MANDARIN – Despite both teams missing several key starters, Lee and Mandarin both had plenty of fireworks on display before Lee finally pulled away in the fourth quarter with a 39-13 win at the Corral.
Tailback Terrell Jennings and quarterback Carson Beck were held out of the game after sustaining injuries in recent games, while Lee safety Robert Simmons was also held out after getting injured in the win over Westside last week.
Yet despite the loss of three big time players, there were still plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball as the Mustangs still had quarterback Tre Lawrence, who took the majority of snaps over the spring and summer and early in the season, receiver Darien Oxendine, receiver Kris Mitchell and newcomer Cameron Daniels at tailback on offense.
Defensively, Travis Moss, Nigel McGriff and Christian Warren had huge games in the loss to Lee as all made numerous tackles through out the night.
For Lee it was the usual playmakers, quarterback Cameron Sapp, backs Kevonte Doles and Taz Nicholson, receivers Juriel Caldwell, Cobie Bates and Terry McKinney; while on defense linebacker Trevor James, lineman Ralphy Mency, cornerback Clarence Conyers and linebacker Jose Rose consistently made big plays.
Both teams spend a good part of the first quarter getting a feel for the game as both struggled early on to find a rhythm and both defenses were in control of the game. It took a series of mistakes for someone to finally get on the scoreboard.
Orelus Clivenson missed a chip shot field goal but it would not matter as Conyers picked off Lawrence on the ensuing play to give the Generals the ball back. One play later, Nicholson rumbled 10 yards for a score and the Generals led 6-0 with 4:15 left in the first quarter.
Nicholson gave Lee a 13-0 lead seconds into the second quarter this time on a 11 yard run as the Generals began to pull away.
However just before half, Lawrence hit wide open tailback Cameron Daniels in the flats for a 21 yard strike cutting the lead to 13-7 with 1:54 left till half as Lee took the 13-7 lead into the half.
Cameron Daniels TD pass reception for Mandarin! They trail Lee at the half 13-7! https://t.co/0M383Wa09S
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) September 8, 2018
The Mustang defense got the offense going in the third quarter as Demario Douglas picked off a Sapp pass to set the Mustangs up in good field position. Oxendine made the Generals pay with a short score tying the game at 13-13 as the PAT was blocked early in the third quarter.
Damario Douglas interception! Sets up the Mandarin score to tie Lee 13-13 3rd 7:00 pic.twitter.com/1yvnIdpNAS
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) September 8, 2018
Things got turned up in the second half as both defenses came out on fire and more physical in a close game.
After being quiet for the first two weeks, Caldwell finally got back into the end zone giving Lee a 20-13 early in the fourth quarter.
Jurial Caldwell with the TD for Lee. 20-13 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/oD5iOVBFzZ
— Samantha (@samg423) September 8, 2018
Conyers continued to have a big game recovering a fumble after having picked off a pass and nearly blocking a punt earlier in the game.
FUMBLE!! LEE RECOVERS THE MUSTANG FUMBLE! #4 CLARENCE CONYERS HAS A INTERCEPTION, FUMBLE RECOVERY AND NEARLY A PUNT BLOCK FOR LEE 20-13 LEE LEADS 6:27 4TH
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) September 8, 2018
Sapp connected with a wide open Nicholson on a 45 yard reception as Nicholson easily ran down the sideline untouched giving Lee a 26-13 late in the fourth quarter.
CAMERON SAPP WITH THE 45 YD TD TO TAZ NICHOLSON! 2 TD PASSES BY SAPP 3 TDS BY NICHOLSON IN THE GAME! @CameronSapp5 @Tahveon1_ 26-13! 4TH 3:52 https://t.co/zqdU6EywHR
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) September 8, 2018
After forcing Mandarin to a quick three and out, Lee struck again as Doles took a handoff from Sapp and easily powered his way for another Lee score increasing the lead to 32-13 with just a few minutes remaining.
#8 Kevonte Doles with the stroll! TD 32-13 Lee blowing it open late over Mandarin https://t.co/4jzscBDkfP
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) September 8, 2018
Mandarin finally put together a decent drive together late in the game as Lawrence and Daniels moved the Mustangs inside the 20 yard line in the closing minutes.
However a last second pass intended to go in the end zone was picked off at the 1 by Nicholson, Nicholson cut left and with a wall of blockers cut down the Generals sideline untouched for a 99 yard interception return to give Lee a 38-13 win on the final play of the game.
Taz Nicholson ends the game with a 99yd interception for the TD!! WOW!! He's scored 4 TDs in the game!! Two rushing , one recieving ,and one interception return for the TD! @Tahveon1_ https://t.co/Z2IbMBNWqM
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) September 8, 2018
Lee (3-0), ranked No. 3 in our poll, travels to co. No. 1 Columbia (3-0) next week in the District 2-7A opener for both teams, while Mandarin (1-2) travels to Deland (3-0) in its District 1-8A opener.
