Navarre falls short against FSU High
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By TRAVIS DOWNEY Florida Freedom Newspapers NAVARRE - Despite trailing by as much as 16 in the second half, Navarre found itself lining up for a 20-yard field goal with 2:09 remaining in the fourth quarter that could bring the Raiders within seven points of visiting FSU High and tip the momentum of a back-and-forth contest back onto the home sideline. But Adam Hamilton's kick sailed just to the left of the uprights, bringing a sudden halt to what had looked to be a Homecoming comeback as Navarre (2-6) fell 42-32. "I thought we played well," Navarre coach Chad Lashley said. "They just have some playmakers and we allowed them to make plays." None proved more dangerous down the stretch than the Seminoles' quarterback, Kyle Stewart. Stewart finished the night 14-of-23 for 186 yards with three interceptions and three touchdowns but it was his ability to convert on third-and-long situations in the fourth quarter that helped FSU High (8-1) escape with a win despite being outgained by Navarre 433-336. "Defensively, on third down we couldn't get off the field," Lashley said. "Every time we made a play, they answered with a play." Navarre nearly one-upped the Seminoles early in the fourth quarter when Kwamane Howard capped a 97-yard scoring drive with a 24-yard touchdown run on an option pitch from quarterback Andrew Velazquez. Navarre's defense put the ball back in the hands of the Raiders' offense with a crucial stand on fourth-and-1 at the Raiders' own 37. A 20-yard run by Howard and an 11-yard catch by receiver Adam Taylor put the Raiders in a first-and-goal situation but with Howard on the sideline nursing a cramp, the Navarre offense stalled and instead settled for Hamilton's field goal try that just missed its mark. "Our kids played hard and with a lot of enthusiasm," Lashley said. Trailing 28-19 at the half, Navarre took a major blow early in the third quarter when after failing to convert on a fourth down of its own, FSU High quickly capitalized with a 60-yard scoring run by running back Jeremy Vaughn to make it a 35-19 Seminole lead. Vaughn finished with a team-high 107 yards on the ground. Navarre would answer with a long run of its own on its ensuing possession as Howard burst through the Seminoles' defense for a 61-yard touchdown just over a minute later to bring the Raiders back within nine at 35-26. Howard finished the night with a game-high 182 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries. But again, FSU High responded, this time piecing together a seven-play scoring drive that featured a 9-yard completion on third down from Stewart to receiver Juaun Davis to keep the drive alive before the quarterback lofted a 24-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Demps that made it 42-26. |
