Marion County high school football: Trinity Catholic, Belleview win in Week 2
Week 2 of the high school football season saw Trinity Catholic bounce back from a season-opening loss, Belleview get a big night from a senior running back to stay unbeaten, West Port earn its first win with a home shutout and Vanguard lose a close one at a Panhandle power.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights.
**See North Marion at Dunnellon story here
Trinity Catholic 35, Clearwater Central Catholic 27
The host Celtics got two long touchdown passes from Alan Means to Cedric McFadden and two scoring runs of more than 50 yards each from Beau Beard, but the biggest play of the night may have gone for fewer than three yards.
The Marauders (1-1) scored a touchdown with 1:50 remaining to close Trinity’s lead to 28-27 and then chose to go for two. The Celtics put in their jumbo package and stuffed a quarterback run just shy of the goal line. Beard followed with a long touchdown run for the final margin.
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“They made the decision on the road ‘hey, let’s go for it,’” TC coach John Brantley said. “I admire coaches that do that. I might have done the same.”
Brantley said that coming off a tough 22-19 loss at Tallahassee Florida High last week, getting this win was a big confidence boost.
“Clearwater Central Catholic came in as the No. 3 team in the state for 1Metro just behind (Hollywood) Chaminade and Trinity Christian up in Jacksonville, and they beat (last year’s Class 3A state runner-up Tampa) Berkeley Prep (24-7) last week,” Brantley said. “So, we beat a good football team.”
Ranked third in 1S, the Celtics (1-1) will visit Gainesville (0-2) on Thursday night.
Belleview 16, Crystal River 6
Heavy rains during the afternoon created what BHS coach Brian Lane called “very sloppy field conditions”, so the Rattlers simplified things, much to the joy of Eric McLaughlin. The senior tailback carried 26 times for 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“He really came to play,” said Lane, who added the return of center Hunter Root from appendix surgery was a big boost for the running game. “Eric bleeds blue. He was upset he only got something like four yards on 10 carries last week against Lecanto and wanted to make a statement.”
Lane also praised kicker Aiden Kaczmarski for making an extra point, a 20-yard field goal, and most importantly, forcing four touchbacks on kickoffs.
“Our defense played very well and our kicker put them in great situations for the start of drives,” Lane said. “It was a team effort all around.”
BHS (2-0) is allowing just 10.5 ppg but will travel to North Marion (2–0), which is averaging 37 ppg, next week.
“They have great athletes all over the field,” Lane said of the Colts. “They have gazelles everywhere. They are a superior opponent, the best one we will have seen so far this season, and we are going to have to work extra hard this week.”
West Port 30, Winter Springs 0
The host Wolf Pack got the first win for new coach Greg Harper in dominant fashion. WPHS jumped out to a 10-0 lead early and never looked back.
And the defense not only earned a shutout, it also got into the scoring action, as Peter Finn intercepted a pass and took it 51 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
WPHS (1-1) will host Berkeley Prep (1-1) and highly coveted 5-star defensive end Keon Keeley next Friday.
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Niceville 15, Vanguard 7
One of the state’s biggest games of the week was a defensive battle that saw a scoreless second half.
The visiting Knights did outgain NHS, 370-360, quarterback Fred Gaskin completed 19-of-29 for 310 yards and Lenard Hill caught six passes for 112 yards, but Vanguard was unable to find the end zone outside of a 9-yard touchdown pass from Gaskin to Tay’juan Farmer-Leslie in the second quarter.
Defensively, VHS, ranked second in 3S, allowed just four completions but did give up 255 rushing yards. Micah Turner (18 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown) led the way for the Eagles (2-0), ranked sixth in 4S.
Vanguard (1-1) will visit Dunnellon (1-1) in what has become one of the county’s biggest rivalry games next Friday night.
Brooksville Central 47, Lake Weir 13: The visiting Hurricanes dropped to 0-2 and will look to pick up their first win next Friday when Orange Park Ridgeview (0-2) visits.
Old Plank Christian Academy 47, OCA 7: The Crusaders dropped to 1-2 with a loss in Jacksonville. They will have next week off.
Thursday night
Florida School for the Deaf & Blind 22, St. John 13: The Saints dropped to 1-2 with a loss in St. Augustine. St. John will have a bye next week.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: High school football: Trinity Catholic, Belleview among Week 2 winners
