Lake Wales Takes Sloppy Game in Steady Rain Against Immokalee for First Victory, 19-14

Fri. September 21, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. | By Mike Cobb

By MIKE COBB

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

LAKE WALES | In a game played in a steady rain, just holding on to the football was a challenge. Lake Wales and Immokalee combined for 14 fumbles, 11 of them lost.

For the night, Immokalee turned the ball over nine times to Lake Wales' five as the Highlanders pulled out a 19-14 win over the Indians, who entered the game ranked No. 6 in Class 5A.

"Sometimes, you just take the win and say ‘Great job,' " Lake Wales coach Rod Shafer said. "I could be upset about the fumbles and delay of games and jumping offsides. (Former Frostproof coach)Faris Brannen taught me that. Sometimes, take the film, dig a hole, bury it, stamp it down and enjoy the weekend."

It was Lake Wales' first win of the season after an 0-2 start.

"It's an important win because it really built up our momentum, but I think it was bigger because it showed the leadership of our seniors," Lake Wales running back Tony Reeves said.

It was a pair of fumbles to start the third quarter that turned the game in Lake Wales' favor. The Highlanders trailed, 14-7, after a first half in which the two teams fumbled a combined 10 times, losing eight. Each team lost four.

Immokalee scored on a safety and a pair of touchdown runs by D'Ernest Johnson. Lake Wales had a 4-yard touchdown run from Reeves.

On the third play of the second half, Dakarial Scott recovered a fumble by Immokalee's Johnson at the Indians' 18 and two plays later, Earnest Hamilton ran it in from the 14.

Immokalee 8 6 0 0 — 14

Lake Wales 7 0 10 2 — 19

First Quarter

IMO — Safety, punter kick out of endzone. 9:53.

LW — Tony Reeves 4 run (Tate Mathewson kick), 7:10.

IMO — D'ernest Johnson 1 run (kick failed), :31.

Second Quarter

IMO — D'ernest Johnson 10 run (run failed), 6:40.

Third Quarter

LW — Earnest Hamilton 14 run (Tate Mathewson kick), 10:18.

LW — Tate Mathewson 41 FG, 8:17.

Fourth Quarter

LW — Safety, Immokalee QB sacked in endzone, 5:04.

                 Imm  |  LW

First Downs   13  6

Rushes/yards 37/130 41/186

Passing yards 88 12

Passing 13-18-3 1-3-0

Total offense 218 198

Fumbles/Lost 8/6 6/5

Punts/avg 1/32.0 5/27.8

Penalties/yds 7/50 18/131

Records 2-2 1-2

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Imm – Tshumbi Johnson 18-78; LW – Tony Reeves 17-93, 1 TD

Passing: Imm – Tshumbi Johnson 13-18-3, 88 yards; LW – Drake Haff 1-2-0 12 yards.

Receiving: Imm – JC Jackson 3-52; LW – David Jones 1-12.