Chamberlain Overcomes Jefferson

TAMPA - For three quarters, Chamberlain was crushed and steamrolled, and frankly all but demoralized Friday night at Jefferson High.

The Chiefs had gained 41 total yards and three first downs, while giving up more than 270 yards.

Chamberlain coach Billy Turner said his staff was telling players on the sideline that they were playing 'scared,' and they were getting their 'butts whipped,' and there was no excuse for it.

Yet when the game's final horn blew, there were the Chiefs jumping like cheerleaders and hugging like they just won the biggest game of their lives, which maybe they had.

Somehow, Chamberlain beat Jefferson, 21-14, after a furious Chamberlain fourth quarter.

'I'd say it's one of the most dramatic comebacks I've ever been a part of,' said Turner, who has coached more than 40 years. 'We were getting frustrated on the sideline, but we didn't lose our heads completely. We never gave up, because hey, the score stayed close and our defense kept making big plays.'

The biggest Chamberlain play of the first half was also the oddest. It came after Jefferson's punter swung up his leg only to tip the ball, which fell straight into the ground. Chamberlain picked up the ball and promptly fumbled it, only to have the Chiefs' Justin Bell scoop it up and run 36 yards for a touchdown.

That tied the game at 7 and gave the Chiefs (5-2) their only points of the half.

Jefferson (2-4) responded with another touchdown, a 30-yard pass to Darrell Young that seemed to seal the momentum for the Dragons, who at the half ran enthusiastically into the locker room.

'Then ... I don't really know,' Jefferson coach Mike Fenton said. 'We came out flat. We didn't have any life. It was strange.'

Still, the Dragons held their 14-7 lead through the third quarter and even a few minutes into the fourth.

Jefferson's demise started less than nine minutes on the clock at Chamberlain's 26-yard line. That's when the Dragons went for it on fourth-and-1 and were stuffed for a 2-yard loss.

'We should have shoved it ahead right there,' Fenton said. 'We could have sealed it right there.'

Instead, Chamberlain followed with a six-play, 69-yard drive that ended with Lemond Scott's 12-yard touchdown run and tied the game at 14.

On Chamberlain's next drive, the Chiefs went 50 yards, the last play a 36-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dontae Aycock.

'On that play I saw Jefferson's end and linebacker pinch inside and I just tucked it in and took off,' Aycock said. 'It was pretty much wide open after that.'

Chamberlain07014-21Jefferson01400-14 J - Winters 7 run (Londono kick)

C - Bell 36 fumble return (Pullaro kick)

J - Young 30 pass from Grossi (Londono kick)

C - Scott 12 run (Pullaro kick)

C - Aycock 36 run (Pullaro kick)

TEAM STATISTICS Cha JeffFirst downs 7 11Rushing 25-114 23-80Passing 5-11-41 14-25-205Total yards 155 285Interceptions by 2 1Sacks by 2 2Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1Penalties-yards 6-65 6-70