Team

Western Reserve

Record	Div.	Conf.
8/3	Div. VII	Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference

Team

Sebring

Record	Div.	Conf.
0/10	Div. VII	Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference

By John Rozum

sports@vindy.com

Sebring

When his team lost its lead to start the second quarter of Friday’s game, Western Reserve High football coach Andy Hake had a simple message for his team.

“I just told the guys that they need to get it together,” Hake said. “We were playing a little lethargic, and every game is a big game.

“They got it together and then we picked it up.”

Thanks to a strong game from running back Donnie Bolton, the visiting Blue Devils (6-0) remained unbeaten with a 39-16 victory over Sebring (2-4) in an Inter Tri-County League Tier Two matchup.

After Western Reserve scored on its opening possession to take a 6-0 lead, the Trojans methodically answered back with a 14-play, 69-yard drive that took more than six minutes and included six first downs.

Hake then had a quick team meeting before the next kickoff and he clearly got his players to refocus.

On the next drive, Bolton ran the ball three times. The first two went for a combined nine yards. The next one went for 76 as the Blue Devils began a scoring stampede of 26 unanswered points, including 20 in the second quarter).

Hake’s offense finished with almost 250 yards rushing, with 211 from Bolton.

Sebring was hurt by two interceptions and two lost fumbles.

“We played well, but costly turnovers got us and the short field where they put it in, and they took advantage of our mistakes,” Sebring coach Scott Springer said. “When we play a team [Western Reserve] like that we have to play almost perfect football. You can’t make those mistakes and expect to overcome them.

“But, we still came out and played hard all four quarters, which is where we have to start with these young guys.”

The Trojans did have some success, especially on the ground, in compiling 176 yards as well as converting 15 first downs.

But the four turnovers were too much to overcome, Springer said.

“When we give up short fields like that, we’ve got to go out there with the attitude that we’re going to be resilient,” coach Springer said. “We can’t let them in and use a turnover as an excuse on a short field.

“We’ve got to learn to make some stops and make plays.”