They said they wouldn’t beat Trinity, but they did.
They said they wouldn’t beat Bolles, but they did.
Two weeks into the pre-season, Lee has already defied a lot of odds against them and is using that as ammo for the remainder of the season.
Doubt this team and see what happens, should be the team motto for the Lee Generals.
For the second consecutive week, Lee knocked off a private school powerhouse this time taking down giant Bolles 28-14 in the Backyard.
On a night where former longtime coach and player Corky Rogers (1972-1988) was honored before and after the game for coming back home, Lee made sure it wasn’t a happy occasion.
Lee took the opening kickoff and methodically marched down the field behind junior quarterback Derrick Jones.
Jones hit junior wide receiver Teddy Ingram for a 38 yard completion on the third play of the game to put the Generals at the 40 yard line.
Three plays later aided by a Bolles personal foul, Lee was inside the 20 and on the verge of scoring.
Jones was in trouble and pitched it forward to offensive lineman Demetris Harris, who rumbled 9 yards for an apparent score but it was called back for ineligible receiver.
Lineman Jordan Bell attempted a 19-yard field goal which appeared straight down the middle but officials ruled it sailed wide left keeping it scoreless.
Bolles took over from its on 20 and went to work as senior Mac Jones connected with Amari Terry for a 34 yard completion down to the 41 yard line. Six plays later, Jones hit EJ Porter for a 18 yard gain down to the 21 short of the first down.
On fourth and 2, Terry was hit by senior linebacker Keirston Johnson in the backfield forcing a turnover on downs.
The momentum wouldn’t last long though as Lee was held to a three and out forcing a punt.
Lee coaches gambled a bit calling a fake punt from its own 25-yard line as Bell threw to Aaron Base who was tackled well short of the first down giving the Bulldogs the ball at the 25-yard line.
It didn’t take long for Bolles to make them pay for the mistake as Jones found Terry in the left corner of the end zone on the first play giving Bolles a 7-0 lead just seconds into the second quarter.
Lee had a quick answer as Jones connected with Ingram in stride for a 56-yard touchdown play. The point after attempt by Bell was short, giving Bolles a 7-6 lead with 10:41 left in the second quarter.
Terry brought the Bolles crowd to his feet with a ensuing 80 yard kickoff return but it was called back.
Both teams traded three and outs on their next drives as the game became a defensive battle.
On Bolles next possession, facing fourth and 1, Jones fumbled the ball and inadvertently put his knee down causing a turnover on downs for Bolles.
Lee took over at the 36-yard line and made the Bulldogs pay.
Jones found tailback Cameron Wakefield wide open for a 31 yard gain down to the 33 yard line. Facing fourth and 4, Jones found Wakefield again open for a 19 yard gain inside the ten.
Bolles came charging in the backfield and leveled Wakefield two plays later, but Jones was able to avoid the heavy rush and scrambled right and found Jurial Caldwell wide open in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard catch. The two hooked up on the two point conversion play as well giving Lee its first lead of the game at 14-7 seconds before halftime.
Bolles received the second half kickoff and nearly tied the game up as Porter took the kickoff back to the 45-yard line before a touchdown saving tackle from Bell pushed him out of bounds.
Jones found Porter for a 22 yard gain on the second play of the drive putting the Bulldogs inside the 25. Nick McGee snuck away from the Generals defense and caught a 19 yard completion from Jones putting Bolles in the 4-yard line.
After a personal foul on Bolles which moved them back to the 15, Jones found Porter in the right corner tying the game at 14-14 with 9:00 left in the third.
Again Lee answered as Jones picked apart the Bolles secondary finding Caldwell for a 14-yard gain while also running for 31 yards on the drive.
On fourth and 5, Jones connected with Caldwell for a short gain that likely was enough for the first down, Bolles was hit for a horse collar call on the play putting the Generals inside the ten.
Jones found Caldwell all alone in the left corner of the end zone putting Lee up 21-14 with 4:43 left in the third quarter.
The score prompted the Lee PA announcer to say “Public School 21, Private School 14, remember its free to go to Lee.””
Faced with their last offensive possession of the night, as the JV teams were being put him on next drive, Bolles had to score to tie the game.
Mac Jones tried to lead his team back as Terry and him hooked up with a 15 yard gain and tailback Jaylen McCloud bruised his way for 11 yards.
Terry took a handoff from Jones and rumbled 22 yards down to the 37-yard line putting Bolles in striking position again.
However, Jones slightly over threw his receiver and safety Vincent Davis was there to pick off the pass for the Generals.
With the win already wrapped up, Lee took advantage of the turnover and scored again.
Derrick Jones optioned to Wakefield for a 11 yard gain putting the Generals to the 38 yard line.
As the fourth quarter began, Jones hurt Bolles with his legs with gains of 14 and 2 to set up the final score.
Jones connected with Caldwell for a third time, this time a 9-yard touchdown catch to give Lee a 28-14 win with 10:39 left in the game.
Derrick Jones finished 16 of 26 for 255 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Generals, while Mac Jones finished 11 of 19 for 184 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 Interception.
With wins over Trinity Christian and Bolles, one might think Lee may be caught up in all the hype and attention on social media the team got after Trinity and now Bolles.
“I tell the team all the time to be humble and stay hungry,” Lee head coach OJ Small stated. “I’m not worried about my team.”
Small had to cut the interview short as an incident was happening by the locker room.
Following the game, the entire coaching staff and every player came over to shake Corky hand and took a team picture with him.
The school honored Rogers presenting him with a t-shirt, that read on the back “Once a General always a General”.
Now that the pre-season is finally over, the real season kicks off next week.
Bolles travels to Lake Mary, while Lee travels to Raines in both teams season openers.
WR No. 11 Jurial Caldwell
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