By By Will Bardwell/staff writer
September 20, 2003
Maurice Carlisle recovered a fumble with less than two minutes remaining on Friday to preserve a 14-7 win for Northeast Lauderdale over division foe Northeast Jones.
Down by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the Tigers took over on Northeast Lauderdale's 35-yard line after a short punt. After an eight-yard run by Tiger running back Brandon Keys on first down, the Trojan defense stuffed Northeast Jones on two straight plays, including a sack by linebacker Larry Hopson on third down.
Faced with fourth down and five yards to from the Trojan 30-yard line, the Tigers ran a screen pass to Keys in the middle of the field. The run gained a first down, but the Trojans stripped the ball inside their own 10-yard line. Carlisle fell on the ball, and Northeast Lauderdale ran out the clock, helping the Trojans even their record at 2-2.
The Trojans defense bounced back against the Tigers after giving up 30 points to Newton County one week ago.
Quarterback Maurice Langston, who rushed for 109 yards, passed the ball only seven times against the Tigers defense, but one of them gave the Trojans a lead they never reqinquished.
Tied 7-7 in the third quarter, the Northeast Jones defense pushed the Trojans back to the Tigers 25-yard line after a sack on third down. A delay of game call after the play put the ball at the Northeast Jones 30-yard line for fourth down and 23.
Langston hit wide receiver Rod Smith on an inside post near the Tigers 10-yard line after a double reverse, and Smith followed his route into the left corner of the end zone.
The play call was reminiscent of a pass play the Trojans ran a week earlier in their final attempt against Newton County.
Nelson said the biggest difference from a week ago was that his team never turned the ball over against Northeast Jones. In the loss to Newton County, the Trojans lost the ball four times.
The Tigers' only score of the game came with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter, when Keys scored on a four-yard touchdown run to make the score 7-7.