Hernando Today
Fumble Costs HCA
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Published: May 17, 2008
BROOKSVILLE - Four interceptions still couldn't keep Bradenton-St. Stephen's Episcopal from finding a way to defeat Hernando Christian Academy in Friday night's spring classic game.
Cameron Allen recovered a fumble on the Falcons' 4-yard line and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown, breaking a 14-all tie with 7:53 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Lions appeared on the verge of going in front after Clay Kessler recorded his team's fourth pick, one play after HCA had turned the ball over on downs.
The majority of the first half served as a personal highlight reel for freshman Ian Townsend.
St. Stephen's drove down to the HCA 23-yard line on the game's opening possession on six straight runs. When quarterback Logan Zoller finally put the ball in the air, Townsend came down with it in the end zone.
Though HCA's ensuing drive ended with a fumble, the Lions penetrated Falcon territory when David Rotteveel hit Townsend for a 38-yard reception.
Townsend also ended St. Stephen's second possession the same way he did the first, picking off Zoller around midfield.
However, HCA could still not cash in on Townsend's handy work, punting and ultimately allowing the Falcons to dent the scoreboard in the last minute of the half.
After
two goal-line stops, Cameron Ayala capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive by rushing up the middle for a 1-yard score with 51 seconds remaining.
Jeremy Knight knotted it up for the Lions returning an interception 22 yards for a score early in the third quarter.
Later in the period, Rotteveel hit Townsend for a 32-yard scoring strike to make it 14-7 HCA. St. Stephen's responded with a 45-yard touchdown pass a minute and a half later.
St. Stephen's Episcopal 21, Hernando Christian 14
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
St. Stephen's 0 7 7 7 – 21
HCA 0 0 14 0 – 14
Individual Scoring:
SSE – Ayala 1 run (Unzicker kick)
HCA – Knight 22 interception return (Lehman kick)
HCA – Townsend 32 pass from Rotteveel (Lehman kick)
SSE – Freeland 45 pass from Vining (Unzicker kick)
SSE – Allen 96 fumble return (Unzicker kick)
SSE HCA
First Downs 8 14
Atts./Rushing Yards 24-86 37-107
Comp./Pass Atts./Int. 5-14-4 4-9-0
Passing Yds. 100 107
Total Offense 38-186 46-214
Fumbles/Lost 1-0 4-2
Punts/Avg. 2-25.5 3-39.0
Penalties 5-25 11-66
Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com
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