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Dragons flame out in fourth quarter

Jefferson allows two late touchdowns in a 30-12 loss.

By EMILY NIPPS and MIKE READLING
© St. Petersburg Times,
published December 1, 2001

TAMPA -- Down by three points going into the final quarter, Jefferson still had high hopes of beating Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and advancing to the Class 4A state title game.

Those hopes rapidly slipped away as a snap flew over punter Nick Sakkis' head, which resulted in a safety for Aquinas. Seconds later, when the Dragons kicked off, the Raiders' David Marrero returned the ball for a 55-yard touchdown.

"You could see it," Aquinas coach George Smith. "On the sideline, you could see that the momentum changed at that moment."

It was also apparent on Jefferson's sideline, where players became angry and coaches became desperate.

The Dragons never scored in the fourth quarter, and another Raiders touchdown ended Jefferson's season with a 30-12 loss.

The Dragons finished with an 11-2 record and tied the deepest playoff run in school history (they made it to the semifinals in 1996). Aquinas, undefeated in 13 games, will advance to play in the 4A state championship game in Tallahassee next week against Lincoln, a 24-21 winner over Palm Bay.

"It takes something special to win (in a state semifinal game), and those guys did something special," Jefferson coach Mike Simmonds said.

"I hope they go all the way. If you lose to somebody, you want to lose to the state champion."

In the first quarter, the Dragons seemed poised to control the game when the defense stopped the Raiders 1-yard short of the end zone as quarterback Dan Shula attempted to score. Although neither team scored in the quarter, the Dragons were effective at slowing the Raiders' offense.

Jefferson running back Rashaun Grant scored the first touchdown of the game -- an 80-yard sideline run -- but the Dragons missed the extra point. Aquinas quickly answered with a 48-yard reception by Matthew Velez and took a 7-6 lead at halftime.

Raiders running back Justin Montgomery was the most effective player in the second half behind explosive 30- and 40- yard runs and scoring two touchdowns.

After the Dragons took the lead in the third quarter with an 82-yard bomb from quarterback Matt Glavich to Andre Caldwell, Montgomery quieted Jefferson's celebration. He put the Raiders ahead by breaking five tackles on a 10-yard touchdown run.

The Raiders never looked back.

"I felt all game that we'd do it eventually," Montgomery said.

"We always do."

Chamberlain eyes title

SPRINGFIELD -- Four weeks ago, Chamberlain was in search of its first state playoff victory.

Next Saturday, the team will play for the Class 5A title.

The Chiefs relied on their strong defense Friday night, sparked by a last-minute interception from Trey Seaholm, to hold off a late Springfield Rutherford comeback bid for a 23-17 win.

Chamberlain outgained Rutherford 337-180 in total yardage behind the running of Donovan Davis and Eddie Ivery. Davis rushed for 138 yards, and Ivery had 107 and a touchdown.

The Chiefs will play Venice, a 41-28 winner over Port Orange Atlantic.

Chamberlain appeared to have the game against Rutherford in hand, leading 23-3 with less than 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

But the Rams scored on a three-play, 68-yard drive and followed with a Devin Collier 23-yard touchdown run with 3 minutes to go.

After the Chiefs' Brian Clark recovered the onsides kick, Chamberlain failed to convert a fourth down despite needing one link on the chain.

Rutherford got the ball back with 1:30 to play and 70 yards away from a tie score.

But on the first play from scrimmage, Chiefs defensive lineman Al Mack penetrated the Rams' backfield and pressured quarterback Matt Hardin, who threw a wobbly pass that Seaholm intercepted to secure the victory.

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