turn to when the game is on the line.

“In her sophomore year she went from being just another weapon to being the weapon for us on the team,” said Boone Coach Mike Ladewski.

It was the same way with her travel team as well, as Faust was named most valuable player while leading Top Select Volleyball Academy to a national tournament win in 2008.

“At crunch time, you can count on her for a point,” said Foundation Academy Coach German Del Valle, who coached Faust over the past few years at Top Select. “She has been the spirit and heart of our teams.”

That can also be said of her contributions at Boone. Despite her role as an outside hitter who primarily plays the back row in rotations, she led the Braves in digs a season ago while showing off a knack for being able to put the ball away.

“Her defensive skills are the most impressive,” said Ladewski. “She understands where the ball is going to go.”

That’s why college programs were recruiting Faust as a defensive-oriented libero instead of offering her the chance to play at her desired position. Coaches say Clemson will be getting a versatile athlete who can contribute anywhere on the floor and possesses the kind of IQ that should serve an NCAA Tournament team well.

“She has become a smart hitter, not just a powerful one,” said Del Valle.

And there’s still one more high school volleyball season left to continue to get even better.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Facing a decisive game three in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series, the Florida Pride handed the ball to ace pitcher Cat Osterman. She was electric, pitching her way to a two-hit, two-run, seven strikeout complete-game performance over the Chicago Bandits.

Osterman and the Pride out-pitched and out-hit the Bandits, posting seven runs off 12 hits on the scoreboard. Osterman held Chicago to just two runs on two hits, both Samantha Findlay home runs, for a 7-2 victory. The end of this game not only marked the end of the NPF playoffs, but also the end of two illustrious careers for the Bandits in Jennie Finch and Stacy May.

Leading off the top of the second, Findlay stepped up to face off with Osterman and proceeded to blast the first pitch deep over the left-field wall for a solo home run to give the Bandits a 1-0 lead.

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the second, Pride third baseman Andrea Duran dropped a bunt back to Bandits pitcher Kristina Thorson. Duran would be out on the play, but both runners would advance to second and third base.

Lauren Lappin, struggling in earlier playoff games, redeemed herself by blasting a change-up to the left field fence, scoring two runs to give Florida a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Bandits starting pitcher Thorson was pulled following the double for Nikki Nemitz. With Lappin on second, Tonya Callahan blasted her own double, scoring Lappin for a 3-1 Pride lead.

Nemitz stopped the bleeding shortly thereafter, getting the Bandits out of the inning down by two runs. Thorson finished the 1.1 innings of work with three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Then it was rookie versus rookie as Charlotte Morgan faced off with Nemtiz. Morgan got the better of the two in the bottom of the third, ripping a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Pride a 4-1 lead.

With two on and no outs, Kelly Kretschman continued her hot hitting, blasting a two-RBI single to right field to give the Pride a 6-1 lead. Immediately following the single, Nemitz was replaced by Jessica Sallinger in the pitcher’s circle.

Nemitz finished the game with 1.2 innings pitched, seven hits for three runs and one strikeout in 12 batters faced. Bases were loaded with no outs as Sallinger stepped into the circle to face the potent Pride lineup. Sallinger stopped the bleeding as she got three-straight Florida batters to ground out.

The bleeding continued just one inning later as Natasha Watley blasted a solo home run over the centerfield fence to put the Pride up 7-1. With three outs left until elimination, Findlay another homer off Osterman to bring the score to 7-2.

The championship victory is the second consecutive National Pro Fastpitch trophy for Osterman and the first ever in Florida Pride history.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

• Bright House Sports Network

Includes video highlights of Edgewater vs. Hagerty – Apopka vs. Oak Ridge – Olympia vs. Winter Park – Dr. Phillips vs. Flagler Palm Coast – Lake Highland Prep vs. Colonial – Mainland vs. West Point and more.

• Varsity Sports

Includes video highlights of Apopka vs. Oak Ridge – Olympia vs. Winter Park – Edgewater vs. Hagerty – Boone vs. Ocoee – Lake Mary vs. West Orange – Lake Brantley vs. Wekiva and more.

• WFTV Channel 9

Includes video highlights of Edgewater vs. Hagerty – Apopka vs. Oak Ridge – Freedom vs. Haines City – Jones vs. University – Boone vs. Ocoee – Olympia vs. Winter Park and more.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Last November, the Timber Creek High School boys bowling team took the long way around the state tournament before eventually reaching the finals against Daytona Mainland, where they could only come away as runners-up.

It’s the closest the Wolves have gotten to hoisting the trophy since capturing the school’s first-ever state championship in any sport in 2006, the same day the girls bowling team accomplished that same feat.

What stung most in the aftermath, though, was the reality that the Wolves underperformed at the most crucial part of the year.

“We just hit a wall at that point where everything and anything we needed to fall did not fall for us,” said Timber Creek Coach Deb Scherr. “It was a wake-up call for us.”

Following a regular season of dominance, it seemed as though the Wolves would have few challengers between them and their ultimate goal. But then the first roadblock of the year came along, as they opened up the first day of competition against Apopka and were sent packing for the consolation bracket.

From there, TCHS fought its way back against a number of top-seeded teams, doing away with their next six opponents until they were right where they figured they’d be all along – in the state finals.

But Mainland came away with the win in five games. In 2008, the Wolves lost in the consolation finals to eventual state champion Martin County.

Despite the loss of two starters from last year’s team, Scherr feels confident that enough talent returns. Back for the Wolves are the team’s top two bowlers in Dallas Aldridge and Kyle Greene, as well as last year’s anchor at the state tournament, lefthander Justin Mandell.

“We picked up a couple kids from JV that should help us out and fit right into the starting lineup,” said Scherr. “We’re hoping to get right back to where we were a year ago.”

It all starts for area teams next week as the regular season gets underway.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

If the state volleyball tournament was set to begin next week, the defending back-to-back Class 2A champs might be a bit nervous about their chances for a three-peat.

The First Academy played uncharacteristically in two games this week at the Boone Preseason Classic as they were taken to five games in a win against Lake Mary on Tuesday, then lost to Boone in four games on Wednesday.

The First Academy (Photo by J.C. Carnahan)

What’s been the strength for TFA in year’s past – holding serve, solid defense and go-to hitters who can put the ball away – seemed to be missing in those warm-up matches.

“More than anything, it’s been very humbling,” said TFA Coach Michele Moreman. “By returning 10 players you’d think that you could pick up where you left off, but in no way is that the case.”

While Moreman was encouraged at times this week, she says there is still plenty of work to be done before the games start to count. On Tuesday, Aug. 31 the Royals open the season at home against Lake Nona before hosting Olympia on Thursday, Sept. 2.

“This tournament can prepare us for some of the stuff that will come during the year, it shows us some of the things we need to work on,” said co-captain Abby Mixner, one of six seniors on the team. “This isn’t the peak of our season. The peak of our season should be states.”

With the loss of only two graduates from a year ago, it’s no stretch to figure that The First Academy can move past these early obstacles and duplicate the success they’ve enjoyed in 2008 and 2009.

Along with Mixner, junior Taylor English and seniors Gabby Shipe and Ansley Gebben played a part in those back-to-back titles.

“They’ve experienced it. They know what it feels like to make it to Lakeland and be the last team standing,” said Moreman. “I feel like they are still hungry and I’m not going to look at two so-so games and think that they don’t want it.”

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

There will be a few new faces on the links in 2010 for the Lake Mary boys golf team as the 2009 FHSAA Class 2A champs look to defend their title.

Lake Mary 2009 State Champs

Last season the Rams won the program’s third state championship since 2004 by an eight-stroke advantage over Martin County at Silver Spring Shores Golf Club. This time around though, Lake Mary fields a senior-laden group as they attempt to turn that success into back-to-back bragging rights by season’s end.

“They know how difficult it’s going to be,” said Lake Mary Coach Doug Peters of his returnees.

Two weeks ago practices began for Lake Mary without individual champion Han Kim (9-under par) and Hojin Kang (3-under), who both began collegiate careers at UCF this month. That means the pressure falls on the clubs of Tyler Calderone (6-over), Nick Spencer (9-over) and Calvin Rosser (13-over) to lead the way.

Peters said they’ve spent the summer staying active on the golf course, eyeing the chance to not only continue their dominance in the Seminole Athletic Conference but to return to the very place they left off in 2009.

“There’s just something special about having a group of seniors with a lot of tournament experience heading into the season,” said Peters. “We’ve just been really fortunate to have had some great talent come through here over the years.”

New to the fold are three transfers, all of which are seniors whom Peters says has fit right in with the team since their arrival.

William Herring moved in from North Carolina and is already committed to NC State, while Sebastian Ostos spent last year in Alabama and Mike Yamin transfers in from Orlando University High School.

Now that the new cast is in place, the Rams get a chance to see how they stack up with season-opening matches at The Golf Club at Cypress Head against Spruce Creek on Wednesday, Sept. 1 then at Twin Rivers Golf Club against Oviedo on Sept. 2.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Things didn’t fare so well for the Knights in the second half though as a lapse on the defensive end allowed Tahnai Annis to turn a scoreless game in Florida’s favor with a goal in the 48th minute. She then found the back of the net nearly five minutes later, after slicing through defenders in the penalty box, to help the Gators turn away UCF by a 2-0 score.

There were an announced 2,141 fans on hand, breaking the previous attendance mark of 1,142 set last season in a win over No. 4 Florida State in overtime. The Knights set a program record in total attendance for a season in 2009 as 4,601 fans attended eight home games a year ago.

“I thought we played great in the first half and that we had more dangerous chances, but then we came out flat in the second half,” said head coach Amanda Cromwell. “It was a great crowd too. I wish we could have given them some goals to celebrate on our end.”

After being outshot 10-6 in the first half, the Knights responded with a slim 7-6 lead in shots in the second half and held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks in the contest. But it wouldn’t be enough as Florida made its efforts near the goal pay off.

Kristina Trujic and Katie Jackson each took three shots on the night for UCF while goalkeeper Aline Reis made four saves in the loss.

Also: UCF women’s soccer hosts No. 11 Florida on Sunday

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –