BY GENE NARDI
The Seminole Ridge High School varsity football squad traveled to John I. Leonard High School on Friday, Sept. 5 and rolled over the Lancers 35-7.
Both teams were determined to get their first win of the regular season. Seminole Ridge (1-1) was upset by Boca Raton in its first game. But last week’s matchup had a different outcome, although it did not appear that way early on.
The Lancers drew first blood in the second quarter with a 9-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead. It was just the jolt that the Hawks needed.
On the ensuing kick, Seminole Ridge sustained a balanced drive of pass and run. It was running back Jalen Young who scampered 20 yards for the Hawks’ first touchdown. Young broke several tackles, then tiptoed to the sideline, diving for the pylon. Jacob Curran’s kick tied it 7-7.
The Seminole Ridge defense stepped up as well, shutting down the Lancer offense for the rest of the half.
With only seconds left in the first half, Seminole Ridge quarterback James Parson found Young on a 15-yard pass for the score. Young’s second effort to get into the end zone sparked life into the team. Curran’s kick gave the Hawks their first lead of the game, 14-7, which they never surrendered.
The second half was all Seminole Ridge. Running back Kerrith Whyte capped a 65-yard opening drive for a 1-yard touchdown run. Curran’s kick extended the Hawks’ lead to 21-7.
Young and Whyte would each find the end zone one more time in the second half to give the Seminole Ridge the 35-7 victory over the Lancers. The duo combined for 167 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. “They’re two of the best players in the county,” coach Scott Barnwell said.
The game was not without mistakes for the Hawks, though, with missed snaps and a couple of turnovers. “We still have some things we need to work on,” Barnwell said.
The Seminole Ridge defense held the Lancer offense to just 3 yards in the second half.
“We’re going to continue and try to improve,” Barnwell added. “Next week we have a huge game against Park Vista.”
The Hawks will host Park Vista High School on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
ABOVE: Hawk defenders Jalen Young (left) and Greg Little (right) swarm a John I. Leonard running back.
