By Craig Brown
I have seen the Wild Gators blow away some teams in the past but Friday nights beat down of the Warriors from Creek Bridge took the cake.
I don’t believe that Lake View intended to embarrass the Warriors but they have so much talent that even the Gator reserves proved too much for Creek Bridge.
The Warriors had some size but only fielded 14 players with two going down to injuries. Wild Gator Head Coach Daryl King stated that Creek Bridge would be a better program if they had enough players to practice their plays. Coach King stated that the Warriors give it all they have and in fact he would like to have at least two of their players on his team.
Wild Gator team statistician Jimmy Sweat stated that Lake View only produced 271 yards but scored most of their points on Warrior mistakes.
The Gator defense held the Warriors to 74 yards of total offense. Aikeen Rogers returned the opening kickoff 74 yards to put the Gators up 6-0. The extra point kick was off holding the lead to 6-0 with 11:40 left in the first.
On the Wild Gators next possession Gator quarterback Adarrian Dawkins hit wide receiver Jalik Roberts with a 15-yard touchdown pass.
The conversion failed but the Gators were now up 12-0 with 7:42 left in the first quarter. The clock was down to 4:36 when the Wild Gators added their third touchdown with Benji Kelly crossing the goal from 17 yards out.
Dawkins hit Jiqyle Reaves with the two-point conversion pass to up the Wild Gator lead to 20-0. With 1:48 left in the first quarter Dawkins connected with Reaves on a 68-yard touchdown pass. Josh McCall’s point after kick put the Gators up 27-0.
The first quarter would end with this score. Lake View’s lone mistake came at the start of the second quarter as they fumbled the ball away to the Warriors giving the Warriors the ball in the red zone.
The Warriors scored on a 20- yard touchdown pass. The conversion failed holding the score with Lake View ahead 27-6 with 11:36 left in the second quarter.
Wild Gator defensive back Keyshawn Hanford played heads up ball by recovering a lateral pass and returning it 28 yards for a touchdown. McCall added the point after kick to increase the Gator lead to 34-6 with 9:55 left in the second quarter.
With 5:57 left in the second quarter Willie Wheeler returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown. McCall’s kick put the Gators up 41-6. It was agreed to run the clock without stoppage in the game.
With the first half closing, Michael McInnis returned a punt 40 yards for a touchdown.
Aikeen Rogers recovered a bad snap on the extra point kick and raced to the end zone for the two points to put the Gators out front 49-6 with the first half closing with this score. After the extended halftime break to honor the 31 homecoming contestants the second half resumed with the clock run without stoppage.
With 1:36 left in the third quarter Michael McInnis outran the Warrior defenders on his way to a 36-yard touchdown run.
McCall put the Gators up 56-6 with his kick as the quarter ended with this score. In the quick-running fourth quarter Larry Inman added to the Warrior’s woes as he recovered a fumble and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown.
The extra point kick was off holding the Wild Gator lead to 62-6 with 6:22 left in the fourth quarter.
With 1:38 left in the game Da’Correus Ford returned a punt 38 yards for the game’s final touchdown. McCall added the final point with his kick to give the Wild Gators the 69-6 region win. Coach King stated he was proud of his team and that the fans got to see all of their team in action.
All team members work hard during weekly practice sessions and deserve playing time added Coach King.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Craig Brown
Click once to bring a photo into a single screen, and then again to enlarge.