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Penalties Doom Dragons

By SCOTT PURKS

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 22, 2008

BRADENTON - On the surface, it appeared three interceptions were what doomed Jefferson in a 14-7 loss to Southeast in Friday's first round of the Class 4A playoffs.

Jefferson coach Mike Fenton said look deeper.

"It was the penalties that killed us ... the stupid penalties," Fenton said. "It was the penalties that backed us up every time we got something going. We were moving the ball by running and then we'd get a penalty and it would be third and a million."

And then - "after the penalties," Fenton said - came the interceptions.

Jefferson QB Quentin Williams' first pick came in the second quarter on a looping pass from Southeast's 20 yard-line. It landed in the hands of Southeast's leaping Jonathan Dowling in the end zone.

The second came in the third quarter on a looping pass from Southeast's 35-yard line, again caught by Dowling in the end zone.

The final interception came with 2 minutes left in the game at Southeast's 15-yard line, not by Dowling, but again on a looping pass.

And yes, all of the interceptions did come after penalties.

None of the picks, however, surprised Southeast coach Paul Maechtle.

"We now have 21 interceptions on the season," Maechtle said. "So yeah, we've done that all year. We have great defensive backs, guys who can make big plays, which is what I told the guys we needed to make to beat teams in the playoffs."

In the second quarter it was Jefferson (6-5) that made the big play, again on a looping pass from Southeast's 20 yard-line. The difference on that play was the grab by Dragon wideout Andre Davis.

"It was so frustrating," Fenton said, "because we did put ourselves in position. But then, as we too often have, we shot ourselves in the foot."

On the flip side, you could almost say the same for Jefferson's defense, which made some big plays (blocked field goal attempt and two interceptions), but also missed some key tackles.

Case in point: On the game's go-ahead third-quarter touchdown, Jefferson had Southeast running back Waymon Bowden bottled up for a five-yard loss, but then, after breaking four tackles, Bowden was in the open, racing 40 yards for a touchdown.

"Bowden has been a bit frustrated because he's said he wants the ball more," Maechtle said of his junior fullback.For Jefferson it ends what many billed as a rebuilding season, but one that left Fenton feeling optimistic for the future.

"We have a lot of underclassmen who have a lot of ability," Fenton said. "We're going to come back and come back stronger."