Glades Central Returns the 3A Title Back to the Muck

Dec 9, 2006

By: Robert Sumpter


The 2006 football year will be remember as a season filled with many highs and lows for he Glades Central Raiders. They started the season with great expectations ranked 15th in the nation and returning one of the best teams their school has ever had. The season didn’t begin the way the Raiders would have liked as they lost three games in the regular season including a national televised game against Byrnes High School and the coveted Muck Bowl against Pahokee, but the Raiders was able to erase all of their disappointments of the season as they won the 3A state championship 39-27 over Pensacola Pine Forest.

The game didn’t exactly start the way the Raiders would have liked it to as Raiders quarterback Bryan Mann was intercepted on his first past attempt by Pensacola Pine Forest defender Shawn White at the 12 yard line.

The Raiders were able to rebound from the interception to score the game’s first points as they got a 26-yard field goal from Vincente Escobedo.

The offenses came alive from their as the two teams traded big plays. Pine Forest quarterback C.J. Dancy broke loose for a 32-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a 7-3 lead.

Central didn’t waste any time in responding as Mann hit junior receiver Travis Benjamin for a 64 yard touchdown pass to retake the lead 10-7.

After a field goal by Pine Forest tied the game at 10-10, Pine Forest running back Alfred Morris ran for a 65-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles the lead 17-10.

Once again Glades responded quickly as Mann hit Deonte Thompson on their ensuing possession for a 44-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17-17.

Before the end of the first half, Pine Forest stuck again as quarterback C.J. Dancy broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles up 24-17 at halftime.

The second half, the Raiders defense showed up as they allowed 70 yards the entire half shutting down the Eagles rushing attack who had rushed for over 240 yards in the first half.

The Raiders tied the game on a three yard touchdown run by Bryan Mann early in the third quarter and took the lead for good with less than four minutes left in the game as they lined Deonte Thompson up at quarterback and he ran 23 yards for the game winning touchdown.

“That was a play we have been working on all year. It was my first time lining up at quarterback. I just took the snap and was able to make a play that I know I can make.” Thompson said.

The Raiders finished the scoring on a 28 yard touchdown scramble by Bryan Mann.

“This year we been through a lot and I am just glad we were able to come together as a team and win the championship for all the people who said we couldn’t win the big game.” Mann said.


 

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