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Smith’s big night not enough for Indians

By Mike Zima
Posted 10/26/17

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A 170-yard rushing effort by running back Briar Smith was not enough to offset the three-headed attack of The Villages Charter School, as Keystone Heights fell 40-14 to the …

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Smith’s big night not enough for Indians


Posted

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A 170-yard rushing effort by running back Briar Smith was not enough to offset the three-headed attack of The Villages Charter School, as Keystone Heights fell 40-14 to the visiting Buffaloes Friday night.

“Football comes down to two things: blocking and tackling,” said Keystone Heights head coach Chuck Dickinson. “And tonight we could not tackle.”

The hosts simply could not stop a three-pronged rushing attack executed out of the spread formation by Villages quarterback Gunnar Pettus and running backs John Austin and Corey Goldwire. All three of them eclipsed the century mark as the Buffaloes reached the end zone on every offensive possession except for their final one, when Pettus took a knee to run out the clock.

“We have struggled with getting tackles in space the past few weeks,” said Dickinson. “And their quarterback ran the zone read really well.”

Pettus, who ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns on 16 rushes, would hold the ball in the belly of either Austin or Pettis as they ran toward the line of scrimmage, making a decision to hand the ball off or carry it himself at the last possible moment as he read the movements of the Indians’ defensive ends. Time after time he made the right choice, burning Keystone Heights for chunks of yardage.

The ground game was so effective that the Buffaloes, who improved to 5-3, attempted only two passes. Pettus, a receiver who is playing quarterback because of an early season injury to The Villages’ starter, lined up at split end and turned a deep slant pass from sophomore Mac Harris into a 31 yard touchdown.

Goldwire, a freshman, scored The Villages’ other two touchdowns on runs of 11 and five yards. He alternated possessions with Austin, keeping the tandem fresh while wearing out the Indians’ defense. The Buffaloes gained 220 of their 352 rushing yards in the second half.

Keystone Heights moved the ball successfully, particularly in the first half. Smith carried seven times for 45 yards on a 70-yard march that was capped by a five yard scoring run by quarterback Adrien Ciena, tying the game at 7-7 two minutes into the second quarter. Smith, who did his damage from the tailback spot in the Indians’ Single Wing formation, scored the hosts’ other touchdown on a one yard plunge in the fourth quarter.

“He hits the hole downhill,” said Dickinson of Smith. “And we got some good blocking.”

The Indians rushed for 218 yards themselves, but negative plays and critical mistakes prevented them from matching their opponents’ efficiency. On a drive that penetrated into The Villages’ end of the field, Buffaloes linebacker Mahurley Preston knifed between two blockers to throw Smith for a four yard loss on a third down screen pass. Ciena’s fourth down throw fell incomplete, and The Villages went into halftime with a 21-7 lead.

Keystone Heights’ final chance to make a game of it came from the Buffaloes’ three yard line midway through the third quarter. Ciena rolled right on fourth and goal and lobbed a perfect pass to a wide open Tyler Friedlin in the end zone, but the fullback could not hang on to the ball, keeping the score 28-7 and sealing the Indians’ fate.

“We were moving the ball, but we just did not get into the end zone,” lamented Dickinson. “When they score, we’ve got to answer.”

The Villages also had an edge on special teams. A 43 yard punt return by Harris into Indians’ territory led to Pettus’ first touchdown run, a zone read from eight yards out. Later, a Keystone punt traveled zero yards before going out of bounds, again allowing the Buffaloes to start a possession on the plus side of the field. The Villages capitalized on the field position when Goldwire ran through a gap up the middle for an 11 yard score.

Keystone Heights, which fell to 2-5, must win their remaining two games and have help in other games in order to reach the Class 4A playoffs. The Indians host Interlachen Friday, renewing one of the oldest rivalries in Florida high school sports.

“They beat us last year, so they have got something we want to take back,” said Dickinson.