HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY POLK COUNTY

Berkeley Prep starts strong and holds off LCS rush: 33-28

Jacob Mathis, Berkeley
Jacob Mathis, Berkeley

Lakeland, FL – Berkeley Prep took the lead tonight in district 3A-4 with a 33-28 victory over Polk County rising program, Lakeland Christian. The Bucs jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half with rushing scores from RB Gordon Stetson and QB Brad Mayes and a 24 yard TD from Mayes to Mathis. The Mayes to Mathis connection would work several times but it was the play calling and lengthy drives that was most impressive.

Lakeland Christian would answer back before it got ugly. After a 69 yard kickoff return, the Vikings set foot in the promise land with a Christian Alexander to Frank Burgess 11 yard TD pass making the score 21-6 (extra point no good). The Viking defense would hold, force the Bucs to punt and Lakeland Christian methodically drove 80 yards for their second score and 2 point conversion making the score 21-14 at the half.

Now it gets interesting. Both QBs would toss TD passes in the third quarter making the score 27-21. On fourth down and 3 at the 35 yard line, The Bucs would pick up 7 yards setting up a Mayes to Mathis huge Sports Center catch extending the Berkeley Prep lead to 33-21. Just over 8 minutes remaining in the game, Christian Alexander drives his team 80 yards in 3 minutes and capped off the big drive with a Dominic McNish 1 yard TD run. Score now 33-28. The Viking defense honkered down and forced Berkeley to punt from their own 18 yard line after a Stetson Gordon dropped pass. LCS took over on downs with 3:29 left in the game and the ball at the -45. Christian Alexander made a few big plays on the final drive which looked like it would end in a Viking score of some kind. But on 4 down and 14 yards to go at the 17 yard line, DT Bo Peek made a shoe string tackle on Alexander as he attempted to escape the pocket and the Bucs of Berkeley would take over on downs and kill the clock to win the game.

Berkeley moves to 4-0 (1-0) and LCS 3-1 (0-1).

Brad Mayes: 1 rush TD, 3 pass TDs
Christian Alexander: 3 TD passes