Football: Immokalee crushes Cocoa Beach, 43-8

IMMOKALEE -- Immokalee coach John Weber, in his first game back

after missing three games due to a suspension, stood on the field

as the stands emptied and the stadium lights dimmed, pondering the

question.

"Coach, is there anything your team could improve upon for next

week?"

Weber might still be there thinking if his team hadn't dragged

him off for the celebration.

In a dominating performance highlighted by Javarris James' 140

yards rushing, the Indians cruised to a 43-8 win over visiting

Cocoa Beach in the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs

Friday.

"Certainly it was a pleasant evening," said Weber, who returned

to the sidelines following a three-game absence for striking

quarterback Louis Gachette. "It was a good win, we got to rest some

people, and God knows we needed the rest. We had seven guys who had

the flu this week, and we felt like if we came out and played

(hard), we could win."

Apparently James wasn't stricken with the bug circulating

through Immokalee this week.

The sophomore tailback ran for 136 of his 140 total yards before

halftime, including a five-yard score on Immokalee's first

possession of the game and a 53-yard scamper with 4 minutes 19

seconds remaining in the second quarter.

"I thought we'd have a little struggle with everybody sick, but

I guess I was wrong," said James, who said that he and the Indians

wanted to make a statement heading into the postseason.

"Everybody's doubting us. We got our confidence back tonight and we

came out with something to prove. The regular season doesn't

matter, anymore. I had a good year, but it's the playoffs now, it's

all about winning."

Just two plays after James' 53-yarder made it 31-0, defensive

tackle Peterson Paillere picked up an O.J. Manley fumble at the

3-yard line and ran in for another Indians' score.

The game was well out of reach before by the time Cocoa Beach

recorded their first offensive first down of the game, which was

met with mock cheer from the crowded Immokalee bleachers, with two

minutes remaining in the first half.

A late Manley touchdown pass to tight end Dan Bessler spoiled

the shutout, but it was nevertheless an impressive first round

victory for Immokalee.

Immokalee: 16 - 21 - 6 - 0 -- 43

Cocoa Beach: 0 - 0 - 0 - 8 -- 8

Scoring

I - James 5 run (Rouzard pass from Gachette)

I - Ernest Jean 16 run (James run)

I - Wilbert Jean 3 run (Gachette run)

I - James 53 run (Jeanty kick)

I - Paillere 5 fumble return (Jeanty kick)

I - James 2 run (run failed)

CB - Bessler 9 pass (Amato pass from Manley)

Individual Leaders

Rushing - Immokalee: James 13-140; Cocoa Beach: OJ Manley

10-43.

Passing - Immokalee: Gachette 4-6-22 Cocoa Beach: Manley

5-12-65

Receiving - Immokalee: Rodelin Anthony 2-15; Cocoa Beach: Carl

McNally 2-11.