LEESBURG -- It took one big play by Leesburg's offense and several big plays by its defense Friday night, but the Yellow Jackets came away with a 16-13 homecoming victory over rival Eustis at Memorial Field/Dabney Stadium.
The big play on offense was a 59-yard touchdown run by Marques Austin with 2:59 remaining in the third quarter. The big defensive plays included two defensive series inside the 10-yard line that turned Eustis away without scores and two interceptions around the goal line by P.J. Foster late in the fourth quarter.
"We knew we would be a solid defensive team this year and we were hoping to have caretaker offense, one that didn't turn over the ball," Leesburg Coach Charles Nassar said.
Neither team did a good job of taking care of the ball as each committed six turnovers in the game. Though Austin had the big play in the game -- and Leesburg amassed 245 yards on the ground -- the winning points came off the foot of Leesburg kicker Dennis Williams, who hit a 27-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining in the third quarter, giving Leesburg a 16-6 lead.
Leesburg's Darius Lightfoot had about as big of a first half as any player could have had. Lightfoot recovered an onside kick that Leesburg used to open the game after it bounced off two Eustis players. He also scored the Yellow Jackets' only touchdown of the half on a 3-yard carry, and then made two huge stops on defense following one of three interceptions by Eustis' defense in the half.
After Eustis' Javon Nelson intercepted a pass by Leesburg quarterback Luther McDowell at the 38 and returned it 37 yards to the 1, Leesburg's defense put up a big goal line stand. Eustis ended up losing 19 yards on the next four plays with Lightfoot, who plays running back and inside linebacker, tackling Eustis running back C.J. Brown for a 7-yard loss on third down and sacking quarterback Kelsei Brown as he rolled out for another 7-yard loss on fourth down.
But Eustis had its own defensive hero in the first half with defensive back Antonio Goodson twice intercepting passes on the goal line on two successive Leesburg possessions. One interception came with 1:27 left in the half and -- after Leesburg's Ryan Rivera intercepted a Kelsei Brown pass, caused when Brown was hit by Trey McKinney as he released the ball. The other came with 16 seconds left.
The halftime score ended tied at 6 as kickers for both teams had trouble converting point after kicks, although Eustis kicker Nick Sellers did make his first try before a holding penalty.
FIRST -- L: Lightfoot 3 run (kick failed). SECOND -- E: C.J. Brown 5 run (kick failed). THIRD -- L: Austin 59 run (Williams kick); L: FG Williams 27. FOURTH -- E: Nelson 18 pass from Webber (Sellers kick).
Resources
Joe Williams, Sentinel Staff Writer
The big play on offense was a 59-yard touchdown run by Marques Austin with 2:59 remaining in the third quarter. The big defensive plays included two defensive series inside the 10-yard line that turned Eustis away without scores and two interceptions around the goal line by P.J. Foster late in the fourth quarter.
"We knew we would be a solid defensive team this year and we were hoping to have caretaker offense, one that didn't turn over the ball," Leesburg Coach Charles Nassar said.
Neither team did a good job of taking care of the ball as each committed six turnovers in the game. Though Austin had the big play in the game -- and Leesburg amassed 245 yards on the ground -- the winning points came off the foot of Leesburg kicker Dennis Williams, who hit a 27-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining in the third quarter, giving Leesburg a 16-6 lead.
Leesburg's Darius Lightfoot had about as big of a first half as any player could have had. Lightfoot recovered an onside kick that Leesburg used to open the game after it bounced off two Eustis players. He also scored the Yellow Jackets' only touchdown of the half on a 3-yard carry, and then made two huge stops on defense following one of three interceptions by Eustis' defense in the half.
After Eustis' Javon Nelson intercepted a pass by Leesburg quarterback Luther McDowell at the 38 and returned it 37 yards to the 1, Leesburg's defense put up a big goal line stand. Eustis ended up losing 19 yards on the next four plays with Lightfoot, who plays running back and inside linebacker, tackling Eustis running back C.J. Brown for a 7-yard loss on third down and sacking quarterback Kelsei Brown as he rolled out for another 7-yard loss on fourth down.
But Eustis had its own defensive hero in the first half with defensive back Antonio Goodson twice intercepting passes on the goal line on two successive Leesburg possessions. One interception came with 1:27 left in the half and -- after Leesburg's Ryan Rivera intercepted a Kelsei Brown pass, caused when Brown was hit by Trey McKinney as he released the ball. The other came with 16 seconds left.
The halftime score ended tied at 6 as kickers for both teams had trouble converting point after kicks, although Eustis kicker Nick Sellers did make his first try before a holding penalty.
FIRST -- L: Lightfoot 3 run (kick failed). SECOND -- E: C.J. Brown 5 run (kick failed). THIRD -- L: Austin 59 run (Williams kick); L: FG Williams 27. FOURTH -- E: Nelson 18 pass from Webber (Sellers kick).
Resources
Joe Williams, Sentinel Staff Writer
Orlando Sentinel
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Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc.
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www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
CEO/President
Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc.
www.myebooksresell.com
www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com
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