None of the trash talking and social media back and forth between the two teams mattered Friday night, when the Friendly Patriots defeated Largo Lions 27-6, to pull within one game in the packed 3A/2A/1A region.
“All week long they been talking to my kids, coaches talking, talking about we coming to the den, we not ready, it motivated us,” said Friendly coach Vaughn Smith , “We felt we lost to two quality teams, two teams that were in the playoffs. We already felt like we played big games before, and my kids were ready from the jump.”
Early on both teams struggled to find any type of rhythm as each team turned the ball over once and were forced to punt on their first seven drives combined, the game was scoreless after one quarter.
The Patriots struck first in the middle of the second quarter. After four straight rushes set the Patriots up inside the red zone, the Lions called a timeout to get its defense together, one play later, Smith connected with Darious Bowman for a diving 16 yard catch in the end zone to give the Patriots the 7-0 lead.
“I have confidence even if I throw an interception, I don’t get down on myself I have short term memory, next play.” Said Smith
It would remain a one possession game going into halftime.
As the second half began Largo defense continued its bend but don’t break approach. On the first drive, the Patriots drove the ball down to the Lions 11 yard line, before defensive back Christien Caldwell broke up a pass in the end zone on fourth & goal.
The Lions offense wasn’t able to capitalize; turning the ball over on its next possession after Myles Christian recovered a fumble deep in Lions territory.
Friendly would capitalize on its opportunity though, on its next offensive play, Smith threw his second touchdown of the day, this time a 25 yard lob pass down the middle to Khari Bussey. The score extended Friendly’s lead to 13-0 with just fewer than five minutes to go in the third quarter.
Friendly wasn’t done scoring. After a punt by Largo’s T’sarte Martin went off the back of one of his linemen and set Friendly up with a short field for the third straight drive, Smith would score his third touchdown of the game, this one on a quarterback bootleg. The score gave Friendly a 21-0 lead with less than two minutes to go in the third quarter.
Abraham Lyles III intercepted Anthony Nelson Jr. pass on the three yard line, ending another Largo drive. Friendly scored off the turnover, Myles Christian was able to break a 45 yard touchdown run that finished with Christian running over a defender yards before the endzone. The score put Friendly up 27-0 with only five minutes remaining.
While the game was virtually over, a cheer-off between the schools was the highlight of the final five minutes. As the cheerleaders battled it out, the Lions offense put together its best drive of the night, but another turnover on downs gave Friendly back the ball, and what looked like to be a shutout.
The hopes of a shutout were short lived for the Patriots. A fumble inside its own 20 by the Patriots gave the Lions one more scoring opportunity.
The Lions Nelson Jr. found Christien Caldwell in the back of the endzone as time expired.
“All week, the talking on Twitter is what got us, I’m be honest we did some talking but after that we shut it down and went out to practice, went out for practice Tuesday, turned it up, went out for practice Wednesday, turned it up, walk through on Thursday was a breeze, we knew everything.” said Christian, “Came out here just believed in each other had each other back and we got this W.”
