BY GENE NARDI
On Friday, Sept. 4, the Seminole Ridge High School varsity football team hosted Miami Belen-Jesuit in a non-district matchup. The Hawks rallied in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 unanswered points to earn the victory.
The Hawks (1-1) trailed most of the game, after Belen-Jesuit scored early in the second quarter. “We only got outside one day this week again,” said Hawks coach Scott Barnwell, making reference to numerous rainstorms that swept through the area last week. “It’s just not getting it done for us being inside.”
Seminole Ridge battled defensively to hold the solid Belen-Jesuit offense, and struggled offensively to find the back of the end zone. The Hawks managed to close out the half down only seven points. “Defensively, we’re playing great right now,” Barnwell said. “We did move some people around defensively at the half.”
Belen-Jesuit held on to the 7-0 lead entering the fourth quarter, but the Hawks continued to press the intensity. Two key Belen-Jesuit turnovers proved catastrophic late in the game. The Hawks defense played a relentless and physical second half, causing two fumbles.
Seminole Ridge, on a crucial fourth-and-two, converted at the Belen-Jesuit 19-yard line to move the chains. On the next play, Hawk running back Justin Allie found space and took off for a 16-yard touchdown run. A miscue on the extra point kept the Hawks from converting, holding the score to 7-6.
Belen-Jesuit returned the ball on the ensuing kick, only to cough it up. Nick Plesca recovered the ball for the Hawks, giving his team prime field position. However, a fourth-and-six forced the Hawks to attempt a 46-yard field goal that fell short.
The Hawk defense came up big again with another stop, giving Seminole Ridge another opportunity late in the fourth quarter. From the 1-yard line, the Hawks fumbled the ball, which rolled into the end zone. Running back Sean Edwards pounced on the loose ball for the go-ahead score. Jared Tolbert’s kick after gave the Hawks their first lead at 13-7, with just under two minutes left to play.
Belen-Jesuit put together a drive into Hawk territory, but a turnover deflated the team’s chances at retaking the lead. Free safety Chase Johnston recovered the ball, giving Seminole Ridge possession on its own 43-yard line. Belen-Jesuit used time-outs to manage the clock to get one more possession, but fell short. The Hawks chewed up the remaining seconds to take the 13-7 win.
“We have a bye this week,” Barnwell said. “We have a couple of people banged up, but hopefully we can get them healthy and ready for Palm Beach Gardens.”
Hawk quarterback Jeremiah Brown was 10-for-15 with 106 yards through the air. The Hawks combined for 266 total yards.
The Hawks will travel to Palm Beach Gardens High School on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. Starting quarterback Dalton Trimble looks to make his return against Palm Beach Gardens, as the Hawks enter district play.
ABOVE: Justin Allie sprints for the end zone, scoring for the Hawks late in the fourth quarter.
