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Seminole defense comes up big in win

The Warhawks extend their regular-season winning streak to 20 by beating the Eagles 5-0.

By JOHN SCHWARB

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 22, 2001

SEMINOLE -- With two games to play in four days this week, Seminole coach Sam Roper figured the true character of his team would surface in the second contest.

Perhaps fatigue would be a factor.

Or perhaps the Seminole defense simply was saving its finest effort for the biggest game of the season so far.

The Warhawks completely suffocated a powerful East Lake offense Friday night before a Homecoming crowd, winning 5-0 to push its regular-season winning streak to 20, the longest current streak in the bay area. "We didn't really know what to expect, whether we were going to wear out or whether we were going to be flat or what," said Roper, whose team defeated Boca Ciega 64-7 on Tuesday. "Our kids really rose to the occasion."

The top two north county teams staged essentially a midfield scrum for the first half, with neither offense advancing into the red zone.

East Lake came the closest, driving to the Warhawks' 22 before throwing an interception.

In the third quarter, Seminole's opening drive stalled at its 44. But a 46-yard punt by D'Qwell Jackson and an East Lake illegal block pinned the Eagles at their 5.

After a 2-yard loss on a Mike Gale keeper and an incomplete pass, the surging Warhawks defense broke through again on Gale. And Ryan Deknoblough and Steven Kay tackled him in the end zone for a safety.

That possession was the only one for East Lake in the quarter.

After the free kick, Seminole put together a seven-minute drive that ended with 9:09 left in the fourth quarter with a 27-yard field goal by Morgan Riley.

Seminole (4-0) racked up 250 yards rushing, with Jackson collecting 160 on 18 carries. And its five points turned out to be more than enough.

East Lake (2-2) had just four first downs and 100 yards of total offense, 55 of which came on its last drive of the game.

Riley missed a 35-yard field goal to give the Eagles a final shot with 1:40 left, and Gale hit D.J. Brooks with a 33-yard pass to get to the Warhawks' 35.

But the defense stood tall one final time as T.J. Layfield dived to pick off Gale at the 6-yard line with 31 seconds remaining.

"This means that we are the best team in the county. We proved it tonight," Layfield said. "We knew if they didn't score that we would win. That's our motto every day."

East Lake entered the game averaging 43 points a game but had a tougher game Tuesday, beating Gibbs 40-32.

"I think (Seminole) got the best of us on the line," East Lake coach Tom Keeler said. "There's nothing I can tell the team. We got beat."

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