Preps

Jefferson 34, Boca Ciega 16

By MIKE COLAPIETRO, Times Correspondent
Published November 17, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - With a decisive win over Boca Ciega behind him, Jefferson head coach Mike Fenton was already looking forward to next weeks Class 4A state playoff game against Plant.

"I wanted to play Plant," Fenton said. "They have a great program. It gives us a chance to come and shock the state champions."

Boca Ciega seemed up to the challenge early. On the Pirates second play, quarterback Orhian Johnson completed a 54-yard pass to Ja-Vonta Trotter setting up a 25-yard Randall Klafter field goal.

But the momentum shifted in Jefferson's favor quickly as quarterback Zack Grossi threw touchdown passes of 57 and 58 yards to open receivers. A 4-yard touchdown run by Mark Winters gave the Dragons 20 unanswered points in the first half.

With Mundrea Francis, the Pirates leading scorer, sidelined for much of the game with a high ankle sprain, the Boca Ciega rushing attack gained only 13 yards in 13 carries in the first half.

A Winters fumble late in the third quarter set up the Pirates second score as Latavien Washington gained 44 yards on three carries, setting up Johnson's 14-yard touchdown pass to Darrian Skinner.

"Someone forgot to tell my players they were 4-6," Fenton said. "They played championship football tonight."

[Last modified November 17, 2007, 00:42:09]