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| Hubert O. Dabney Stadium, Leesburg High School, Leesburg Florida, Home of the Jackets |
Leesburg's start jolts Eustis
By Gary White
Daily Commercial Staff Writer
Daily Commercial
September 4, 1993
EUSTIS - In a game that seemed it would never end, the beginning was all that really mattered.
Leesburg's defense set up two early scores Friday night and the Jackets withstood a one-hour lightning delay to beat Eustis 14-0 in a non-district football game.
With defensive tackle Henry Wright leading the way, Leesburg held Eustis to seven yards of total offense in the first half.
Wright made tackles on four of Eustis' first six offensive plays. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior set the
tone be meeting Eustis running back John Potts in the backfield for a 8-yard loss on the game's first play.
Leesburg forced a punt on Eustis' first possession and Aaron Blake caught Ryan LaMere's short kick
on the run and returned it to the Eustis *-yard line. Two plays later, Blake plunged in from the 1-yard line.
An interception gave Leesburg another scoring chance, but Brent Mauriell's 21-yard field goal attempt was wide.
Two plays later, though, Nick Williams recovered a fumble by Marcus Russell at the Eustis 20. Two plays after that, quarterback T.J. Gooden ran 10 yards around the left side for a touchdown. Mauriell's kick made it 14-0 with 10:46 left in the first half. At that point, the skies opened and Leesburg's offense stalled.
The first half ended under heavy rain, and the lightning soon began.
Lightning prompted Eustis officials to stop the game with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter. When play resumed, the Panthers seemed to quickly grab the momentum. But Leesburg quarterback Brian Hepburn's apparent fumble on the first play was whistled dead.
The Panthers picked up all nine of their first downs after the delay. But by then it was too late.
Eustis outgained Leesburg 137-24 in the second half. But the Panthers comeback fizzled as they twice lost fumbles inside Leesburg territory.
Eustis moving toward a score on its final possession, but a pass from Maurice Hayes to John Potts resulted in a fumble which was recovered by Leesburg's Alan Neiford with 27 seconds remaining.
"We were slopping around," said Leesburg Coach Ed Hoffman. "The weather probably hurt both teams.
Both teams adjourned to the Eustis gym during the lightning delay. When play resumed, only about 150 spectators remained from an original crowd of about 1,000.
Eustis officials considered calling the game and completing it this morning.
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Gary White
Daily Commercial Staff Writer
Daily Commercial
September 4, 1993
Daily Commercial Staff Writer
Daily Commercial
September 4, 1993
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Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
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Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
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