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Rockledge 31, Land O'Lakes 7

TBO.com

Published: November 17, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - They overcame injuries, made dramatic comebacks and won every big game there was to win all season.

Despite all those experiences, and all those successes, Land O' Lakes' players couldn't prepare themselves for what they faced Friday night - a Rockledge squad with speed and power at just about every position.

The Gators were exposed quickly, and often, by the Raiders' misdirection running game and blitzing defense, finishing with just 88 yards from scrimmage to lose 31-7 in a Class 4A region quarterfinal at Gator Stadium.

"In the 10 games we played this season, we haven't faced competition like we faced tonight," said Land O' Lakes coach John Benedetto. "They were a lot quicker and a lot stronger than we were."

Land O' Lakes (9-2) ended with minus-27 yards rushing, was sacked six times, had a punt blocked and allowed a pair of Rockledge backs, quarterback Doug Goins and running back Travis Freeman, to rush for more than 100 yards.

The Gators' lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter, following a fumble by the Raiders (8-3). Senior Chris Singleton broke through Rockledge's second-string defense for a 5-yard run.

But by that point, the Raiders had scored the game's first 31 points, capitalizing on several Gators miscues.

After Rockledge drove 75 yards for its first touchdown, Land O' Lakes tried a fake punt on fourth-and-19 from its own 24-yard line. Quarterback Ely Payne's pass fell short of intended receiver Brandon Thompson. The Raiders made it 14-0 three plays later on a 4-yard run by Freeman.

Rockledge's other first-half touchdown came after the blocked punt, and on its first offensive play of the second half, Goins scampered 91 yards down the right sideline on an option keeper, flying past several Gators defenders for his second touchdown.

"He runs the option real well; that's one of our strengths on offense," Rockledge coach Pat Lusk said of Goins. "When he's doing well, we're doing well."

As the Raiders were piling up 365 yards rushing, Land O' Lakes virtually abandoned the running game until the fourth quarter, and tried several trick plays to little effect. Payne and Stephen Weatherford were a combined 8-for-21 passing for 99 yards. Nick Castellano led all receivers with 53 yards on four catches.

But even though the differences between the two teams were apparent, it was nonetheless a bitter loss for Payne and the rest of the seniors to take, playing their final high school game.

"Yeah, they were faster," said Payne, "But we just weren't ready."