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Rash of mistakes derail Jefferson

TAMPA -- As players from both teams shook hands at midfield, Jefferson quarterback Matt Glavich knelt at the Dragons' 2-yard line, where he was sacked on the final play of the game.

Tight end Jamesley Jean tossed his helmet and fell face-first to the ground at the 15.

It was no wonder they lingered, for it was at this end of the field that the most successful season in Jefferson history unraveled.

The Dragons matched up physically with Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in Friday's state semifinal, but mental mistakes finally caught up to the Dragons in the fourth quarter of a 30-12 loss.

Jefferson's defense kept the Dragons in the game, and big-play offense gave them a five-point, third-quarter lead.

But, ultimately, penalties and poor special teams play prevented Jefferson from advancing to its first state championship game.

"The mental mistakes like jumping offsides and personal fouls and stuff like that, that's what really cost us the game," junior defensive back Mike Allen-Taylor said.

The problems started early, as St. Thomas Aquinas -- aided by a pass interference penalty on defensive back Andre Caldwell and a fair-catch interference call on James Williams -- started three of its first four possessions in Jefferson territory.

The Dragons held strong, stopping Daniel Shula on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal from the 1 on the Raiders' first possession and watching as Jay Ottovegio's 37-yard field-goal attempt missed wide left on their next.

But Jefferson was fighting an uphill battle, and the odds eventually caught up with the Dragons.

After Justin Montgomery's 10-yard run gave St. Thomas Aquinas a 15-12 lead late in the third quarter, an illegal man downfield penalty erased Glavich's 26-yard completion to Jeffrey Duncan, pushing Jefferson back to its 17.

Two plays later, the Dragons were forced to punt. The snap from center sailed over Nick Sakkis' head and into the end zone for a safety. David Marrero returned the ensuing punt 55 yards to give St. Thomas Aquinas a two-touchdown lead.

Down 24-12, Jefferson had one last chance on fourth-and-5 from its 36 with little more than 10 minutes remaining. But an illegal procedure penalty forced the Dragons to punt, and Montgomery scored two minutes later to put the game away.

"Without a doubt, you can't make penalties in a game like this," said Jefferson coach Mike Simmonds, whose team was flagged 12 times for 125 yards. "Those are going to be the determining factors, turnovers and penalties, and both of those kind of hurt us."

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