By MMike BieleckiFORT PIERCE – Senior Cortez Ash ran for two TDs in leading Sebastian River to a 21-12 victory over Treasure Coast Thursday night. The victory ends the Sharks season at 5-5, and drops the Titans to 6-3 heading into the playoffs.
Ash lined up at quarterback and split end on offense, while lining up at linebacker and safety on defense. Along with his two 1-yard TD runs, he also recovered a fumble, had three tackles for a loss, and completed a key 28-yard pass in the third quarter. Head coach Randy Bethel was proud of his star’s performance. “He did an outstanding job for us on defense, and made some key plays offensively as well,” said Bethel. “This is by far was one of his best games.”
The first half was dominated by the Treasure Coast running game and backed up by their defense. Cedric Wilcox gained 92 yards alone in the half, while finishing with 117 yards and 2 TD runs on the game. Both Wilcox TDs came in the first half, scoring with 12 seconds left in the first quarter (from 27 yards out) and again with 1:33 remaining in the second quarter. The Titans failed to convert both PAT attempts, with the Sharks blocking the first attempt and thwarting a two-point conversion pass attempt on the second.
The Sharks used Ash’s first TD plunge to tie the score 6-6. Kicker Hunamayan Joyce’s PAT put SRHS ahead 7-6 with 8:07 to go in the first half. The Wilcox TD run put them ahead 12-7 at the half. The TD came after SRHS QB Wesley Wilson threw an interception to TCHS safety Steven Funderburk on a third-and-16 play with 1:38 left in the quarter.
The second half was all SRHS, as the Sharks scored 14 unanswered points on the Titan defense. The Sharks capitalized on 10 second-half Titan penalties and four Titan turnovers. The first score of the half came shortly after junior linebacker Daniel Lee’s second fumble recovery of the game. The Titans were called for pass interference on the next play, putting the Sharks at the TCHS 15. Macon took the team on his shoulders and carried them to the end zone after six runs. Macon carried four Titans into the end zone with 8:14 left in the third, and the Joyce PAT put the Sharks up 14-12.
Senior safety Calvin Christian’s interception (his first of two) gave the ball back to SRHS, but they came up short in a bid to score when Joyce’s 37-yard FG attempt came up short with 5:35 left in the third.
A 19-yard punt by TCHS on their next possession gave SRHS excellent field position. Ash took the first-down snap from the TCHS 32, rolled to his left, and hit senior WR Cuco Santana with 28-yard pass. Ash found the end zone from the 1 with 1:23 left in the third quarter, and the extra point put the Sharks up 21-12.
The Titans were held to only eight offensive plays in the fourth quarter as they failed to mount a comeback of any kind. SRHS ran down the clock, and beat the District 7-6A Champions 21-12.
Sharks Coach Bethel was proud of his team after the game.
“We’ve been building up to this game – this was our Super Bowl,” said Bethel. “Obviously the season didn’t go like we wanted it to, and it took us all year to get healthy. I don’t know if Treasure Coast came out with as much energy as they would have liked and they could have been looking toward the playoffs.”
Senior RB Fred Macon finished the year with 1,037 yards and 9 TDs. Bethel called on his star running back 24 times Thursday night, and admired his courage against the tough TCHS defense. “If you play against that many guys who are committed to Division 1 colleges playing on one defense, every yard is precious,” said Bethel.
Titan Coach Bill Kelley saluted SRHS for their great performance after his team’s defeat.
“They are an excellent football team that got better at the end of the season,” said Kelley. “They outplayed us in every aspect of the football game. You can’t make six turnovers – that’s stuff you do in weeks one, two, and three. We have to coach. We have to earn our paychecks, and get these kids to forget this in five days.”
Treasure Coast plays Seminole Ridge (6-3) at home next Thursday in the first round of the playoffs.
