CLERMONT — Speak within the offseason was about how a lot Lake County soccer can be a lot improved this season. East Ridge proved that, definitively, Thursday evening.
The Knights confirmed Mount Dora simply how a lot enchancment they’ve made with a 28-25 victory, avenging a 45-13 blowout to the Hurricanes final season.
The sport was not with out is sloppiness and the climate circumstances didn’t assist. The groups needed to wait out a 1-hour and 50-minute rain/lightning delay. The sport began at 8:50 p.m. and didn’t finish till 11:26 p.m.
“That was a dogfight,” East Ridge coach Donnie Burchfield mentioned. “Final yr, that group beat us actual dangerous. We’re a very younger group general and so to see these operating backs and that O-line, with 4 underclassmen up entrance and two Tenth-grade operating backs, simply pounding the rock like that, it exhibits some grit.
“We kinda need to get again to that old-school grit like we was once right here.”
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Sure, legendary former East Ridge coach Bud O’Hara would have been pleased with the East Ridge boys on Thursday evening.
East Ridge (1-1) has a flashy set of sophomore extensive receivers and a hot-shot quarterback in junior Lake Minneola switch Karon Palmer Jr., so it was anticipated that the Knights would air it out. Nicely, they did, however not practically with as a lot success that the operating backs had.
Sophomore operating backs Daryl Ellis and Bryan Neves Dos Santos, a move-in switch from Haverhill, Mass., pounded the ball all evening, speeding for a mixed 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Ellis was the workhorse, carrying to ball 16 occasions for 136 yards and the 2 scores. Neves Dos Santos had 6 carries for 64 yards.
“That has not been the case for us. I imply, we’ve had some good runs, however tonight was further particular,” Burchfield mentioned. “They’re rising and seeing these younger guys to that early on is such an amazing factor. …
“And the factor I like is that it’s by committee. It’s not an ego factor.”
Mount Dora (2-0) had its share of success on the bottom, as anticipated, with extremely touted operating again Tymir Gaines, however errors finally proved fairly pricey. Regardless of Gaines operating for 212 yards and a landing on 28 carries, the Hurricanes couldn’t overcome two fumbles, an interception and 10 penalties for 70 yards.
“They didn’t shock me. I knew they have been going to be lots higher this yr than they’ve been the final couple of years,” Mount Dora coach Luke Hutchinson mentioned. “We didn’t do ourselves any favors with all of our penalties and a few turnovers. Lose the penalty recreation and turnover recreation and that just about loses you the entire recreation.”
Mount Dora couldn’t get the passing recreation going however senior quarterback D’Micah Lowman was capable of join with junior receiver Westin Geiger on a pair of good landing passes that went for 47 and 20 yards apiece. Lowman ended 9-of-17 for 105 yards.
The East Ridge sophomore receiving corps of Lamar Garrison, a Leesburg switch, and Tony Brown, a switch from Tohopekaliga, positively confirmed its flash at occasions. Brown had 6 catches for 90 yards and a landing and Garrison caught 5 balls for 50 yards and a rating. Palmer was 12-of-25 passing for 143 yards and the 2 TDs.
The East Ridge defensively confirmed some grit, as nicely, with little senior cornerback Elijah Cisco arising huge usually, together with an interception. Defensive finish senior Davis Suchora additionally had a pleasant recreation, as did Brown and sophomore Jordyn Butler on the corners.
East Ridge can be at Davenport subsequent Friday, whereas Mount Dora, which has not began the season 0-2 since 2022, has per week off to arrange for a highway recreation at district favourite Bishop Moore. The final time Mount Dora began off 0-3 was 2-21, when the Hurricanes went 3-7.
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