Mulberry Hammers Away at Fort Meade on the Ground

Sat. August 25, 2012 at 11:00 p.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

BLAKE HASENZAHL

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

MULBERRY | The Mulberry Panthers weren’t fooling anybody in their 15-14 win Friday night over Fort Meade.

They did one thing, and one thing only.

Pound the rock.

Mulberry ran 38 times for 211 yards, attempted no passes and were led on the ground by Jerry Joyce.

Joyce ran in the go-ahead touchdown with 5:06 remaining in regulation and finished with 65 yards on 12 carries.

“We’re coming together and playing as a unit, as a team,” Joyce, who is also a standout at outside linebacker, said. “I had to trust myself and our offensive line ... This gives us a lot of confidence but we can’t get a big head.”

Fort Meade did have chances to mount a rally. Sophomore quarterback Jay Smith finished 12-for-20 with 144 yards and a touchdown.

But his two interceptions, both in the fourth quarter, put the final nail in the Miners’ coffin.

The Miners struggled with fumbles (three) and dropped passes (five).

Fort Meade  0   14   0   0 — 14

Mulberry      9   0   6   0 — 15



First Quarter

MHS -- Noe Jillen 19 FG, 7:03

MHS -- Benjamen Sirmon 10 run (run failed), 0:39

Second Quarter

FM -- Jay Smith 71 pass from Chris Morris (kick blocked), 7:46

FM -- Trey Border 1 run (Jay Smith run), 2:04

Third Quarter

MHS -- Jerry Joyce 4 run (kick blocked), 5:06