SEBASTIAN — In what can be best described as an equally matched contest, the Sebastian River High School Sharks won a hard-fought 17-14 victory over the Olympic Heights Lions during a home game.
For nearly the entire first half, the threat of inclement weather loomed over Sebastian River High School stadium. Visible lightning in the distance and a steady veil of rain created a foreboding backdrop to the Sharks homecoming game.
With a tentative start and both teams making small moves up the field, the earliest moments of the game was a struggle of statistical attrition.
By the end of the first quarter, time, if not yardage, was dominated by an offensive drive by Lions.
However, mistakes and missed chances caused Lions to give back almost every gain.
A series of penalties plagued both teams throughout the match but a few violations for “un-sportsman-like conduct” took a devastating toll on significant gains made by Olympic Heights.
Lions finally pulled a touchdown out after a long drive in the second quarter. The successful drive ended with Olympic Heights scoring on a two-yard run. With a point after field goal, score remained 7-0 with four minutes and 30 seconds left to play in the half.
Sharks running back Nate Pryor returned the post-scoring kickoff more than 60 yards, giving the Sebastian River great field position.
In a premonition of what was to come, a third down Lions’ sack led to an unsuccessful field goal attempt from the 21 yard line.
Sebastian River wouldn’t stay down for long.
Coming off a Lions “roughing the kicker” penalty, Sharks score a touchdown on a run in by fullback Octavian Jefferson. Kicker Aaron Roberson had no problem nailing the point-after.
At the end of the first half, the game remained tied 7-all.
Halftime included the time-honored tradition of crowning of homecoming king and queen. Seniors Brandley DiMarco and Brandi Lucas were crowned homecoming king and queen, respectively. For DiMarco, a member of the Shark’s offensive line, it was honor that came in the middle of a tooth-and-nail battle against the Lions.
Jefferson started the second half with another 6 points on the board on a running play after a brief offensive drive on kickoff.
A solid point after kick raised Sebastian to a 14-7 lead.
Olympic Heights rallied late into the third quarter after an intercepted Sharks’ pass that led to the Lions taking over possession on their own 37 yard line.
Lions’ offense player Deago Sama caught a screen pass straight up midfield and ran it into the end zone for a touchdown.
With 43 seconds left in the quarter, the score was tied 14-all.
With time running down on the clock, well into the final seconds of the third quarter, the Sharks made another forceful drive down the field.
The offensive march poised Sebastian for a field goal attempt from38 yards out that was unsuccessful.
Late in the fourth quarter, with three minutes and some change on the clock, Jefferson was able to again move the ball down into field goal range.
This time, Roberson hit the 39-yard kick and puts three points up for the Sharks.
The clock would run out on a Sebastian River possession, ending the game as a Sharks 17-14 win.
After the game Jefferson said he felt glad that everything came together.
“It felt good,” Jefferson said. “I had a little fatigue set in but I had to push through it.”
Every win is important because it inches the team closer to a title, he said.
“We’re just trying to get to Orlando — to the finals, state champs,” Jefferson said. “We’re on our way.”
Looking ahead to next week’s matchup against Port St. Lucie, playing at home again gives them a leg up on the competition.
“We’re just trying to defend our turf and win every game,” Jefferson said.
Sebastian River coach Randy Bethel said he admired the quality of athleticism that he saw from the Olympic Heights team.
“Olympic Heights is probably the most improved team I’ve ever seen,” Bethel said. “From where they were last year until now is just night and day — night and day.”
The Sharks win was never a given, he said.
“They really punched us in the mouth, especially in the first half,” Bethel said. “They ate the clock up in the first half and we had a lot of opportunities and didn’t convert.”
In the end, it was old-fashioned gridiron determination that carried the day, he said.
“We kept our composure and pulled it off,” Bethel said.
After putting strong focus on delivering a win over the Lions, now it’s time to concentrate on the next game, he said.
The Sharks face Port St. Lucie High School Jaguars during a home game Oct. 12.