The Glades Central Raiders clinched the District 14-5A title Friday night with a 40-6 road win over the Boynton Beach Tigers. The Raiders, who won their fifth straight game, will host Rockledge in the first round of the FHSAA playoffs in two weeks. The Tigers were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss after they finished last year as the district runner-up.
Giovanni Lugo started his first game as quarterback as regular starter T.J. Abrams served a first-half suspension by the Raiders coaching staff. On their first possession, Glades Central(5-4, 4-0) finished a nine-play, 45-yard drive on a six-yard reception by David Bailey from Lugo at 7:11 of the first quarter.
Boynton Beach(4-4, 2-2) responded with a ten-play, 67-yard drive that was concluded with a ten-yard quarterback sneak up the middle by Jake Lutzen. They missed on a two-point conversion run and were down 7-6 at 2:31. The Tigers would not come any closer to take the lead as they gave up the next 33 points in the game.
The Raiders continued to roll on offense as Yener Ferdinand caught a 40-yard pass from Lugo on the sideline at the Tigers seven-yard line to set up their next score. Bailey caught another touchdown on the left side of the end zone on the next play to cap a four-play, 63-yard drive with 36 seconds left in the quarter.
William Likely would conclude the first quarter as he intercepted a pass and ran it back 64 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-6 with no time remaining.
Likely ran in the ball from four yards out at 5:40 of the second quarter to extend the Raiders lead 27-6. It took the team from The Muck six plays to go 43 yards down the field.
Abrams came into the game and replaced Lugo as the Raiders quarterback in the second half. Late in the third quarter, Likely finished a seven-play, 80-yard drive and scored on a one-yard run around the right end at 2:36. He had a 50-yard run on the first play of their next possession. Raquon Carver caught an 18-yard pass from Abrams on a 4th-and-16 from the Boynton Beach 36-yard line.
On the Raiders first possession of the fourth quarter, Likely had a 30-yard run on the second play from their own 20 followed by a 35-yard reception by Bailey. Abrams found Bailey two plays later on a 20-yard touchdown completion at 8:46 for a 40-6 lead. Glades Central will face the Pahokee Blue Devils next Friday in the annual Muck Bowl.
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Glades Central's performance in this game was much more dominate that it is reflected in this article. The team was clicking on all cylinders. Likely was unstoppable, the defense was dominate, and Abrams/Bailey connection was very impressive; the accuracy and timing was on full display. If this quarterback receiver tandem continues to improve as the team move into the play-offs, they will difficult for any defense to handle.
ReplyDeleteCoachs Fundaburk and Blackmon have a defense that seems to be coming together and growing in confidence at the right point in the season. Earlier in the season the youth and experience on the both sides of the ball was apparent, but the as experience and talent comes together, this team could go very deep into the play-offs or win it all.