Jefferson drops Middleton

Neither team looked as good as they'd hoped to, but the Dragons proved to be a little better.

By JEREMY RASMUSSEN
Published August 27, 2005

TAMPA - In a sloppy opener in which each team showed flashes of its potential, Jefferson knocked off host Middleton 28-20 on Friday as Dragon seniors Joseph Quintana and Steven Moore came up big.

Quintana, a 215-pound fullback, had career highs in carries (15) and yards (80) to go with two touchdowns. He got the majority of carries after star tailback Fred Amiker was out most of the week with the flu.

"A lot of times, (Quintana) was in a one-back set, and he was the only threat, and he was still pounding it out back there," Dragons coach Mike Simmonds said. "He was our John Riggins tonight."

Although often cramping from dehydration during the game, Amiker still produced 14 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

The teams combined for 20 penalties for 140 yards and 11 turnovers.

Middleton got on the board first with Johan Bos' 43-yard field goal in the first quarter.

On five consecutive possessions spanning the end of the first quarter to the beginning of the second, the teams traded fumbles. Jefferson finally capitalized when the Tigers turned it over on the 7, and Amiker took it in one play later.

Middleton unleashed its potent passing game in the second quarter, as quarterback Dominic Grooms connected on seven of 10 passes for 125 yards, including a 40-yarder to A.J. Jones which helped set up Bos' 21-yard field goal.

Grooms also found Quentin Williams on a quick slant up the middle that turned into a 44-yard touchdown and gave the Tigers a 13-7 halftime lead.

Grooms finished 21 of 35 passing for 263 yards and two touchdowns. However, in the third quarter, Moore intercepted him twice and continued to terrorize the Tiger passing game in the final period.

The Jefferson offense put together its best drive of the night in the third, marching 76 yards on 14 plays before Quintana took it in from 1 yard out.

Moore's second pick set up a 9-yard touchdown run by Quintana to start the fourth quarter. After a bad punt snap gave Jefferson the ball at the 10, Amiker punched it in one play later to make it 28-13.

Still fighting, Grooms connected on some long balls with Jones to set up Williams' 6-yard touchdown grab with six minutes remaining.

[Last modified August 27, 2005, 01:15:14]