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Auburndale Clinches Playoff Berth With Win Over Mulberry, 19-3

Fri. October 19, 2012 at 11:00 p.m. | By Polk Preps Staff


By MIKE FERGUSON

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT


MULBERRY | Auburndale sent itself to the playoffs and eliminated Mulberry from a playoff berth in the process with its 19-3 victory over the Panthers Friday night in a homecoming game at the Phosphate Bowl.

Wilbur Cooper paced the Bloodhounds with 144 yards of total offense and a touchdown, including 94 oyards rushing. The other 50 came on a reception that converted a third-and-40 from Auburndale's own 6-yard-line.

Cooper was not a one man show for Auburndale however.

Teammates Charles Taylor and Derwin James combined for 111 yards and a score.

"Those (Cooper, James, Taylor) are the kind of kids that when you watch them play, you're glad they're on your team," Auburndale head coach Kenny Grantham said. "The cool thing about it is they're not just great football players, they're great young men."

Auburndale took a 13-0 lead at halftime behind two Burris Warner field goals and a Taylor touchdown. Cooper's 2-yard score late in the third quarter extended the lead to 19-0.

Mulberry got its only points on a 53-yard field goal from Noe Guillen late in the third quarter.

Mulberry rushed for 170 yards in the contest with Henry Berry leading the way with 64. He also recorded a sack and an interception in a losing effort. The Panthers had opportunities throughout the night as they drove inside Auburndale's 25-yard line on three separate occasions but came away with no points.

Mulberry falls to 3-5 overall and 0-2 in district play with the loss. The Panthers will be idle next week before visiting Tenoroc on November 2nd.

Auburndale (3-4, 2-0) clinches a playoff spot with the victory and will return home to take on Fort Meade before visiting Lake Wales in a match-up that will determine the 5A-9 champion.

 

Auburndale 6 7 6 0 — 19

Mulberry      0 0 3 0 3

 

First Quarter

AUB – Burris Warner 43 FG 9:42

AUB – Warner 35 FG 1:15

Second Quarter

AUB – Charles Taylor 1 run (Warner kick) 3:16

Third Quarter

AUB – Wilbur Cooper 2 run (pass failed) 1:47

MUL – Noe Guillen 53 FG :16

 

         Auburndale |  Mulberry

First Downs         12    12

Rushes/Yards 42/189  32/170

Passing           3-8-1    4-13-0

Passing Yards 48 29

Total Yards 237 199

Fumbles/Lost 3/0 3/2

Punts/Avg. 1/64.0 2/40.0

Penalties/Yards 14/79 5/55

Records 3-4 3-5

 

Individual Leaders

Passing: AUB — Tyler Wilkerson 3-8-1, 48; MUL — Jarius Garner 2-5-0, 24

Rushing: AUB — Wilbur Cooper 11-94 TD; MUL – Henry Berry 5-64.

Receiving: AUB — Wilbur Cooper 2-50; MUL – Rashad Parrish 3-30.