Lake Nona’s Kyle Herrera booted a 34-yard field goal as time expired to give the East a 20-17 come-from-behind win. Herrera also kicked a 32-yarder to close out the first half.

“I was already real nervous coming into it, then they tried to ice me twice,” Herrera said afterward. “I just threw my career on the line and put everything I had into it.”

East seniors watch as the ball clears the uprights. (Photo by Tim Citek)

Despite outgaining the West in total yards (326-207) the East seniors were forced to overcome six turnovers and a 17-7 deficit late in the second quarter before eventually pulling out the win.

The West built its lead by turning three of those turnovers into scores.

While trailing 7-0 early in the second quarter Edgewater’s Kelvon Davis forced a fumble, which put the West in position to tie the game. It wasn’t long before Bishop Moore quarterback Mike Calabro tucked the football and took off on a 30-yard touchdown run.

West Orange’s Marcus Isom went on to recover a fumble on a bad snap once the East regained possession, setting up a 27-yard field goal by Wekiva’s Kyle McGee. The West extended its lead with less than a minute to play in the second quarter when Wekiva’s Josh West jumped on a loose ball in the end zone following yet another fumble.

But while the West relied on the mistakes of its opponent, the East continued dusting itself off and feeding the ball to Lake Nona’s Jarius Pace and Winter Park’s Brandon Brown-Dukes out of the backfield.

The duo combined for eight carries of more than 10 yards on the night. When they weren’t fighting for extra yardage by making defenders miss by way of shifty moves, they were finding extra room to run thanks to an aggressive offensive line.

“It’s been a long time since I was able to get back in my groove and I felt like I was able to do that tonight,” said Pace, who missed much of the regular season due to injury. “God came through for me. The team came through. I’d like to give all the credit to the o-line for the outstanding blocking they did.”

Pace brushed off two fumbles to finish with 126 yards rushing and a touchdown on 14 carries. He also had a 45-yard reception late in the fourth quarter. Brown-Dukes took 12 carries for 61 yards and caught three passes for 30 yards and a touchdown in the win.

The celebration gets underway for the East seniors. (Photo by Tim Citek)

“It’s a great experience to play with and against all these guys from throughout Orange County, because some of these guys we’ve never had the chance to play against (during the regular season),” said Brown-Dukes.

It was his catch-and-run for a touchdown with 8:31 to go in the third quarter that tied the game at 17-17. Following a 31-yard reception by Winter Park’s Lee Dunnam, on a throw from East River quarterback Josh Jones, Brown-Dukes hauled in a pass while alone in the flat and reached the end zone on a 22-yard gain after sidestepping a defender inside the five-yard line.

“When I turned my head and looked up it was wide open,” Brown-Dukes said. “It’s all natural instinct from there. I just decided to take a jab-step inside and come back out.”

Pace scored the opening points of the night when he took a handoff up the middle and went four yards for the touchdown with 1:18 to go in the first quarter.

He got the scoring drive started on a pitch-out to the right, where he stiff-armed a defender and raced 52 yards down the West sideline. Positive gains by Brown-Dukes, Central Florida Christian Academy’s Karl Bourne and East River’s Michael Elder continued to move the chains before Pace punched it in for the score.

– More Orange County Senior Bowl Highlights –

– Lake Nona’s Chris Compton caught a 23-yard pass from University’s Kyle Sellers with 24 seconds left in the second quarter… Sellers and Josh Jones combined to go 9-of-21 for 139 yards passing for the East.

– Edgewater’s Kelvin Gunning and Wekiva’s Demarius Daniels each intercepted a pass… Olympia’s Josh Cunningham got to the quarterback for a sack during the final seconds of the first half… West Orange’s Diego Quintanar recovered a fumble with two minutes left in the game, but the West replied by going three-and-out.

– Gunning, Ocoee’s Darien Oliver and Edgewater’s Kelvon Davis were among those breaking up passes while West Orange’s Kellen Williams made multiple timely tackles.

– Bishop Moore quarterback Mike Calabro led the West in rushing with 65 yards on four carries… Calabro, Wekiva’s Greg Arnheim and Evans quarterback Dominique Tarver combined to go 7-of-20 for 63 yards passing… Ocoee’s Robenson Roche caught three passes for 18 yards.

– University’s Shane Berry made a clutch interception near the sideline on a pass inside the 10-yard line with a minute left in the second quarter… Winter Park’s Dominique Albert and Timber Creek’s Lavon Moten recorded sacks for the East.

– Stepping up to make big tackles for the East were Winter Park’s Matthew Moody, Lake Nona’s Alex Scott, Timber Creek’s Brandon Tyras, Freedom’s Colin Burke and Kavaris Green, and Colonial’s Larry McNeil and Chad Tajudeen… Colonial’s Ricky Gordon, Freedom’s David Gadson and Cypress Creek’s Nick Gonzalez broke up passes.

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com or follow @OrlandoSportsJC and Carnahan Chronicles) –

Ashley Holder (Photo courtesy of Florida Junior Tour)

She would find trouble at the 17th hole, though, and finish in a three-way tie for third overall as a freshman at 1-under. After posting scores of 73 and 70, Holder was left to watch as two other competitors (who finished just one stroke better) decided the championship in a tie-breaking playoff.

The sophomore is now setting herself up for a chance to meet up with many of those state qualifiers once again, as seven of the top eight finishers at states returned to their teams this season.

“I know the competition is going to be tough,” acknowledged Holder.

To keep up with the pack, she’s been focusing on playing a smarter game while spending day after day out on the courses of both North Shore and Eagle Creek golf clubs.

Lake Nona Coach Kristin McQuillan has encouraged Holder to improve her course management when it comes to club selection, where to place the ball, and adapting to each course. There have been some noticeable improvements made so far this year.

Although Holder started the season with a 1-under showing, she then struggled early in her second match before rebounding to finish 2-over. On Thursday she shot a round of 33, three strokes better than her even-par nine-hole average a season ago.

Whether things start off good or bad for Holder in any given match, she seems to have little trouble brushing each hole off and moving on to the next one.

“She’s not a person of many words when she’s playing because she’s very focused,” said McQuillan. “You can’t tell if she’s having a good round or a bad round out there.”

But one thing’s for certain, anything short of competing for a state title in 2010 would come as a disappointment for the area standout.

“I think I’ve progressed from last year’s finals at state,” said Holder.

And she’s been doing everything she can thus far to prove it.

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

–– Class 2A ––

An experienced boys team at Lake Mary recorded a 583 score over two days (300, 283) thanks to a solid showing in the second day of competition at Silver Springs Shores (Par 72) in Ocala to beat out Stuart Martin County (581), Weston Cypress Bay (596), Fort Walton Beach (604) and Olympia (605).

- 2A Boys – Team Scores

Leading Lake Mary, and all other golfers in the state, was senior Han Kim with a phenomenal 9-under par score of 135 (70, 65). Olympia’s Joey Petronio tied for second in the state with a 3-under score of 141 (73, 68) at the tournament.

- 2A Boys – Individual Scores

With three freshman and two seniors on its girls golf team Lake Mary wrapped up the state title by eight strokes over Melbourne Viera, 625-633, at the 72-par Ocala Golf Club. Plant City Durant (652) came in third followed by Gulf Breeze (655), Timber Creek (667) and Olympia (670).

- 2A Girls – Team Scores

Lake Mary was led by senior Jessica Schall, who shot a 70 and 76 to tie for seventh in the individual standings. Winter Park senior Brandi Rodriguez tied for second in the state with a 2-under par score of 142 (72, 70).

- 2A Girls – Individual Scores

–– Class 1A ––

The Trinity Prep boys golf team finished in a fourth-place tie with Ocala Trinity Catholic in the team standings at the 72-par Juliette Falls in Dunnellon with a score of 606 after shooting 303 during both days of competition. North Palm Beach Benjamin took the championship with a 580 score followed by Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy (589) and West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (590).

- 1A Boys – Team Scores

Trinity Prep was led by sophomore Collin Engelhardt, who finished tied for 12^th overall with Circle Christian freshman Ryan Stovash. They both shot a 3-over total of 147.

- 1A Boys – Individual Scores

The young girls squad at Lake Highland Prep took fourth place with a 629 score behind Plantation American Heritage (590), St. Petersburg Northside Christian (603) and Naples Community School (626) at the 72-par Golden Hills Gold & Turf Club in Ocala.

- 1A Girls – Team Scores

Sophomore Mary Fran Hillow led a Lake Highland team that featured two sophomores, two freshmen and a sixth-grader as she shot a 78 and 70 to tie for ninth overall. Lake Nona freshman Ashley Holder tied for third in the state with a 1-under par score of 143 (73, 70) while Orlando Circle Christian sixth-grader Abbey Carlson shot 1-over par to tie for sixth with a 145 score.

- 1A Girls – Individual Scores

–– More FHSAA State Championship golf coverage ––

Video recap of boys golf at Varsity Sports

Video recap of girls golf at Varsity Sports

Those recent championship efforts came on the heels of Metro Conference titles won by each team several weeks ago. Not bad for two schools that opened up together back in 2002.

Following next week’s regional tournament action (on Monday and Tuesday) both the Class 1A and 2A State Championship will take place in Marion County, Nov. 7-8. Last year Lake Brantley came in fourth and Olympia fifth on the boy’s side while Lake Howell and Lake Mary finished one-two in the girls state finals.

–– Timber Creek Girls ––

Four girls at TCHS made the All-Metro East team after finishing as undefeated conference champs at 14-0. Joining Lake Nona’s Ashley Holder and Rebecca Hyltin on the squad is Timber Creek senior Sara Bolivar (season-best nine-hole round of 36), freshman Paige Lyle (36), senior Lauren Lyle (37) and junior Emily Montero (37). The Wolves won with a 163-190 score over Lake Nona while Winter Park posted a 196.

At Tuesday’s 18-hole Class 2A, District 7 Tournament, hosted by Lyman at The Country Club at Deer Run, Timber Creek swept the top spots in the individual standings to come away the district win. Montero tied Winter Park’s Brandi Rodriguez for the title with a round of 77 while Lauren Lyle (79), Bolivar (83) and Paige Lyle (86) followed suite.

Moving on with TCHS to regional action next week at Hunter’s Creek Golf Club are Winter Park and Lake Brantley.

–– Olympia Girls ––

At the Metro Conference West Tournament, the girls at Olympia overcame the first and second-place individual efforts of Mia Campbell (30) and Sydney Woolfolk (32) from Edgewater to take home the title thanks to solid nine-hole outings from Jessica Uem (32), Alyx Carrasquel (33), Mia Semaan (34), Mariah Ming (44) and Christin Rouse (45). Olympia won by a 143-180 margin while the Eagles settled for runners-up.

The Titans then defeated both Edgewater and Dr. Phillips in the District 8 Tournament at MetroWest Golf Club as Uem shot a district-best 79 to help lead the team to an overall score of 354.

–– Timber Creek Boys ––

The boys golf team at TCHS won the Metro East Tournament with a score of 292 following a four-under par first-place showing from senior Keanu Kia (68) and a runner-up effort turned in by junior teammate Felipe Quiroga (71).

The Wolves carried that momentum over into the Class 2A, District 7 Tournament as they won the title, at Timacuan Golf and Country Club, for the first time as Quiroga took top honors among the field this time around with a two-under par round of 70. Kia shot a 75 for fifth overall and senior Jeff Dougherty shot a 76 for the Wolves (302), who narrowly got the better of Winter Park (316) and Ocoee (324) to advance to regionals at Windermere Country Club on Tuesday.

–– Olympia Boys ––

Considered among the best golf programs in the area, if not the state, the boy’s team at Olympia wrapped up the Metro Conference West title last month after overcoming the individual efforts of champion Austin Collins of West Orange.

The Titans lost just once this season and will play host to regionals after winning the District 8 Tournament with a score of 320 this week at Orange Tree Country Club. West Orange finished second at 325 and Edgewater followed in third with a district championship effort turned in sophomore Harrison Winger (76) and an overall outing of 330. Olympia junior Davis Hall took third with a 78, while juniors Joey Petronio (80) and Mikey Hauer (80) were joined in the Top-10 by senior Steven Yang (82) at the event.