The Florida Gators, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, advanced to the field of eight for the sixth time in program history and first time since 2005. They defeated the Miami Hurricanes 4-3 in 10 Innings on Saturday night in front of a large crowd of 5,783 at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville.

The Hurricanes committed seven errors in the game, including one in the top of the 10th by right fielder Chris Pelaez, who misplayed a fly ball hit by freshman shortstop Nolan Fontana, out of West Orange High School. Fontana would end up scoring the game-winning run on a RBI double by Austin Maddox.

Lake Brantley High School alum Greg Larson entered the game in the bottom of the 10th with one on base and one out. The sophomore proceeded to catch freshman Michael Broad looking on strikes and then force sophomore Rony Rodriguez to ground out to Fontana at shortstop, who fired a bullet across the diamond to Preston Tucker at first base for the final out. Larson collected his third save and was greeted by teammates as the celebration began.

The Hurricanes made nine errors in their two games of Super Regional play, which as a result denied local kids such as freshman Steve Ewing out of University High School and Ethan Bornstein from Winter Park High School a chance to make it to Omaha. The Gators opened Super Regionals with a 7-2 win on Friday night.

Fontana and Larson join sophomore Ben McMahan and senior Clint Franklin as players from the Central Florida area with spots on the Florida roster. McMahon played his high school ball at Bishop Moore while Franklin played at Timber Creek.

Joining the Gators at the World Series are the Florida State Seminoles, who are making the trip for the 20th time in program history and 14th time under head coach Mike Martin. The Seminoles defeated Vanderbilt 7-6 in the decisive Game 3 of the team’s Super Regional matchup at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee.

FSU, like the Gators, have four players from the Orlando area on its roster including senior outfielder Ohmed Danesh out of Dr. Phillips High School. Junior infielder Stuart Tapley and freshman Corben Madden both played baseball at Boone High School. Junior pitcher John Gast hails from Lake Brantley, where he was a teammate with Florida’s Larson from 2005-07.

For Gast, Tapley, and Danesh, this marks their second trip to Omaha in three years as FSU advanced in 2008, going 0-2 after losing to Stanford and Miami. The Seminoles open play this time around against TCU while Florida takes on No. 6 UCLA. The two state rivals could meet up early on as both are in the same bracket.

– More Local Players In College World Series –

Senior second baseman Mike Freeman out of Edgewater High School and sophomore shortstop Brad Miller from Olympia High School helped Clemson advance to the World Series. The Tigers take on No. 1 Arizona State to start the week’s final round of elimination play. Junior utility player Robert Beary out of Apopka started in 22 games for South Carolina, playing in 41 games on the year. The Gamecocks get underway against Oklahoma.

In the second day of the MLB First-Year Player Draft, local baseball players began to be selected by big league clubs. Below is a look at who they were, where they were picked, and what team made the call.

– 2010 MLB Draft Top-10 Local Picks –

– LHP Justin Nicolino (University) selected No. 80 overall by Toronto in 2nd round. WESH Video

– RHP A.J. Cole (Oviedo) selected No. 116 overall by Washington in 4th round.

– CF Mason Williams (West Orange) selected No. 145 overall by NY Yankees in 4th round.

– LHP Alex Burgos (Osceola/State College of Florida) selected No. 163 overall by Detroit in 5th round.

– LHP John Gast (Lake Brantley/Florida State) selected No. 199 overall by St. Louis in 6th round.

– RF Jose Dore (The First Academy) selected No. 244 overall by San Diego in 8th round.

– SS Mike Freeman (Edgewater/Clemson) selected No. 331 overall by Arizona in 11th round.

– RHP Cody Allen (Boone/UCF/St. Petersburg JC) selected No. 480 overall by Cleveland in 16th round.

– RHP Owen Dew (UCF) selected No. 630 overall by Cleveland in 21st round.

– C Shane Brown (Winter Park/UCF) selected No. 715 overall by NY Yankees in 23rd round.

– More Local MLB Draft Picks –

LF Chris Duffy (Cypress Creek/UCF) at No. 801 overall to Philadelphia (26th round); CF Jay Gonzalez (Freedom) No. 833 overall to Boston (27th round); RHP Tim Griffin (Rollins College) No. 852 overall to Seattle (28th round); LHP Ronald Schreurs (Freedom) No. 1,296 overall to Toronto (43rd round); LHP Jimmy Hodgskin (Bishop Moore) No. 1,311 overall to Philadelphia (43rd round); OF Tyler Marincov (Timber Creek) No. 1,453 overall to Detroit (48th round).

– Draft Notes –

– The UCF Knights have had nine different players selected in the MLB Draft over the last three years, including Brown, who has now been drafted twice by the Yankees. Last season he was picked in the 47th round. In all, UCF has had its baseball players drafted by MLB organizations 73 times since 1979. Dew was taken in the 33rd round in 2009 by the Los Angeles Angels. Duffy, who was selected in the 9th round out of high school, completed his four-year career as a finalist for the 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award as one of the top amateur players in the nation.

– The Florida Collegiate Summer League had the highest number of current or former baseball players drafted over the three-day MLB selection process as 25 FCSL players were taken, including five in the first eight rounds. A complete list of draftees is available at Florida League.

Boone's Lucas Rawlings (Photo by Justin Kane)

Just 16 seconds remained when Rawlings withstood a ferocious rush from the West Seniors at the line of scrimmage and connected on the 32-yard game-winning field goal.

“It was very tense,” said Rawlings of lining up for the attempt. “I was just focused on getting my leg through it and getting the ball through the upright. That’s all I had on my mind.”

The tense part came when Rawlings was given a little extra time to think things over as he was held up by a timeout from the West sideline. Once the ball was snapped a fierce collision took place up front before the kick hit its mark with plenty room to spare, prompting the celebration to get underway.

“It was indescribable,” Rawlings said with a grin while reliving the moment. “I knew right there that it was the game winner.”

The field goal capped off a 13-play drive that began midway through the fourth quarter and drained the remaining five-plus minutes to virtually nothing. Oak Ridge quarterback Baylin Trujillo converted on fourth-and-two during the drive on a keeper up the middle while several others played key roles.

The East got big gains on the ground from Colonial’s Jermaine Broomfield and University’s Curtis Riley, along with a 23-yard pickup on a throw from Pine Castle’s Michael Slack to Orlando Lutheran tight end Faysal Shafaat down the stretch.

Boone's Lucas Rawlings (Photo by Justin Kane)

Slack finished 6-of-9 passing for 126 yards as he delivering precise passes that landed right on target while Broomfield tallied 52 yards on eight carries. Shafaat caught four balls for 66 yards, one of which he kept a hold of even after taking a jarring hit over the middle from an opposing player.

“He told me ‘Great throw. If you would of threw it any higher I would have gotten laid out even worse’,” said Slack of the good-natured encounter they shared in the huddle following the play.

It was Slack’s touchdown toss of 39 yards to Boone’s speedy Denard Lucas, while in stride with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter, that tied the game at 14-14 and breathed new life into an East squad that had little trouble moving the ball. If only they could have turned those yards into points by reaching the end zone earlier.

Lucas was eager to get the call though after already having told a teammate he was bound to score a touchdown. He did so two plays after hauling in a 42-yarder from Trujillo.

“The (defensive backs) were playing man (coverage) and they were trying to bump me, but it wasn’t happening,” said Lucas, who finished with three receptions for 94 yards in the win.

Boone's Lucas Rawlings (Photo by Justin Kane)

Those two scores in the second half by the East were set up by a stingy defensive effort, most notably from defensive lineman Jordan Little from Cypress Creek who was in on two sacks on third downs which resulted in punts the other way.

They came on drives where the West routinely found themselves working for room to run from deep in their own territory as they tried to hang on to a 14-7 lead after returning to the field from the halftime break.

Among the East defenders making it tough on the West were Joseph Jones and Andres Jurado of Cypress Creek, Ryan Moore and Sean Brown from Colonial, Conrad Walko and Josh Kerlin of Pine Castle, along with Timber Creek’s Jacob Wainwright and Winter Park’s Corey Gonslaves.

Those efforts proved to be beneficial after having watched Ocoee’s Chris DeVaughn jump on a Trujillo pass in the flats for an interception which he raced 72 yards along the sideline to paydirt less than three minutes into the night.

But the equalizer was set up when a fumble that Boone’s Tabarie Sullivan landed on in a pile of players was recovered following a muffed punt near midfield. Eleven plays later, which included a fourth-down conversation, the game was tied at 7-7 just a minute into the second period as Riley faked to a running back, swung around wide to the right, and sprinted his way into the end zone past defenders.

“When I took off towards the sideline I seen some people in front of me and I knew I had to put a move on them,” said Riley. He would finish with 53 yards on 10 carries and 29 yards passing nf 2-of-4 attempts.

The West Seniors promptly replied with their best drive of the game two series later. They took the lead with a minute left in the first half when Robbie Matay hooked up with Dr. Phillips teammate Greg Slones in the corner of the end zone from four yards out. Only the momentum wouldn’t carry over into the final two quarters.

In the loss, Dr. Phillips running back Matt Williams had five strong runs for 39 yards and Apopka’s Joe Dennis made big tackles on defense for the West. Other defensive standouts included Matt Hunt and Matt Lambert of Bishop Moore, Delroy Steele (Jones), Jarret Leppert (Apopka), Michael Lewis (Ocoee), Cornelious Sigler (West Orange) and Donnie Bartolomucci (Olympia).

The game started with a bang for Boone when senior defensive end Kyle Adams recovered a fumble from Edgewater senior quarterback Kent Gainous, who lost the ball deep in the Eagles’ territory. After scoring an early touchdown Boone senior quarterback Sam Hutsell connected with senior Denard Lucas for a big 20-yard reception to get the Braves inside the 10-yard line. Hutsell then sent a lob pass to Adams for the second score on the night.

Freshman running back A.J. Turman would later break away for a 65-yard run to the Edgewater 10-yard line before taking a pitch to the left on fourth down and getting free before reaching the end zone. Gainous responded for Edgewater late in the second quarter by breaking tackles and running in for a score from 13-yards away to cut Boone’s deficit to 21-7 at the half.

Gainous later connected with senior Latavious Smith with 55 seconds to go in the third quarter for a 22-yard touchdown, but that would be it for the Eagles.

The Braves got interceptions and pass break-ups from seniors Tabarie Sullivan and Garrett Lattin while seniors Ryan Orlando, Travis Armstead, and Sage Shearhouse each had sacks in the win. R.J. Altman had an interception and Smith had a sack for Edgewater.

On Friday, Boone travels to Apopka to face the Blue Darters in the first round of the playoffs and the Eagles play host to Haines City.

– To nominate athletic performances for inclusion each Wednesday to the Top-5 list of Orlando Sports Central Standouts, send over an email to JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com –

AJ Turman of Boone (Photo by Chris Schubert)

1.) AJ Turman and Skyler Skersick – Boone Braves – Both had huge nights from the opposite sides of the ball last Friday for the Braves as they went on the road and kept their postseason hopes alive with a huge 48-6 win over Oak Ridge. Turman averaged 15 yards per carry out of the backfield while tallying up 210 yards on 14 carries and scoring four touchdowns. Skersick sacked former teammate Baylin Trujillo six times, including three straight times late in the second quarter. He also managed to block a punt in the process.

2.) Amanda Crowell – UCF Knights – While leading the UCF women’s soccer team into the top-10 Cromwell coached her squad to a regular-season Conference USA title. On Tuesday she was named 2009 Conference USA Coach of the Year for her efforts. Joining her on the all-C-USA postseason list were UCF senior Becca Thomas (Midfielder of the Year) and All-C-USA First Team members Courtney Whidden, Nikki Moore and Aline Reis. “The coach of the year award is really about our whole staff and I’m honored that we were recognized,” said Cromwell. “Donna Fishter and Colby Hale deserve so much recognition as their impact as coaches and leaders has been tremendous and they push me to be a better coach every day.” This was the first conference coaching honor for Cromwell despite being one of the most successful coaches in UCF sports history. In over 11 seasons her teams have gone a combined 156-66-15.

3.) Bruce Miller – UCF Knights – The junior defensive end was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week for his contributions in Sunday night’s come-from-behind 21-20 win over Marshall on ESPN. Miller tallied a team-high 10 tackles, including three for a loss and 2.5 sacks. The key play though came when he stripped the ball from Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson with 2:12 to play. That gave UCF (5-3, 3-2 C-USA) one more possession, which led to the game-winning touchdown pass from Brett Hodges to Rocky Ross. Miller now leads C-USA in both sacks (9) and tackles-for-loss (11.5). Teammate Jarvis Geathers in second in C-USA sacks with sevens and third in tackles-for-loss with 9.5 in all.

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (Photo by J.C. Carnahan)

4.) Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic – Howard was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the eighth time in his career by helping the Magic start the season 3-0. He averaged 21.7 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over that stretch in wins over Philadelphia, New Jersey and Toronto. The 6-11 center posted double-doubles in all three games, including a 20-point, 22-rebound performance on the road against the Nets. That followed a 21-point, 15-rebound outing in the season opener and was preceded by a 24-point, 11-rebound effort against the Raptors.

5.) Men’s and Women’s soccer – Rollins Tars – The men’s team claimed a share of the 2009 Sunshine State Conference Championship along with Tampa and set a new school record for wins in a season by going 16-1-1 overall and 7-1 in the SSC. The 16 wins eclipses the 15 wins previously earned back in 1994. The title is the third for Rollins and head coach Keith Buckley since 2004. The women’s team, ranked No. 8 in D-II with a 13-1-2 overall mark and 7-0-1 conference record, wrapped up their second-straight Sunshine State Conference regular season championship and are hosting the conference tournament semifinals and championship match this weekend starting Nov. 6.

More ––

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/28/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/21/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/14/09

On Thursday, the Braves hosted a non-district Homecoming Game and got back to their winning ways with a 37-7 win over visiting University (2-5). Coming into the night the Braves were 5-0 against the Cougars over the past five years, outscoring them by a combined 167-43. This night was no different. The Braves scored four touchdowns and a field goal in the first half, leading 30-0 after 24 minutes of play.

“The big thing was working together,” head coach Phil Ziglar said while walking off the field with a smile on his face. “We came together as a team and showed them what we can do.”

Leading Boone was freshman running back A.J. Turman. The 6-foot, 185 pounder tore through the Cougar defense for 162 yards on 24 carries, by far the biggest night of his young career.

Handing the ball off to Turman was senior Sam Hutsell, who went 8 of 14 for 144 yards (18 yards per completion) and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior Denard Lucas. Hutsell also ran in a six-yard touchdown with eight seconds left in the second quarter.

Lucas had a big night while racking up 104 yards receiving. His longest catch was made in the second quarter when he went for 57 yards on what seemed to be a play that would never end as he broke countless tackles over a span of more than 30 seconds before finally wearing out and being taken down. Junior Black Herring had an eight-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put Boone up 37-0.

“We’re going to come out with intensity and win all our games,” said Turman after the game while being congratulated. “Our goal is to make it back to states and win it all.”

On the defensive side, senior Tabarie Sullivan had two interceptions and Robert Akos also picked off a pass. Senior Mike Martinez had a sack and junior Jake Pender had a tackle for loss. For special teams, senior Calvin Washington returned a punt for a touchdown.

University quarterback Curtis Riley connected with Sean Beckton for a 44-yard touchdown late in the fourth to avoid the shutout for the Cougars.

– More University at Boone coverage –

Video highlights at WFTV

Photos by Stephen M. Dowell at Orlando Sentinel

Hart scored four times out of the backfield, and again on a punt return, to help what should be the top-ranked Class 6A team (once the new polls are released) earn a 47-9 District 6 win over the Braves. The Panthers entered the night No. 2 in the state and had also received recognition in national high school football rankings. It was just the third win for Dr. Phillips against Boone over the past nine meetings. DP now leads the all-time series 16-7.

Dr. Phillips running back Dee Hart scored five touchdowns against Boone. (Photo by Justin Kane)

This was the first time the two teams had faced off since Boone knocked the Panthers from the postseason a year ago. And this time it cost Boone their 17-game win streak at home, which ended in front of a Bright House Sports Network Game of the Week audience, despite DP playing without two seniors because of a violation of team rules.

Hart, who entered the game averaging 58.3 yards per game with three touchdowns to his credit, wasted no time in proving why he’ll be playing college football at the highest level after his high school days are behind him.

In the first quarter alone Hart scored on a 23-yard run, 21-yard run and a punt return for 63 yards to put DP up 21-0 with 3:07 to go in the period. Then with 2:07 to go in the second quarter he took a handoff and went 55 yards for a score before going 56 yards with 10:44 to go in the fourth for the final points of the game. He also caught two passes and returned a kickoff 41 yards in the win.

Setting up Hart’s first touchdown was a fumble recovery made by LaQuentin Smith, while the second score followed two successful fourth-down conversions, one of which was a fake-punt pass juggled and caught by Roderick Ryles. Junior Hasean Clinton-Dix then recorded his fourth and fifth sacks of the season, the second of which caused a fumble and led to the punt that Hart took back the other way. Smith also recovered a fumble later in the first half that led to a field goal and Clinton-Dix broke up a pass.

– More Dr. Phillips at Boone Coverage –

– Dee Hart highlight video from Varsity Sports:

– Chris Boyle game DP at Boone recap at Orlando Sentinel

– Game of the Week video footage of DP at Boone at WFTV

– Showdown of the Week footage of DP at Boone at WESH

New head coach Elijah Williams has Oak Ridge off to a 4-1 start just one season after the team went 3-7 overall and 0-4 in district play. But wins and losses aside, players are having fun again. They’re also learning the importance of family, both on and off the field. The approach seems to have revitalized a program that features veteran standout linebacker Lucktes Estiverne, newcomer Baylin Trujillo at quarterback, and loads of young talent around them.

Guito Ervilus (left) and Baylin Trujillo warm up before playing Colonial. (Photo by J.C. Carnahan)

“This whole year has been great,” said Trujillo, a transfer from Boone who served as a backup for the Braves. “Coach Williams has taught us how to be better people. He didn’t really care about all the winning and losing (in the beginning), he just wanted us to become a team.”

That much has been accomplished.

“By doing that we’ve been focusing on getting closer on the football field so that when we do go out there we have fun and pull through, like with this four-game win streak,” said Trujillo.

After dropping a game on the road to West Orange to start the season, the Pioneers have reeled off wins against Lake Nona, Evans, Freedom and Colonial. It’s not exactly a list of foes that would strike fear in the hearts of local prep football followers, but it’s helped make Trujillo’s adjustment to life as a starter that much easier considering the youthful group of skill players he’s surrounded by.

“We are confident right now,” said Trujillo. “We’ve been working hard since the summer for this and it’s paying off.”

Building those close bonds well before the season began has helped place Trujillo among the area leaders in passing yards per game and junior Ricky Harper among the area leaders in receiving yards per game. Such statistics are just one example of a team’s success being parlayed into the recognition of individual players, and vice-versa.

Williams knows a thing or two about teamwork, having been a part of successful seasons in Gainesville with the Florida Gators and later with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He combines the lessons he’s been taught with the expectations he has for his kids when it comes to their preparation in all fazes of life.

“When we’re together we laugh and joke,” said Estiverne of the Pioneers. “But we also practice hard with intensity. We don’t take any team lightly. We keep going hard.”

That will be key once home dates with area favorites Dr. Phillips (Oct. 23) and Boone (Oct. 30) approach in what will ultimately decide the two Class 6A District 6 playoff qualifiers. This Friday the Pioneers (currently 1-0 in district play) are on the road at Cypress Creek. They will later be on the road at Gateway on Nov. 6 before finishing the regular season with a non-district game against Jones on Nov.13. What it all really means is that although a 4-1 start is nice, there is still plenty of work left ahead of them.

“Wins are just wins,” said Estiverne. “This team has to keep getting ready and focused and we’ve got to keep moving on in order to get to that next level.”

By the look of things, it’s clear that the Pioneers are at least headed in the right direction.

– More Oak Ridge football coverage:

Head coach Elijah Williams interview with WFTV

Linebacker Lucktes Estiverne interview with WFTV

Brentley Romine interview with Williams at Orlando Sentinel

Timber Creek quarterback Tyler Marincov looks downfield for a receiver.

Following last week’s 24-17 home loss to Oviedo, the Wolves could use some time off. This Friday the Timber Creek football team will sit and watch as local teams are in action while they get some rest during the bye week. That’s critical before heading on the road to face the Wildcats as last week starting running back Isiah Bolden left the game with a head injury after taking 16 carries for 124 yards in the loss.

Timber Creek’s overall mark dropped to 2-2 on the year. They’ve won big over Freedom (0-4), gave away a game to Boone (2-2) in triple overtime, held on for the win late against Wekiva (1-3) and were outdone by an Oviedo (3-1) team led by UCF recruit Blake Bortles at quarterback.

TCHS running back Isiah Bolden pushes forward for more yards.

Winter Park comes off its bye week to face Cypress Creek (3-1) as one of three unbeaten teams in the Metro Conference with a 3-0 mark. The others are Dr. Phillips (4-0) in District 6 and Apopka (4-0) in District 5. None of the three unbeaten teams are scheduled to play each other during the regular season.

Timber Creek vs. Oviedo – By The Numbers

Should Bolden be unable to go against Winter Park a mixture of Joe Haas (5.4 yards per carry on 14 attempts) and Cameron Smith (4.2 yards per carry on 10 attempts) could be in order. Against Oviedo they combined for 45 yards on nine carries while Smith found the end zone for a score. Smith also picked off a pass and had three tackles on defense.

Quarterback Tyler Marincov had his worst game of the young season as he finished 9 of 22 for 133 yards and two interceptions. He also ran for 38 yards and a touchdown, in the third quarter. Kyle Plaugher caught three passes for 63 yards and Jalil Byrd caught two for 29 yards.

Defensively for the Wolves, Colin Brown was in on 13 tackles while Jacob Wainwright totaled 10 tackles and picked off a pass. Michael Puckett recovered a fumble for Timber Creek.

Joe Haas attempts to avoid a tackle last week against Oviedo.

Cameron Smith eyes the end zone last week against Oviedo.

Timber Creek's defense forced three turnovers last week in the loss.

– Find more local high school football coverage and TCHS vs. Oviedo at:

High school football stats at Varsity Sports

High school football district standings at Varsity Sports

Video footage of Timber Creek vs. Oviedo at WFTV

Shannon Owens game recap of TCHS vs. Oviedo at Orlando Sentinel

That’s why coaches have found ways to keep their kids encouraged after losses and focused after wins. Neighboring rivalries are nice to win, but finishing in one of the two top spots in your district will keep the dream of a state championship alive.

The football team at Boone High School knows this all too well. At 2-2 overall and now 1-0 in District 6 after a big 49-13 win over Gateway (1-3, 0-1), a new season may be just what’s needed.

Boone Braves –

Senior quarterback Sam Hutsell had a light workload last week, taking the night off after Boone built a 42-6 halftime lead. He rushed for 72 yards on five carries, one of which went for a score from 11 yards out early in the second quarter. Hutsell also broke off runs of 24, 20 and 17 yards by cutting, spinning and pushing his way through traffic. His only two completions of the game went to senior Jack Moch (9 yards) and sophomore Jason Torres (14 yards).

Carrying the load out of the backfield for the Braves were seniors Skyler Gromlich and Calvin Washington, and junior Blake Hererington.

Gromlich took his first handoff of the game late in the first quarter and scored on a 46-yard carry after bouncing off a defender and rumbling his way up field for the score. Washington scored on a 2-yard carry midway through the first quarter and had several carries of five yards to his credit. Hererington took a handoff for 18 yards before going 40 yards for a touchdown with 44-seconds to go in first half.

Seniors Tabarie Sullivan and Ryan Orlando led the special teams and defensive units. Sullivan returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown to end the first quarter and broke up a pass in the secondary while Orlando had a tackle-for-loss and blocked a punt late in the first quarter, which was recovered by senior Kyle Adams for a 1-yard score. Adams also had a tackle-for-loss in the win.

Delivering big hits on the night were junior James Erthal (on special teams), sophomore Austin Weller (sack), senior Mike Martinez (sack), senior Travis Armstead and junior Jake Pinder. Senior Garrett Lattin broke up a pass and senior offensive lineman Derrick Wood recovered a fumble in the first quarter.

Boone enters a bye week with a 2-2 overall mark and a big district game against Dr. Phillips looming. (Photo by Justin Kane)

Gateway Panthers –

The opening drive for Gateway proved to be their peak-performance on Friday night.

After being set-up by a 28-yard kick return by junior Dovanta Dobson, the Panthers offense started at Boone’s 46-yard line. From there junior quarterback Roger Allen connected with senior Richard Simpson for a 21-yard pickup. The very next play they hooked up again as Simpson went up overtop a defender and brought down the ensuing pass in the end zone for a 25-yard score. Then the kick was blocked and the visiting team never threatened again.

Simpson also had a run of 14 yard and Dobson a touchdown run of 33 yards.

Senior Michael Fulmore had a tackle-for-loss, juniors Angel Benavides and Carlos Delgado made touchdown saving tackles, and junior Dyshawn Markley broke up a pass.

– More Gateway at Boone coverage:

Short story and extra links at OSC