PORT ST. LUCIE – The Sebastian River Sharks traveled to Jaguar Field to take on the Port St. Lucie Jaguars Friday night with hopes of getting their record back to .500. Port St. Lucie was looking to end a six-game losing streak.
“We allowed them to make plays and we did not make plays,” Sharks Coach Randy Bethel said. “We scored, they answered.” Quarterback Wesley Wilson drove the Sebastian River Sharks down the field, going 3 of 4 for 41 yards. Running back Lamarcus Johnson ended the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run putting Sebastian River up 7-0 with 8:03 left in the first quarter.
Port St. Lucie responded with a touchdown drive of their own, when quarterback D. J. Juste hooked up with wide receiver Terrell Floyd for a 40-yard touchdown completion with 7:26 left in the first quarter.
Wesley Wilson found the end zone again, with 3:25 left in the quarter, when he kept the ball and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. At the end of the first quarter, Sebastian River lead 14-7.
In the third quarter, Port St. Lucie running back Chad Mercer found the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run with 8:46 left in the quarter. Sebastian River was able to block the extra point, keeping the lead at 14-13. With just 2:29 left in the third quarter, Sebastian River running back Morris Rodgers ripped off a 23-yard touchdown run. With the extra point by kicker Mike Nottage, Sebastian extended their lead to 21-13.
In the fourth quarter, Port St. Lucie quarterback D. J. Juste found wide receiver Jalen Adams for a 14-yard touchdown reception with 9:16 left in the quarter. Port St. Lucie was able to convert the 2-point conversion when Juste hooked with Adams again, tying the score at 21. With 6:31 left to go in the game, Sebastian River took the lead back, when quarterback Norris Rogers hooked up with running back Lamarcus Johnson on a 34-yard touchdown pass. Sebastian River lead 28-21.
Port St. Lucie battled back, and with 4:13 left in the game, running back Matthew Romasco found the end zone. Sebastian River retained the lead by blocking the extra point again, 28-27. But they could not keep the lead.
With 1:14 left the game, Port St. Lucie quarterback D. J. Juste found running back Chad Mercer on 19-yard touchdown pass. Port St. Lucie failed on the 2-point conversion but they took the lead and won the game 33-28.
Sebastian River falls to 3-5.
The Sharks travel next week to Martin County in a must-win game if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“We have a lot of preparing to do for next week’s game,” Coach Bethel said.