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| #15 D'Mauri Jones and #2 Juilliard Roberts look to sideline for the next play in Friday nights game against Groveland South Lake High School. (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
October 29, 2011
LEESBURG - Randy Trivers and his Fightin' Yellow Jackets of Leesburg High School returned home to Leesburg Memorial Field at Hubert O. Dabney Stadium Friday night after being on the road five times in the last six weeks. The Jackets needed a win over its Class 7A District 4 rival Groveland South Lake High School to remain alive mathematically for the 2011 FHSAA Class 7A Football Playoffs. The Jackets 7-2 (2-2) scored the go ahead touchdown with a 2:54 left in the game to defeat a strong and talented Eagles squad 30 to 27 last night in Leesburg.
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| Groveland South Lake at Leesburg Football Game (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
"I think that's a part of the spirit of competition. Its nice to be year in and year out to be able to play against people that your kids and your coaches are going to be challenged by," said Trivers. "Both athletically, mentally and emotionally all of those things that's what life in football is all about. So its nice to be able to compete against guys like coach Banks and some of the other guys that are around the county and around the surrounding area."
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| Jackets enter Leesburg Memorial Field at Hubert O. Dabney Stadium Friday night for a Class 7A District 4 game against Groveland South Lake. (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
The Jackets were coming off of a emotional and controversial 20 to 10 loss to Evans last week. Leesburg got a big time performance out of 2012 University of Miami Commit (FL) (Sr., 6-5, 190) D'Mauri Jones in this crucial district contest. Jones hauled in 10 passes for 162 yards and 4 touchdowns in his biggest game of the season for him. South Lake had no answer for him all night as he used his superior speed and size to lead the Jackets offensive output. Leesburg had 468 yards of total offense in the close win over the Eagles.
"I feel great now I felt like I went to battle last night," said D'Mauri Jones after the game. "I know I have high expectations for myself and the rest of the receiver unit out there that we can't be stopped and if the ball hit our hands we have to snatch it and go."
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| #2 senior WR Juilliard Roberts looks for a block being set up by #15 senior WR D'Mauri Jones against South Lake High School (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/October 28, 2011) |
South Lake failed to move the football after receiving the opening kickoff and Leesburg took over on its own 25 yard line. Senior running back Emmanuel Nelson started things off with a eight yard carry on first and 10. Three plays later junior quarterback Undra Mitchem, Jr. (Jr., 6-1, 200) hit Jones with a 15 yard pass down to the South Lake 42 yard line. On the next play senior FB Flint Hicks bulled his way up the middle for a nine yard carry down to the Eagles 33 yard line. On the next play senior RB/WR/KR Jalen Dozier (Sr., 5-5, 150) caught a screen pass and sprinted down to the Eagles 10 yard line but a holding penalty nullified the gain. On first and 25 Mitchem hit Jones with a 18 yard pass down to the South Lake 30 yard line. On first and 10 from the 30 yard line senior RB/S Trey Perry (Sr., 6-0, 190) took a handoff andwent off right tackle 30 yards for the first score of the game. The P.A.T. was no good and Leesburg led 6 to 0 with 5:08 left in the first quarter.
After receiving the kickoff from the Jackets, South Lake started from their 35 yard line. On first and ten 2012 Stanford Commit OLB Noor Davis put a jarring hit on RB/WR Chris Floyd (5-10, 185) junior DB/P Austin Walker recovered the football for the Jackets. The Jackets took over with great field position at the South Lake thirty yard line.
Three plays later on third and 10 Mitchem
The Eagles tried to get going on offense but five plays later the "Black Jackets" defense came up big again. Junior DB Jermaine Gasden (Jr., 5-11, 170) hit Floyd hard and forced a fumble, the fumble was recovered by senior MLB Chase O'Donell (Sr., 5-8, 185) Leesburg's leading tackler. The Jackets took over at its own 40 yard line.
Int the second quarter the Leesburg offense got moving again on second and 9 from the Yellow Jackets 36 yard line Mitchem found D'Mauri Jones on a short pass and Jones did the rest for a 64 yard touchdown reception. Perry was stopped on the two point conversion attempt short of the goal line to leave the score at 18-0 Leesburg with 7:08 left in the first half. The Eagles defense could not stop Jones the #15th ranked player in the Orlando Sentinel's 2012 Central Florida Super60. Trivers would call on Jones number several more times during the game with much success.
Leesburg seemed to be in control at this point in the ball game but South Lake was not going away so soon. With a win Coach Walter Banks Eagles had a chance to go into next weeks game with a chance to secure the district runner-up spot outright. The Eagles started their next drive with a sense of urgency from their twenty seven yard line. Four plays later 2012 Kent State University commit quarterback James Brooks, hit 2012 Iowa State University Commit WR P.J. Harris (Sr., 6-1, 170) with a pass at the Leesburg 15 yard line with 6:20 left in the half. Two straight carries by Chris Floyd moved the football down to the one yard line and Brooks went in the end zone from one yard out. The P.A.T. by 2012 Florida State Commit PK/P Robert Aguayo (Sr., 6-1, 200) was no good and the Jacket lead was now 18-6 with 4:28 left in the half. Both teams had problems with extra point conversions all game long, Leesburg failed on all of its attempts.
South Lake wasn't finished yet Brooks found Harris once again in the end zone and Roberto Aguayo P.A.T. was good. The score now was 18 to 13 Leesburg with 33.9 left in the half. On the next possession South Lake's Defense caused Perry to fumble the football and South Lake recovered the ball deep in Jacket territory. Penalties and turnovers help the Eagles stay in the ball game all night. 2012 Butkus High School Award Semifinalist Noor Davis sacked Brooks on the next play taking South Lake out of a short field goal attempt. The Eagles had to settle for a 52 yard field goal attempt by Aguayo who had made a couple of 50 yard field goals earlier in the year. Aguayo the #48 ranked player in the 2012 Super60 Football Poll kick was short and the Jackets had dodged a bullet and went into halftime with a 18 to 13 lead. Davis who is the nations #1 rated OLB by ESPNU150 and the #17 ranked player overall had been hampered by a hyperextended knee all season long played his biggest game as a Jacket last night.
"At halftime coach Trivers just told us men its all on you guys shoulders," said senior WR Juilliard Roberts, Jr. on Trivers halftime speech to the team. "If you don't want to play lets pack up and go home now or lets get big and go show them where they are and who running stuff"
"I feel good about the effort from the kids week in and week out we practice well," said Trivers. "We practice hard and they are committed to winning."
Leesburg opened the second half with the football and drove down the field in nine plays off of three pass receptions by senior WR Juilliard Roberts, Jr. (6-1, 175) and senior KR/PR/RB/WR Jalen Dozier (Sr., 5-5, 150). The Yellow Jackets found themselves with a fourth and 5 from the Eagles 18 yard line. The Jackets who had problems with the P.A.T.s all game long elected to go for it on fourth down. Mitchem's pass was incomplete and South Lake took over on downs.
On the next play Brooks kept the ball himself and scampered 83 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles in front for the first time in the game. Brooks finished the game with 119 yards rushing on 17 carries and two rushing touchdowns. Aguayo P.A.T. was good and now the Eagles led the Jackets 20 to 18 with 7:46 left in the third stanza.
"Coach Banks has a very loose football team as you mentioned last year," said Trivers on the Daily Commercial Friday Night Lights Pregame show with Frank Jolley. "They beat us a year ago (34-10 in Groveland) and they're every bit as good or better this year than they were a year ago. When you look at their skill position players they're are as good as anybody at the skill positions" "The guys that are carrying the ball, the guys that are throwing it they are pretty good. We are going to have our hands full tonight against South Lake that's for sure"
The momentum had shifted to South Lake's favor and the pressure seemed to be mounting against the Jackets. Trivers has taken his team into some hostile game environments and has taken notice of his teams maturity and composure in tight football games.
"I think we've improved in just about every area when you look at the way we been able to do things in all phases of the field," said Trivers. "I think we are just a better football team, plus if you really look at one area in particular intangibly this team is much more in intestinal fortitude"
With a little under four minutes left in the third stanza punter Austin Walker was stopped short on a apparent fake punt attempt and South Lake took over at the Leesburg 38 yard line. Junior RB/QB Kris White (Jr., 6-2, 220) took a Brooks handoff around the right side of the line and sprinted down to the Jackets 6 yard line setting up first and goal for the Eagles. On second and goal Devonte Williams came up with a big sack on Brooks setting up a fourth and goal 2 plays later. Banks decided to go for a touchdown rather than a field goal a decision that came back to haunt the Eagles later in the game. Brooks pass was incomplete and the Jackets took over on their own four yard line with 1:26 left in the third quarter.
The Jackets then went on a 96 yard scoring drive its longest scoring drive of the 2011 season. After a couple of short pass completions to Jones and Dozier the Jackets moved up to their own 17 yard line. Emmanuel Nelson then had a 17 yard run. Six plays later Mitchem found Jones again for a 7 yard touchdown reception putting the Jackets back in the lead 24 to 20 early in the fourth quarter.
The next drive South Lake started from its own 25 yard line. Coach Banks put the ball back into to Kris White's hand again he responded with a couple of long runs to up to the Eagles 47 yard line. On the next play Brooks hit Harris with a short strike who caught the ball in stride and raced to the end zone for a 53 yard touchdown. The P.A.T. by Aguayo was good and the Eagles had taken the lead again 27 to 24 with seven minutes and twenty seconds left in the game.
For the night Brooks completed 7-of-18 passes for 142 yards and two touchdown passes both to Harris, who finished with six catches for 129 yards. Harris is the #36 ranked player in the 2012 Super60 Football Poll. The Eagles had several players playing both ways and seem to wear down in the end.
Trivers squad seem to get stronger as the game wore on and he compared them to last years team.
"They are a more together group some of things that you need to draw from to pull from in tight ballgames and big ballgames," said Trivers. " They just have a little more of that fiber where there is not that sense of panic. They are a stronger group mentally and we have seen that in some our games they year."
The Jackets took over the football and after four plays had moved down to the Eagles 30 yard line. On the next possession Mitchem fumbled the football and South Lake Recovered six minutes left in the contest. The Eagles moved down the Jackets 30 yard line and on fourth and 1 Max Green forced a fumble and Junior DB Jeremy Jones recovered the football giving the Jackets new life.
"Some of the keys to last nights victory was our offense," said Roberts. "We didn't fold or break we kept coming at them powering the football. We cant forget about our defense they always come to play."
The Jackets went on a 80 yard drive capped off by a 13 yard touchdown pass from Mitchem to D'Mauri Jones his fourth on the night. The P.A.T. attempt was no good and the score was now 30 to 27 with one minute and forty seconds left in the game. Nelson carried the ball five times for 22 yards on the drive. Nelson led the Leesburg's running attack with 90 yards on 22 carries. Perry had 31 yards including a 30 yard scoring run, but did not play in the second half after suffering an injury.
Max Green came up with another big play when he sacked Brooks taking off precious time off the clock. Brooks moved the Eagles offense up to the South Lake 43 yard line and spike the football with 15.3 seconds left in the game. The Eagles were still out of Aguayo kicking range. Brooks attempted another pass but it was broken up by Jeremy Jones with 9:7 seconds left in the game. On the next play Brooks scrambled down to the Jackets 42 yard line. As he was going down Banks attempted to call a timeout to set up a 59 yard field goal by Aguayo but the officials ruled that time run out in the game. After the officials consulted with each other and ruled that the game was over. Banks was furious and the Jacket Nation breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't feel that South Lake started wearing down in the last few minutes of the game," said Roberts. We just stood tall on defense and stopped their athletic quarterback from making big plays."
The Jackets now lead the alltime series between the two schools 9 to 8. Leesburg will close out it's regular season this Friday at home against Ocala Lake Weir. The Jackets still remains alive for a playoff berth as the district runnerup.
Resources
Photos by:
Ashley Beyer
Freelance Photographer
Class 2001 Leesburg High School
Ashley Beyer is a freelance photographer who will be working with the Carver Heights Quarterback Club this season. She started photographing as a hobby when she was 13 with a manual SLR Canon film camera. In 1998 she received her first automatic Canon SLR camera. In the begining as a hobby photographer her cousins and friends babies were her favorite subjects. Now, she is getting the chance to share her Leesburg High School football pictures with many people through Facebook and the Leesburg Yellow Jackets Football blog.
"It makes me happy to do that because I know there are families out there that would love to have pictures of their boys playing football and can't get to the games or don't have the means to record those memories."
After receiving the kickoff from the Jackets, South Lake started from their 35 yard line. On first and ten 2012 Stanford Commit OLB Noor Davis put a jarring hit on RB/WR Chris Floyd (5-10, 185) junior DB/P Austin Walker recovered the football for the Jackets. The Jackets took over with great field position at the South Lake thirty yard line.
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| Groveland South Lake at Leesburg Football Game (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
The Eagles tried to get going on offense but five plays later the "Black Jackets" defense came up big again. Junior DB Jermaine Gasden (Jr., 5-11, 170) hit Floyd hard and forced a fumble, the fumble was recovered by senior MLB Chase O'Donell (Sr., 5-8, 185) Leesburg's leading tackler. The Jackets took over at its own 40 yard line.
Int the second quarter the Leesburg offense got moving again on second and 9 from the Yellow Jackets 36 yard line Mitchem found D'Mauri Jones on a short pass and Jones did the rest for a 64 yard touchdown reception. Perry was stopped on the two point conversion attempt short of the goal line to leave the score at 18-0 Leesburg with 7:08 left in the first half. The Eagles defense could not stop Jones the #15th ranked player in the Orlando Sentinel's 2012 Central Florida Super60. Trivers would call on Jones number several more times during the game with much success.
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| Groveland South Lake at Leesburg Football Game (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
South Lake wasn't finished yet Brooks found Harris once again in the end zone and Roberto Aguayo P.A.T. was good. The score now was 18 to 13 Leesburg with 33.9 left in the half. On the next possession South Lake's Defense caused Perry to fumble the football and South Lake recovered the ball deep in Jacket territory. Penalties and turnovers help the Eagles stay in the ball game all night. 2012 Butkus High School Award Semifinalist Noor Davis sacked Brooks on the next play taking South Lake out of a short field goal attempt. The Eagles had to settle for a 52 yard field goal attempt by Aguayo who had made a couple of 50 yard field goals earlier in the year. Aguayo the #48 ranked player in the 2012 Super60 Football Poll kick was short and the Jackets had dodged a bullet and went into halftime with a 18 to 13 lead. Davis who is the nations #1 rated OLB by ESPNU150 and the #17 ranked player overall had been hampered by a hyperextended knee all season long played his biggest game as a Jacket last night.
"At halftime coach Trivers just told us men its all on you guys shoulders," said senior WR Juilliard Roberts, Jr. on Trivers halftime speech to the team. "If you don't want to play lets pack up and go home now or lets get big and go show them where they are and who running stuff"
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| The Scoreboard at Leesburg Memorial Field at Hubert O. Dabney Stadium after Friday night's win over Groveland South Lake 30 to 27 (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
Leesburg opened the second half with the football and drove down the field in nine plays off of three pass receptions by senior WR Juilliard Roberts, Jr. (6-1, 175) and senior KR/PR/RB/WR Jalen Dozier (Sr., 5-5, 150). The Yellow Jackets found themselves with a fourth and 5 from the Eagles 18 yard line. The Jackets who had problems with the P.A.T.s all game long elected to go for it on fourth down. Mitchem's pass was incomplete and South Lake took over on downs.
On the next play Brooks kept the ball himself and scampered 83 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles in front for the first time in the game. Brooks finished the game with 119 yards rushing on 17 carries and two rushing touchdowns. Aguayo P.A.T. was good and now the Eagles led the Jackets 20 to 18 with 7:46 left in the third stanza.
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| Groveland South Lake at Leesburg Football Game (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
The momentum had shifted to South Lake's favor and the pressure seemed to be mounting against the Jackets. Trivers has taken his team into some hostile game environments and has taken notice of his teams maturity and composure in tight football games.
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| 2012 University of Miami (FL) Commit D'Mauri Jones being chased by South Lake defenders during one of his 4 Touchdown catches on the night. Groveland South Lake at Leesburg Football Game (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
With a little under four minutes left in the third stanza punter Austin Walker was stopped short on a apparent fake punt attempt and South Lake took over at the Leesburg 38 yard line. Junior RB/QB Kris White (Jr., 6-2, 220) took a Brooks handoff around the right side of the line and sprinted down to the Jackets 6 yard line setting up first and goal for the Eagles. On second and goal Devonte Williams came up with a big sack on Brooks setting up a fourth and goal 2 plays later. Banks decided to go for a touchdown rather than a field goal a decision that came back to haunt the Eagles later in the game. Brooks pass was incomplete and the Jackets took over on their own four yard line with 1:26 left in the third quarter.
The Jackets then went on a 96 yard scoring drive its longest scoring drive of the 2011 season. After a couple of short pass completions to Jones and Dozier the Jackets moved up to their own 17 yard line. Emmanuel Nelson then had a 17 yard run. Six plays later Mitchem found Jones again for a 7 yard touchdown reception putting the Jackets back in the lead 24 to 20 early in the fourth quarter.
The next drive South Lake started from its own 25 yard line. Coach Banks put the ball back into to Kris White's hand again he responded with a couple of long runs to up to the Eagles 47 yard line. On the next play Brooks hit Harris with a short strike who caught the ball in stride and raced to the end zone for a 53 yard touchdown. The P.A.T. by Aguayo was good and the Eagles had taken the lead again 27 to 24 with seven minutes and twenty seconds left in the game.
For the night Brooks completed 7-of-18 passes for 142 yards and two touchdown passes both to Harris, who finished with six catches for 129 yards. Harris is the #36 ranked player in the 2012 Super60 Football Poll. The Eagles had several players playing both ways and seem to wear down in the end.
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| Groveland South Lake at Leesburg Football Game (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
"They are a more together group some of things that you need to draw from to pull from in tight ballgames and big ballgames," said Trivers. " They just have a little more of that fiber where there is not that sense of panic. They are a stronger group mentally and we have seen that in some our games they year."
The Jackets took over the football and after four plays had moved down to the Eagles 30 yard line. On the next possession Mitchem fumbled the football and South Lake Recovered six minutes left in the contest. The Eagles moved down the Jackets 30 yard line and on fourth and 1 Max Green forced a fumble and Junior DB Jeremy Jones recovered the football giving the Jackets new life.
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| Groveland South Lake at Leesburg Football Game (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
The Jackets went on a 80 yard drive capped off by a 13 yard touchdown pass from Mitchem to D'Mauri Jones his fourth on the night. The P.A.T. attempt was no good and the score was now 30 to 27 with one minute and forty seconds left in the game. Nelson carried the ball five times for 22 yards on the drive. Nelson led the Leesburg's running attack with 90 yards on 22 carries. Perry had 31 yards including a 30 yard scoring run, but did not play in the second half after suffering an injury.
Max Green came up with another big play when he sacked Brooks taking off precious time off the clock. Brooks moved the Eagles offense up to the South Lake 43 yard line and spike the football with 15.3 seconds left in the game. The Eagles were still out of Aguayo kicking range. Brooks attempted another pass but it was broken up by Jeremy Jones with 9:7 seconds left in the game. On the next play Brooks scrambled down to the Jackets 42 yard line. As he was going down Banks attempted to call a timeout to set up a 59 yard field goal by Aguayo but the officials ruled that time run out in the game. After the officials consulted with each other and ruled that the game was over. Banks was furious and the Jacket Nation breathed a sigh of relief.
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| #10 senior DR/PR/RB/WR Jalen Dozier breaks free during Friday nights game against Groveland South Lake.Groveland South Lake at Leesburg Football Game (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, CLASS OF 2011 LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL/October 28, 2011) |
"I don't feel that South Lake started wearing down in the last few minutes of the game," said Roberts. We just stood tall on defense and stopped their athletic quarterback from making big plays."
The Jackets now lead the alltime series between the two schools 9 to 8. Leesburg will close out it's regular season this Friday at home against Ocala Lake Weir. The Jackets still remains alive for a playoff berth as the district runnerup.
Resources
Photos by:
Ashley Beyer
Freelance Photographer
Class 2001 Leesburg High School
"It makes me happy to do that because I know there are families out there that would love to have pictures of their boys playing football and can't get to the games or don't have the means to record those memories."
Article written by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Football Lettermen
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
October 29, 2011
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
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.
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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