By Jeff Odom
Laker/Lutz News Correspondent
It took a last minute touchdown and overtime, but the Steinbrenner football team defeated Chamberlain 34-27 on Nov. 4 to secure the first winning season in the program’s three-year history.
Curtis Fitch completed a 42-yard pass to Jon Marc Carrier with 45 seconds left in regulation to set up the game-tying score for the Warriors (6-3). The two connected again for a 14-yard strike in overtime to claim the road victory.
“Our offensive coordinator, Andres Perez, made a couple of great calls,” said Warriors coach Floyd Graham. “The winning play we just put in this week and it worked just like it’s designed to.”
Steinbrenner drove down the field into Chamberlain (1-8) territory thanks to a handful of rushes from Cody Cazin and Kendall Pearcey. After Cazin set up a first down, Pearcey found a hole and turned on the burners for a 42-yard touchdown to get the Warriors on the scoreboard.
The Chiefs struck back with a weapon of their own — halfback Xavier Johnson. The junior, who finished with 262 yards on 32 carries and two touchdowns, slipped through a hole on the outside and tied the game with a 32-yard scamper.
Steinbrenner’s Zack Jones answered with a 99-yard kickoff return for a score, tying a 2010 return by Jake Carroll for longest in school history.
Johnson continued to show his speed, breaking through a host of defenders en route to a 27-yard gain to set up Nick McNeal for a 32-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14.
Pearcey, who finished with 212 total yards, took the ensuing kickoff back 57 yards to set the Warriors up with good field position. He scored on a 1-yard rush to give Steinbrenner a 21-14 halftime lead.
Johnson wasted no time tying the game after halftime with a 51-yard touchdown. Josh Bennett found McNeal in the back of the end zone to give Chamberlain a 27-21 fourth-quarter lead after a blocked extra point.
The Warriors took over on their own 28 for what turned out as their last possession of regulation. Penalties threatened to derail the 18-play, 72-yard drive.
“The penalties killed us all night,” Graham said. “We have to eliminate that because those things will turn a win into a loss faster than just about anything.”
Facing a fourth and 20, Fitch made a 26-yard completion to Carrier to give Steinbrenner first down. The sophomore signal caller wasn’t done there. Facing fourth and 7, he found Carrier for a 42-yard reception with less than 45 seconds to play.
Pearcey fought through the line for the game-tying score on fourth and goal with the win hinging on the extra point, which sailed wide left to send the game to overtime.
The Warriors got the ball on the Chiefs’ 10-yard line with four chances to score, but a penalty pushed them back. Steinbrenner would not be deterred, as Fitch found Carrier in end zone for a 14-yard strike on the second play.
“Coach said ‘go make a play’ and Fitch put it out there,” said Carrier, who finished with three catches for 76 yards. “It was a great pass and I just caught the ball.”
Chamberlain could not answer on its possession, giving Steinbrenner the victory.
The Warriors host Middleton on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. to end the season.
