By PETE STELLA
Daily Commercial Staff Writer
GROVELAND
All the Leesburg Yellow Jackets needed to do to solidify a Class 4A-4 playoff spot was get a victory Friday night.
Enter the underdog South Lake Eagles.
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead, then held off a Leesburg late-game surge to win, 21-20.
After a Jarriel Lewis punt from the Eagles' end-zone with less than a minute to play, Leesburg (6-4, 3-3) took over on the 15-yard line.
After a gain of two yards and with no timeouts remaining, Yellow Jackets kicker Stephen Malinda entered the game to get the win. The off-and-on rain throughout the night made the playing field slick, but the snap and hold were good. Malina booted the pigskin for a 30-yard attempt but watched it fall a few yards short.
"My hat's off to Leesburg -- it's a shame someone had to lose tonight," South Lake coach Charles Weems said.
The Eagles (5-5, 4-3 5A-4) turned their season around after an 0-3 start to win five of their last seven games. The Yellow Jackets had several opportunities to win the game but turnovers eventually hurt them.
With four minutes gone in the first quarter, South Lake already owned a 14-0 lead. On the opening kickoff, Leesburg coughed up the ball (one of five fumbles on the night) and two plays later, Terrance Holden ran in from 17 yards. On the Yellow Jackets ensuing possession, they again fumbled on the first play and suffered the consequences. Lewis found Perry Garrett for a 30-yard touchdown pass four plays later.
Lewis ended the game 14-of-17 for 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Garrett added 70 yards on the ground.
The Eagles added a third score in the first quarter when Lewis hit brother Jarrett for a 51-yard touchdown.
But the Yellow Jackets did not back down. Quarterback Jermaine Orr scored on touchdown runs of 3, 1 and 1 yards. Orr's third scored came with 5:39 in the third quarter, but the South Lake defense blocked the extra point attempt to hold the fragile, 21-20 lead.
"We came tough the first quarter and they played a great second half like we knew they would," Weems said. "They're a great team. . . .we knew they wouldn't quit.
"This was a great way to send our seniors out."
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PETE STELLA
Daily Commercial Staff Writer
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