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Jefferson cruises, 27-6

By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: October 10, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - Jefferson coach Mike Fenton always believed he had a pretty good football team. The way the Dragons went into Lakewood and dominated the Spartans in a big Class 3A-District 8 game Friday night, chances are pretty good several other people will now share that sentiment.

Quarterback Quentin Williams threw two touchdown passes, running back Demetrius Russell had 94 yards rushing and a touchdown and Jefferson's defense limited Lakewood to 168 yards while forcing five turnovers in a 27-6 victory.

"I told the guys this (game) had definite playoff implications. I think that right now, I know that Spoto still has to play Lakewood and we got it out of the way, so I'd like to think that we're kind of in the driver's seat (in the district) right now and this gave us a little momentum," said Fenton, whose team has a bye next week before another big district matchup against Spoto.

Things didn't start well for the Dragons (4-1). Lakewood's Jermiel Douse returned the opening kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown.

"I told the guys, you know, especially when they missed the extra point, that you have to score one to win anyway, so the touchdown didn't really mean anything unless they shut us out," Fenton said. "We didn't think they could shut us out."

Jefferson's LaDarius Moye put the Dragons ahead 7-6 with a 2-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, and Williams threw his first touchdown on Jefferson's ensuing possession - a 23-yard pass to Chris Moore on fourth-and-5. The Dragons led 13-6 at halftime.

Jefferson went right back to work to start the second half, with Russell capping a nine-play, 79-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown run on the opening possession to put the Dragons up 21-6. With 36 seconds left in the third quarter, Williams essentially iced the game with a 14-yard scoring pass to his favorite target, Andre Davis. It was the only time the duo connected all night.

"I think it really did (put the game away)," said Williams, who finished 9 of 21 for 182 yards. "They're a great football team, but we just outworked them tonight."

After limiting Lakewood to 42 first-half yards, Jefferson's defense forced four second-half turnovers. That included interceptions on the Spartans' final two drives, which came after a goal-line stand by the Dragons that resulted in a turnover on downs.

"It was fabulous," Fenton said of his defense's effort. "I want to commend the coaching staff. We did a heck of a job preparing all week long, and defensively we came out and played just one whale of a game."