Lake Wales hosted Auburndale last night is a district game that should determine the district champions and the district runner up for 5A-10. Auburndale came into the contest much more confident and experienced than last year’s contest which ended in an Lake Wales big win. Lake Wales wanted to prove that they were one of the elite teams in the area and tonight was the perfect stage.
Lake Wales started the game off with a pop once Javorius Taylor retuned the opening kick off to mid field. Lake Wales moved the ball with short gains but received plenty of helped when called for holding on 3rd down and 4. Instead of declining the penalty and forcing Lake Wales to punt or attempt a long field goal, Auburndale accepted the penalty (looked like a miscommunication between coach and captain) making it 3rd and 19. Lake Wales QB, Xavier Gaines hit Darion Staton for a big pass inside the 5 and Justin Henderson would do the dirty work and finish the drive with a short TD run.
1Q 7:53
Lake Wales 7
Adale 0
Lake Wales continued the first period scoring, pounding the ground with heavy veer action, springing QB Xavier Gaines and pushing the pile with Justin Henderson. Lake Wales put 7 more points on the board.
1Q 2:51
Lake Wales 14
Adale 0
Before you could blink, Auburndale RB Wilbur Cooper returned the ensuing kick off 90 yards for the Bloodhounds first score of the night. The extra point was no good and Adale cut the lead to 8 points.
Lake Wales 14
Adale 6
Then Xavier Gaines scored on a 64 yard TD the first play after Cooper kick off return.
1Q 2:17
Lake Wales 21
Adale 6
The 2nd quarter was not as fast paced at the first quarter. Both teams drove the ball but stalled out prior to reaching the red zone before Justin Henderson scored from 37 yards. That TD Rush was called back because of a holding penalty. Earnest Hamilton got those points back for the Highlander. After catching a screen pass, Hamilton made a few tacklers miss, bounced off a few tackles and scored right before the half.
2Q 2:12
Lake Wales 28
Adale 6
The 3rd and 4th quarter belonged to Lake Wales. The Highlanders would not let up and continued to wear down the Bloodhound front 7. Heavy doses of Justin Henderson to the inside sprung Gaines to the outside. On 3rd down and 21 yards, Xavier Gaines rolled to his left, reversed field and hit Stanley Smith for a 33 yard TD pass.
3Q 4:07
Lake Wales 35
Adale 6
The Bloodhound trio of RBs did not find much running room versus Lake Wales. However, after a long drive by Adale, it was capped off by Artavis Pierce short touchdown run.
4Q 11:44
Lake Wales 35
Adale 12
A 25 yard pop pass to Robert Wimbley set up a short Xavier Gaines QB sneak for TD which would prove to be the final score of the game. Lake Wales 42 vs.Adale 12.
EXTRA
The combination of Justin Henderson grinding out the tough inside yards, set up big gains by Xavier Gaines. Henderson took his fair share of hits this game and also gave “The Boom.”