BY GENE NARDI
The Seminole Ridge High School varsity football squad hosted Pahokee on Friday, Oct. 5 for the Hawks’ homecoming game, rolling over the Blue Devils 37-18.
Prior to the game’s start, homecoming court members walked the field with JROTC cadets and the color guard posting colors, along with a saber arch. Balloons decorated the field as Jared Skinner and Stephanie Cuellar were crowned homecoming king and queen.
The Hawk offense led the way with 446 rushing yards on 45 carries. Running backs Silas Spearman and Elie Turene averaged nearly 10 yards per carry. After both teams weathered a couple of turnovers, the Seminole Ridge offense opened a hole for Spearman, and off he went for a 21-yard score for a first quarter 7-0 lead.
The Hawk defense stopped Pahokee, forcing a punt out of their own end zone. The punter corralled a high snap and attempted to run out of the end zone but was tackled by a gang of Hawk defenders for the safety, making the score 9-0. Turene added another score in the second quarter on a 3 yard run, extending the Hawks’ lead to 17-0.
Pahokee’s offense finally came to life, scoring on back-to-back possessions, closing the gap to 17-12. The Hawks answered right back with a score of their own. Turene ran it in from the 6 yard line, extending the Hawks’ lead 24-12 to close out the first half.
Both teams opened the second half, battling for control. Late in the third quarter Pahokee put together an 80-yard drive to the 1 yard line, then scored in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter to close the gap, making it 24-18.
Turene dealt another blow to the Pahokee defense when he scored on a 60-yard run up the center to add to the Hawk lead 31-18. Spearman finished with a 50-yard touchdown gallop, putting the game out of reach for the Devils at 37-18 with little time left.
“We were much healthier this week, and it was good to have players back,” SRHS coach Matt Dickmann said.
Spearman totaled 185 yards rushing and two touchdowns. “He’s turning into a real leader on this team, which is why he is one of the captains,” Dickmann said.
Turene finished the game with 123 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Junior running back E.J. Elien added 87 yards on the ground. The win puts the Hawks at 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in their district.
Seminole Ridge next travels to play eighth-ranked John I. Leonard (4-2) on Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
Above: Seminole Ridge running back Elie Turene runs up the middle on the Pahokee defense.
