Lely football drops to 0-4 with loss at Sebring

The season hasn’t started the way coach Fritz Jacques had hoped, but he says there’s still time to turn things around for the Lely football team.

The Trojans dropped to 0-4 after a 53-15 loss to a speedy, talented Sebring squad Friday night.

And while the Blue Streaks were an impressive group, Lely didn’t help itself all night. The Trojans committed five turnovers, including an early pick-six that got Sebring off and running.

“We shot ourselves in the foot, that first half,” Jacques said. “Defensively, we didn’t put up any resistance, but again, these boys, they’ve come out here and we’re trying to teach them the concept of football – reading their keys, doing their job and making their blocks. I still believe in this group. I will always believe in these boys and I’m telling you, we’re going to turn the corner.”

The Trojans trailed 27-7 at halftime, turning the ball over three times. Things didn’t get any better in the second half, right from the get-go.

Lely attempted an onside kick to start the third quarter, recovering it and seemingly grabbing some early momentum. But the officials ruled the ball didn’t travel the required 10 yards, although it certainly appeared as if it had.

“It is what it is, man, we’ve just got to play,” Jacques said. “If they say it wasn’t 10 yards, it wasn’t 10 yards. If they call pass interference, it’s pass interference. The refs make the call, then that’s what it is. That’s what I try to teach these kids. It’s the same way in life. If a police officer pulls you over and says you weren’t wearing your seat belt, then I guess you weren’t wearing your seat belt. That’s just how it is.”

Jacques says he and his coaching staff expected Sebring to be a tough opponent. He noted their speed all around and size up front.

“We just need to compete a little harder and get back to work,” he said.

Running back Henderson Francois scored twice for the Trojans, including a nice 43-yard run to cap the scoring late in the fourth quarter. He also added a couple nice returns on special teams.

Lely hosts Dunbar in a Class 5A-District 12 clash Friday night.