Fort Pierce Central 32, South Fork 0: Cobras come full circle, clinch district title with come-from-behind win

Saturday, November 07, 2009
by Frank O. Schaeffer

Fort Pierce Central–which won just three games over the past two seasons–has finally turned the corner and Friday's come-from-behind win against South Fork 32-26 for the District 14-4A title was a perfect example.

"The good thing for us as a team is that we have turned the corner," coach Chris Hutchings said. "When things go wrong, we don't let it bother us. This is a huge weight off our shoulders, especially with the last two seasons and the way we started this year."

Central (5-3, 3-0) rallied from a 13-0 deficit on a night in which the school honored it's past with a halftime ceremony recognizing the Cobras' 1970 state runner-up and 1971 state championship teams.

On Friday, it was a timely interception and steady play from quarterback Trevor Banks that helped the Cobras complete an unlikely turnaround.

The Bulldogs, who threw just four passes all night, were forced to put the ball in the air with the score tied 26-26 on a third-and-9, late in the fourth quarter.

Marcus Levy intercepted Mikey Messier's pass, giving the Cobras the ball on the Bulldogs' 37.

Five plays later, Central's Banks found Jabari Cargill in the end zone from 18 yards out to give Central the win. Banks finished with 203 yards passing as Central amassed 383 yards of total offense.

The victory means Central will face Treasure Coast in the first round of the playoffs, while South Fork will travel to New Smyrna Beach.

"They're really good inside," Hutchings said. "We could run it a few times early, but Trevor (Banks) did a great job. I felt like we had the ball a lot. And if you can keep the ball out their hands that helps a lot."

Not that the Bulldogs (5-4, 2-1) had much success on the ground either.

South Fork didn't convert a first down until about three minutes before halftime and finished with just three first downs in the first half, despite holding a 13-9 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs capitalized on two costly special teams mistakes by the Cobras.

The first came when Royce Davis blocked a Cobras punt and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to give South Fork a 13-0 lead just 3:38 into the game.

Trailing 13-7, Central would get some special teams magic of its own when Mikingson Marsaille stepped in front of a South Fork punt at the Bulldogs' 27. The ball deflected all the way out of the end zone without being touched for a safety to make the score 13-9.

Both teams came out firing in the second half.

Central's Tim Smith raced 81 yards on the Cobras first play from scrimmage to give Central its first lead at 16-13 lead.

It wouldn't last long.

South Fork's Zach Fisher answered right back, taking the ensuing kickoff 61 yards to the Cobras' 33.

Fisher finished things off on the very next play, racing 33 yards up the middle for a touchdown to give South Fork a 20-16 advantage.

Fisher finished with 88 yards on 16 carries, going over 2,500 yards for his career.

"We try to get him the ball as much as we can," South Fork coach Dennis Lavelle said. "He's not a big guy, but he sure gets the job done."