Malcolm's in the middle

All season, Hernando has lived on the ability of its offense. And it was with good reason.
But Friday at Eustis, the Leopards' offense was contained. It was their defense that was the difference.
Two late turnovers by the Panthers proved pivotal as Hernando hung on for a 21-10 victory.
"We haven¹t helped our defense much in a lot of games (with field position)," said Hernando Head Coach John Palmer, his team now 5-2, 4-1 in 3A-6. "We were just fortunate to get the W."
Hernando got a first-half interception from Jamarys Thomas and then, with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, defensive tackle Malcom Hudson scooped up a Tre Perry fumble and returned it 20 yards with 2:43 left to make it 21-10.
A second fumble on Eustis' next possession resulted in another recovery by Hernando, this one by Zach Pritz, that wrapped up the win.
"We had to contain No. 2 (Alvin Delaine III) and we did that for the most part," said Eustis coach Bill Larkin, his team falling to 1-7, 1-4 in the district. "The plan worked until the end, and we just didn¹t capitalize on our opportunities."
Delaine didn't have the kind of game he's used to, gaining only 116 rushing yards on 17 carries. He did score twice, on an 18-yard first-quarter run that capped a 73-yard, 13-play drive, and again in the fourth, on a 12-yard run on fourth-and-2 with 2:43 to play that regained the lead for the Leopards. The touchdowns were his county-high 17th and 18th of the season.
In between those TDs, Eustis scored on a safety when a punt snap sailed over Kall Daniel's head and out of the end zone, and on a 24-yard, six-play drive that culminated with Kelsei Brown's 1-yard plunge. The latter put the Panthers ahead, 10-7, a lead they kept until the game's final minutes.
It was set up by a Hernando failed fourth-and-4 run that gave Eustis the ball at the Leopards' 24.
But for the game, Hernando's defense ruled, limiting Eustis to 110 yards on offense. The Leopards gained 279, with Marlin Smith contributing 86 yards on 15 carries.
"They played us tougher this week than they looked last week (on film)," said Palmer of the Panthers. "We knew they were a fairly young, athletic team."
Hernando did not turn over the ball, technically. The Leopards did have the safety and they did surrender possession on that failed fourth-down try at their own 24. Penalties hurt once again, too: nine for 78 yards.
Fortunately, they had just enough offense and plenty of defense to thwart the Panthers.