Photo by ROGER LALONDE
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Amelia Miller, 10 weeks, was not only in the Lely colors, but perfect for the Halloween weekend. Amelia and her mom, Carrie, wife of football coach Dave Miller, were all smiles after Lely tricked Palmetto Ridge, winning 21-0.
Photo by ROGER LALONDE
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Three key players in Lely's win over Palmetto Ridge on Friday night share congratulations. From left, Romanthi Mathurin, who caught two touchdown passes, Taylor Brooks, defensive tackle and Jhony Faustin, defensive cornerback, punt returner and pass catcher.
Photo by ROGER LALONDE
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Lely's Mike Snyder has a minor cut taped by trainer Amanda Weaver. Snyder played outstandingly as an outside linebacker in the Trojans 21-0 shutout of Palmetto Ridge on Friday night.
On Friday night the Lely offense showed new dimensions in its 21-0 win over Palmetto Ridge.
In its first series it showed quarterback Sean O’Regan working out of an option set. The Trojans also used the formation to allow Jhony Faustin running and pass-catching opportunities.
Palmetto Ridge was totally confused as O’Regan often chose to keep the ball and gain yardage. Just falling forward the big guy gained two yards. It seemed that he showed more zest in the option as the Trojans tricked and treated on the Bears at Lely’s Homecoming.
The Trojans reverted to offense-as-usual shortly after the first series, which lacked the excitement, going back to running plays that Palmetto Ridge had expected. It put the pressure on Darion Hall to break a play, or two, which he did and for the defense to set up the offense, which it did.
Frankie Pugh put Lely’s first points on the board after Lely used its option offense to go down the field for a score on its first possession.
Lely drove and threw the ball down field in the second quarter, but an errant O’Regan pass was hauled in by the Bears Richard Jean-Baptiste at Palmetto’s one-yard line.
Lely’s punter Ben Jean has an unusual run-kick motion which results in an unusual ball rotation. It basically soars sideways, making it difficult to handle. A fourth-quarter punt resulted in a muff by a Bears player, giving Lely the ball on the Palmetto 11-yard line.
“O’Regan connected with Romanthi Mathurin on a fade pass for the score.
Following Hall’s break-away 60-yard run, O’Regan again found Mathurin on the same fade route to ice the game with 4:08 left.
Slowed by a gimpy right ankle, Hall still rushed for 147 yards on just 14 carries.
“We mixed it up a bit on offense (early) trying to get the ball into playmakers’ hands,” Miller said. “Jhony Faustin made a great catch and we were able to keep them from keying on No. 9 (Hall).”
However, the game, again, belonged to the defense.
“They beat us up in the trenches,” Bears coach Dan Newbrough said.
Miller agreed. “Our defense, special teams recovering the fumbled punt, got us the win,” he said.
“Vinsin St. Jean is the heart and soul of our defense. The D-line was outstanding.”
Thad Gillings, Cesar Torres, Johnny Lindsey, David Rotkvich, Mike Snyder, Rones Sagesse, Alex Eloi, Ben Jean, Faustin, Makinton Dorleant, Donard Noel and Donald Resau all shared in making the Bears feel the pain.
Is Lely coming of age after controversy resulted in head coach Steve Pricer resigning and Miller taking his place?
“I think we have all grown this season, with the coaches and players buying into what we are trying to accomplish,” Miller said. “I know we will all be working our butts off this week.”
On Friday, Lely hosts Barron Collier in a win, or sit on the sidelines for the playoffs.
If Barron Collier wins, it will be Class 3A-District 12 champion and Lehigh, whom it beat, will get the second playoff spot. If Barron loses, Lehigh will be district champs and Lely will gain the second playoff spot because they lost to Lehigh.
Lehigh plays winless Cypress Lake in its final game that should assure them a 5-1 district record. Lely and Barron are 4-1 going into Friday’s critical game.
“We’ll be at home and our fans will be a big help,” Miller said. “The guys believe in themselves and know they have to play all 48 minutes to attain our goal of making the playoffs.”
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