TOP GAMES OF THE WEEK RECAP: Sanford Seminole pitches a shutout on Gainesville to open the season

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Penalties, turnovers, sacks, and sloppy play pretty much set the tone between the visiting Sanford Seminole Fighting Seminoles and the host Gainesville Hurricanes.

However, the Fighting Seminoles were able to figure out ways to convert mistakes made by Gainesville into points that gave them a 28-0 win to open their season while handing Gainesville its first loss in only their second game of the season.

And that is never mind with the fact, that Seminole was originally slated to open with DeLand before a COVID-19 quarantine hit the program that forced them to cancel this week’s game nearly two weeks ago.

FIRST HALF: The first points of the game would come late in the first quarter when Sergio Diaz booted the first of his two field goals from 25-yards out to put Seminole up 3-0.

However, as most of the course in the first half, things went back and forth between penalties, sacks, and just sloppy play between both teams until Seminole forced Gainesville to punt with nearly six minutes left in the first half when Hurricanes punter Andrew Tisher bobbled the snap of the punt fumbling the ball which was recovered by Seminole at the Gainesville four-yard line.

But Seminole would find that knocking on the endzone doors would prove to be difficult once again as Gainesville’s defense, which played exceptionally well in the first half keeping the Fighting Seminoles in check, pushed them back which led to another 25-yard field goal from Diaz with 4:09 left in the first half.

Both teams would exchange interceptions as the first half was coming to a close, but it was the interception made by Gainesville defensive back Jerohn Gordon at their own two-yard line would set up trouble again for the Hurricanes. Instead of taking a knee to end the half, the Hurricane decided to run a play that resulted in a safety with 27 seconds left leading Seminole to take an 8-0 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF: In the second half things would start to open further for Seminole as they were able to take their first drive of the half down the field for 76 yards that would be capped off by a 22-yard touchdown run by junior running back Donta Whack with 7:39 left in the third quarter to make the score 15-0.

During the second half, the closest that the Hurricanes would get toward the end zone would be down to the 32-yard line of the Fighting Seminoles where they would end up turning it over on downs after a pass towards the endzone was broken up the Fighting Seminoles defense.

After several more exchanges of punts and a missed 31-yard field goal by Diaz, Seminole would find the endzone again with 5:53 left in the game that was set up thanks to a 22-yard carry by senior running back Javari Frederick who would score on the next play from nine-yards out increasing Seminole’s lead to 22-0.

Seminole’s last touchdown of the game came on a one-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Rory Thomas with 1:22 left in the game to seal the deal at 28-0 for the Fighting Seminoles.

QUOTABLE: “Anytime you get a win it feels good. I am really just happy to be out here with the boys. In such a year of uncertainty, it is nice to get out on the field,” Seminole head coach Eric Lodge said after getting his first win as a varsity head coach.

“Not having a spring, having a restricted summer, not playing a game before this, really kind of rear its ugly head and we had to work out some kinks,” Loge said regarding the Fighting Seminoles’ performance on the field.

UP NEXT: Seminole (1-0) will host Daytona Beach Mainland next Friday night at 7 p.m. while Gainesville (1-1) will host Trinity Catholic next Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Citizens Field.