Lecount leads Titans over Brandon

Tampa Bay Tech running back Cludner Lecount put it plain and simple.

"One goes down, one steps up," he said. "That's the motto."

On Friday night against Brandon in the Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinals, Lecount was the one who stepped up.

With two running backs out with injuries, the 5-foot-9, 175 pound senior carried Tech with 153 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries en route to a 37-0 victory.

Tampa Bay Tech (8-3) will face Gaither in the region semifinals on Friday. Tampa Bay Tech defeated Gaither, 17-14, on Nov. 4.

"We just have to keep the intensity and we have to be ready to work," Lecount said.

Senior running back Lamarq Caldwell, who verbally committed to Florida International University, suffered a leg injury during his first carry of the game in the first quarter and sophomore Deon Thompson was unable to play.

On several of his carries, Lecount was gang tackled by Brandon defenders. He also caught two passes for 26 yards.

"I think about (the hits), but on the field you don't really feel it," Lecount said. "All I was thinking when I was running was 'Get yards.' It was one play after another and I knew on one play I was going to break (free), and that's what I did."

Lecount had long runs of 39 yards, 35 and 26 yards.

"The kid is a ballplayer," first-year Tampa Bay Tech coach Jayson Roberts said. "He shows up week in and week out. He's probably barely 175 pounds soaked and wet and he takes a beating, game in and game out. But he keeps on getting up from the ground and ready to carry the load the next play."

Senior quarterback Aaron Midthus, who suffered an ankle injury against Plant City last week and was questionable for Friday's game, finished with 84 passing yards and threw for a touchdown.

On fourth down in the third quarter, Midthus plowed through the middle on a designed quarterback sneak, but was able to stay on his feet for a 26-yard touchdown run.

Senior D'Andre Franklin led Brandon (5-6) with 72 rushing yards while junior fullback Cyrus Dooley added 58 yards.

Tampa Bay Tech's defense finished with two sacks, an interception, safety and a fumble recovery.

"I thought that we would play well, I didn't think we would shut them out completely," Roberts said. "I'm definitely impressed with our defense for stepping up to the challenge to stop a team that's been pretty impressive on the ground all season long."

T—Lecount 12 run (Miller kick)
T—Thompkins 45 pass from Midthus (Miller kick)
T—Midthus 26 run (Miller kick)
T—Lecount 35 run (Miller kick)
T—Polite 6 pass from Der. Thompson (Miller kick)
T—Safety