By Kyle LoJacono
Staff writer
CITRUS PARK — Sickles is 5-2 for the best start in school history, but a late comeback fell just short in a 20-15 loss to Durant.
Sickles trailed 14-3, then rattled off 12 straight points to reclaim the lead. But Durant’s Je’Twan Smith threw an 11-yard touchdown to David Claypool with less than 30 seconds left.
Hillsborough County rusing leader Carey White had a season-low 67 yards and no touchdowns for Sickles. The passing game kept the Gryphons in it. John Melvin Hendrick thres for a season-best 232 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Chris Nahat and Brieann Dollard.
Durant rushed for 235 yards and two scores, marking the first time this year that Sickles failed to out-rush an opponent. The Gryphons losing two fumbles for 18 this season.
FREEDOM 32, BLOOMINGDALE 19: Freedom’s spread offense put up 21 points in the final quarter to move past Bloomingdale, putting the game away on Amonty Delisca’s 45-yard late scoring run.
While Freedom runs the spread offense, it got the job done on the ground, gaining 278 yards and three scores. Tyler Guy gained 74 yards and scored once, while Delisca added 73. Guy also had 101 yards passing and a score to T.J. Mutcherson.
PLANT CITY 28, GAITHER 0: Gaither was shutout for the third time this season. The Cowboys, who have just 25 in six games, have not scored since Sept. 25 against Freedom.
MIDDLETON 63, STEINBRENNER 7: Steinbrenner is finding varsity football much harder than junior varsity. The Warriors were 2-0 in JV play, but have gone 0-3 and scored 17 points against varsity squads.
Middleton jumped out to a 42-0 lead before Steinbrenner put its first points on the board on a 14-yard pass from Christian Carriere to Tobi Antigha.
Carrollwood Day Prep (6-0): won again by forfeit, this time against Orlando First Academy.
