Winter Haven Storms Past Mulberry, 45-13

Sat. October 13, 2012 at 1:00 a.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

Winter Haven's Kendrick Holland slips away from Mulberry defenders during Friday night's game at Denison Stadium in Winter Haven. (Photo by PAUL CRATE | LEDGER MEDIA GROUP PHOTOS )

By DICK SCANLON

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

WINTER HAVEN | Six players scored touchdowns for Winter Haven in a 45-13 homecoming victory over Mulberry on Friday night at Denison Stadium.

The Blue Devils bounced back from a district loss against Lake Gibson by taking a 28-0 lead by the middle of the second quarter.

Kendrick Holland got the rout started by ending Mulberry's game-opening drive with an interception at the Winter Haven 9-yard line and running it back for a touchdown.

"We had a good week and a good game," Winter Haven coach Charlie Tate said. "I was happy to see our defense get a touchdown. After that I thought our defense settled down and played very well."

Adam Lane ran for 95 yards and a touchdown for the Blue Devils (5-1), who needed only 11 offensive plays to score their first four touchdowns.

David Whann's fumble recovery set up Winter Haven's first offensive touchdown, which came on Darian Mills' 16-yard run.

Lane's touchdown came early in the second quarter, and his 40-yard run set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Eric Atmore that made it 28-0 with 7:10 remaining in the first half.

Mulberry was playing only four days after a loss to Lake Wales on Monday night in a game that was pushed back by bad weather.

The Panthers (3-4) drove 55 yards to a touchdown on Jarius Garner's 7-yard run late in the first half, and Albert Falero blocked a punt to set up another Mulberry score in the fourth quarter.

Mulberry gained only 144 yards and completed just one pass.

Winter Haven returns to district action next week with a home game against Sebring, while Mulberry plays at home against Auburndale.

Mulberry            0  7  0  6 — 13

Winter Haven  14  21 10  0 — 45

First Quarter

W — Kendrick Holland 91 interception return (Moise Jean kick), 6:40.

W — Darian Mills 16 run (Moise Jean kick), 1:40.

Second Quarter

W — Adam Lane 5 run (Moise Jean kick), 9:51.

W — Eric Atmore 2 run (Moise Jean kick), 7:10.

M — Jarius Garner 7 run (Noe Guillen kick), 3:26.

W — Fred Rhone 3 run (Moise Jean kick), 0:57.

Third Quarter

W — Field goal 21 Moise Jean, 4:48.

W — Tavares Rolle 5 pass from Patrick Banner (Scott Wampler kick), 0:39.

Fourth Quarter

M — Jerry Joyce 25 run with blocked punt (kick blocked), 4:05.

                  M    |   WH

First downs  8   11

Rushes/yards 36/149 25/158

Passing 1/ 4/1 5/10/0

Passing yards -5 96

Total yards 144 254

Fumbles/lost 1/1 0/0

Punts/avg. 6/22.3 3/31.0

Penalties/yards 5/33 3/15

Records 3-4 5-1

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing: Mulberry — Jerry Joyce 10 for 40. Winter Haven — Adam Lane 11 for 95.

Passing: Mulberry — Austin Strickland 1 /4/1, minus-5 yards. Winter Haven — Luke Border 4/7/0, 91 yards.

Receiving: Mulberry — Bradley Sheffield 1 for minus-5. Winter Haven - Kendrick 2 for 76.