Quarterbacks

[Guest HowieP1]

Hill had a good night but his team lost:

Posted on Sat, Oct. 09, 2004

 

'Noles get over Hill

By Jim Henry

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

An assortment of injuries combined with a slow start threatened to derail Florida High's football season in its first month. However, the Seminoles have adjusted and are gaining momentum heading into a critical part of their schedule.

Powered by a quick start and six rushing touchdowns, Florida High outlasted Jefferson County 41-30 on Fright night.

The Seminoles (3-3), who opened the season 0-2, jumped to a 21-0 advantage in the first quarter. Instead of shifting into cruise control, they had to survive an aerial onslaught from Tigers quarterback Carlton Hill.

Hill fired four second-half touchdowns and finished with 306 passing yards, 255 in the second half, as Jefferson County did its best to ruin Florida High's homecoming. The two teams combined to score five touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including three in the final 3:18.

The Seminoles received a pair of rushing touchdowns from quarterback Trey Revell in the first quarter and added another pair from Maron Butler in the fourth quarter to finally shake the stubborn Tigers (2-4).

"You can't get behind the 8-ball against a good team like this," first-year Jefferson County coach Jeff Schaum said.

"The thing we want to do is come out and be able to throw the football and we came out in the second half and did it. Our kids came back and played hard but Florida High did a good job."

The Seminoles finished with 252 rushing yards, relying on the option and strong, inside running. Reggie Jones and Maron Butler added scoring runs for the winners. Florida High led 28-6 at the half as the slow-starting Tigers were plagued by penalties and turnovers.

"We were missing some key elements, and a couple players were out with injuries early in the season," Jones said. "But everyone has been clicking and we've figured out our chemistry. We just need to build on this win because we have a big district game (Hamilton County) next Friday."

Hill, who has committed to South Florida, did his part to rally the Tigers. He threw scoring strikes of 33, 43 and 3 yards to receiver John Dady, who finished with eight catches for 170 yards. Hill, who worked exclusively out of the shotgun, also added 107 rushing yards and a 6-yard touchdown run.

"We came back out and dominated (in second half), " Hill said. "We wanted to win from the start but we couldn't get things together. We finally got it together in the second half and played well."

The Seminoles, meanwhile, relied on a solid start.

"It was huge, taking the momentum from them in the first quarter," Revell said.

"It was needed. They have athletes. We just took them out of the game early."

---

Jefferson County 0 6 6 18-30

Florida High 21 7 0 13-41

First Quarter

FH - Trey Revell 4 run (Eric Toussaint kick), 9:27

FH - Revell 11 run (Toussaint kick), 4:51

FH - Reggie Jones 10 run (Toussaint kick), 1:17

Second Quarter

JC - Carlton Hill 6 run (kick failed), 9:08

FH - Maron Butler 8 run (Toussaint kick), 3:15

Third Quarter

JC - John Dady 33 pass from Hill (run failed), 4:02

Fourth Quarter

FH - Dominic Gordon 1 run (kick failed), 9:39

JC - Dady 43 pass from Hill (run failed), 8:51

JC - Dady 3 pass from Hill (run failed), 3:18

FH - Gordon 12 run (Toussaint kick), 1:29

JC - Chris Branham 10 pass from Hill (run failed), 13.7

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - FH: Reggie Jones 6-65, Trey Revell 9-87, Derron Copeland 5-28, Dominic Gordon 7-34, Maron Butler 4-38; JC: Carlton Hill 16-107.

Passing - FH: Trey Revell 6-10-1, 88; JC: Carlton Hill 19-42-0, 306

Receiving - FH: Maron Butler 2-37, Reggie McGee 1-11, Danny Morris 2-24, Derron Copeland 1-16; JC - John Dady 8-170, J.R. Sloan 3-35, Chris Branham 4-64, Mark Bennett 3-25.

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/sports/9874374.htm

[Guest S.  Bien]

I love the fact he was playing out of the shotgun in a spread offense.  What amazing stats.  If Carlton can tweak his throwing mechanics just a tad he could be tailormade for our offense- 6-3 210, and runs a 4.4 forty.

Scary.  Oh and he is coming to USF.  Neither he or Grothe are scared of one another, and welcome the competition.  That's what I really like about both these QB's, and that will make us a better team.

[Guest HowieP1]

Grothe must have had another good game last night:

Lake Gibson 43, Poinciana 0.   ;D

[Guest HowieP1]

Grothe must have had another good game last night:

Lake Gibson 43, Poinciana 0.   ;D

Published Saturday, October 9, 2004

More Grothe Heroics in Braves' Rout

By RICHARD CONNERS

Ledger Correspondent

LAKELAND -- Lake Gibson, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, jumped out to an early lead and coasted the rest of the way in a lopsided, District 8 victory, 43-0, over Poinciana (0-5, 0-4) in a high school football game at Virgil Ramage Stadium on Friday night.

The easy win in front of some 1,800 fans on a short week was just the type of game the Braves (6-0, 4-0) needed to get ready for next week's matchup against Auburndale, which is undefeated in district play as well.

"We're just happy nobody got hurt tonight," said Braves coach Keith DeMyer.

"We only practiced two days, but they (Poinciana) lost a lot more to the hurricanes than their share."

Four plays into the game, Poinciana was intercepted by the Braves' Aubrey Bowers. Plays of 16 and 19 yards set up running back Isaac Harris' 7-yard touchdown run around end.

After holding the Eagles to three plays and a punt, the Braves immediately came back with a drive of 55 yards on five plays, capped by All-State quarterback Matt Grothe's 4-yard toss to Roger Frazier to put the Braves up, 14-0.

The Braves averaged 17 yards a play on their first two drives and Grothe completed his first seven passes.

Grothe, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, took advantage of Frazier's 30yard punt return to the Eagles' 13-yard line.

Grothe hit Laron Shaw across the middle of the end zone to give Lake Gibson a 21-0 lead with 2:18 left in the first quarter.

"They don't talk about (being No. 2) anymore," said DeMyer of his team, which still ranks behind last year's champion, Armwood.

"Next week will be our biggest game of the year to date."

If the Braves are going to have a chance they must stop Grothe, who was 11-of-15 for 139 yards, with another 59 yards rushing on just two carries.

Grothe's most impressive play of the evening came when he somehow slipped out of two defensive linemen's grasp and weaved downfield into the end zone to give the Braves a 34-0 lead.

Harris finished with 84 yards on 10 carries and Frazier had five catches for 62 yards.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041009/NEWS/410090440/1002/sports

[Guest HowieP1]

Published Saturday, October 23, 2004

Grothe, Braves Win in Style

By Roy Fuoco

The Ledger

roy.fuoco@theledger.com

LAKELAND -- Lake Gibson was looking for more than a victory Friday night, although to be sure, a victory was the most important thing the Braves wanted.

But for Braves coach Keith DeMyer, style -- execution and effort -- mattered too.

DeMyer found what he was looking for in the Braves' 38-8 victory over Winter Haven in the Braves' homecoming game at Virgil Ramage Stadium.

"The only thing that hurt us was we were a little sloppy on penalties," DeMyer said. "At least we were more aggressive. I felt, especially after last week, that the defense played well."

The Braves (7-1, 5-1) needed the victory to maintain their hold on second place in Class 4A, District 8. They dropped out of first after losing to Auburndale last week.

It was a night of near domination for the Braves, who finished with 481 yards of total offense and nearly balanced rushing (220 yards) and passing (261 yards). They were this prolific despite missing two offensive starters for disciplinary reasons.

Quarterback Matt Grothe led the effort, completing 19 of 28 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns, two from Laron Shaw and one from Natiel Smith. Grothe also ran for 85 yards and a touchdown. Running back Isaac Harris led all rushers with 89 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, Lake Gibson held Winter Haven to just 22 yards rushing and 143 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers. Quarterback Tim McNamee finished 8-of-12 for 108 yards.

Defensive end Van Alexander led the defensive effort with three sacks. Kyle Sasser blocked a punt that set the Braves up at the Winter Haven 6, and Shawn Waters and Jarrod Daughtry each came up with interceptions.

"We felt we had to pick up the intensity in practice last week, and we did," Alexander said.

Winter Haven nearly struck first. On the Blue Devils' first possession following a good kickoff return, McNamee found Zach Charles for a 34-yard gain as Winter Haven drove to the Lake Gibson 11.

However, on third-and-8, defensive tackle Aubrey Bowers recovered a fumble and Lake Gibson took over at the 14.

Despite four penalties for 35 yards on the drive, Lake Gibson scored 17 plays later on Grothe's 15-yard pass to Smith.

Lake Gibson finished with 115 yards in penalties.

Sasser's blocked punt sent up a one-play drive in which Grothe and Shaw hooked up for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 1:21 to play in the first quarter.

Grothe's 7-yard run midway through the second quarter set the Braves ahead at halftime, 210.

Lake Gibson went on to take a 38-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter before Winter Haven finally scored as Micia Hayes hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass with 5:05 to play.

The Braves play at Oviedo next week then at Lakewood Ranch before heading to the playoff. Barring an upset next week in the Auburndale-Jenkins game that would set up a three-way tie for first, the Braves will be on the road in the postseason.

"The last two games are on the road against two physical football teams," DeMyer said. "That will help us once we get in the playoffs."

Winter Haven is home against Poinciana.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041023/NEWS/410230347/1002/SPORTS

[BigShoop]

I love the fact he was playing out of the shotgun in a spread offense.  What amazing stats.  If Carlton can tweak his throwing mechanics just a tad he could be tailormade for our offense- 6-3 210, and runs a 4.4 forty.

Scary.  Oh and he is coming to USF.  Neither he or Grothe are scared of one another, and welcome the competition.  That's what I really like about both these QB's, and that will make us a better team.

I too, noticed the shotgun thing, and  

I cant wait till next year's QB battle.

[smazza]

i would be shocked if both came to usf

[Guest HowieP1]

Published Saturday, November 6, 2004

Harris, Braves Thrash Ranch

By JASON SWANCEY

New York Times Regional Newspapers

BRADENTON -- Lake Gibson and running back Isaac Harris made sure things couldn't get much worse for Lakewood Ranch, which got some good news after losing 58-10 to the Braves on Friday night at Mustang Field.

The season is over.

The season ended on a sevengame skid for the Mustangs (27), who were overmatched against the Braves (9-1) from the opening kickoff.

Lake Gibson scored on the second play of the game, and the Mustangs didn't even have the ball. Ranch quarterback Nate Birczak (three interceptions) threw a pick that was returned 31 yards to make it 7-0 less than a minute into the game.

Lake Gibson only had 29 offensive plays in the game, yet managed 391 yards and 11 first downs.

The Mustangs had 53 plays from scrimmage and only mustered 228 yards, 75 of which came on the Birczak's 75-yard scamper for their only touchdown.

"Those guys have great athletes and a great team," said Lakewood Ranch head coach Faust DeLazzer. "It's just been a bad year, and have to chalk it up to that."

It seemed as if everything worked for the Braves, who had three touchdowns through the air despite only seven pass attempts. And tailback Harris made the most of every carry, averaging 20 yards a carry and finishing with 141 yards and two touchdowns, including a 95-yard effort.

Lakewood Ranch had one pass attempt and managed only 40 yards, 29 of which came on the final heave of the game from backup signal-caller Andrew Slowik.

Take away Birczak's 75-yard touchdown run and the Mustangs only had 111 yards on 34 rushing attempts.

Kyle Fail's 43-yard field goal got the goose-egg off the scoreboard for the Mustangs in the second quarter.

The Braves' final touchdown of the half summed up what kind of night it was for Lakewood Ranch. After turning the ball over on downs, it looked as if the Braves might sit on their 30-3 lead. But instead, Matt Grothe hit Laron Shaw with a 24-yard strike on their first play and made it 37-3 with eight seconds left in the half.

Lake Gibson plays Land O'Lakes in the first game of the playoffs next Friday.

FHSAA Readies Tiebreakers

The Florida High School Athletic Association office will announce arrangements for at-large berth tiebreakers in the 2004 FHSAA Football Championships on Saturday afternoon, should such tiebreakers be necessary after Week 10 games are played.

Regions 6A-1, 6A-2, 4A-4 and 1A-4 may be affected, and potential tiebreaker participants are asked to check FHSAA.org for updates.

Seedings and pairings in each tiebreaker will be determined by blind draw with the top seed serving as host school.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune sports writer Phil Denis will come to the FHSAA office to make the draw.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041106/NEWS/411060356/1002/SPORTS

[Apis Bull]

According to Rivals, Carlton Hill just decommitted.  He now favors Miami.

[mattegunz]

Trib also reporting Hill's decommitment.  

Monticello Jefferson County High's Carlton Hill, the nation's No. 9 quarterback who verbally committed to South Florida in August, said Monday he is undecided.

Hill, USF's top recruit, said he is also considering Miami and Auburn, but didn't know when he would visit those schools. Hill said he hasn't contacted USF's coaches about his change of heart and probably would wait until National Signing Day on Feb. 2 to make a final decision.

``I'm still unclear,'' Hill said. ``I'm not sure on USF. I guess [in August] I rushed to a decision.''

Verbal commitments are nonbinding.

http://bulls.tbo.com/bulls/MGBK9VCKB1E.html