ExplorerHomer2

36-35 5 min left! Ocoee offense looks impressive against out D. Our Defense looks out of sorts tonight...

We have a close one here in Miami!

Yeah that game was crazy. That whole final 4 minutes was crazy. Don't know if you know the story, but we had a defensive player die in a car accident the year before and the team dedicated the season and the championship to him. The theme and foundation for him was called "Be the Light". Well as a religious school, it didn't take much for the boys to believe that their boy Ari #30, was sending them a message from above. When the lights went back on, Columbus stormed back on with a very improbable finish. Great part of Explorer lore at this point. In any case, the Drive Pnk Stadium where Inter Miami FC plays now has a nice set up and don't expect any technical issues. Owners of the Miami FC who commissioned the rebuild of the stadium are also Columbus Alumni and huge benefactors. They better get it right! LOL.

Hey Darter, if the football gods align, we may yet see another classic Blue Darter/Explorer state match. Best of luck against PBC next week, and hope to see you the week after if you make the trip down south.

yeah, that does suck. Sorry Dillard.

Can't be upset with this loss. Wasn't expecting anything close to that. Classic game. Explorers made some adjustments in the locker room and played some inspired ball. Central looked flat for the entire third. I was surprised to see that reaction. Then again, I was surprised to see how well Columbus fought till the very end. They believed they could win even after being down 28 at the half. Congrats to the coaches and the kids. Looking forward to these boys finishing off the year with a state title. I'm exhausted.

42-35 8min left in game!

CRAZY 35-28!

Yeah. 50 yard line up top Columbus side. You?

Columbus secondary can't hang. Rockets QB picked us apart. Held the run game down with the front line, but we have a short secondary that got burnt on at least three plays. Hats off to Central. Only team beating them in the state MIGHT be Chaminade.

Crazy season. I can't believe Southridge took them to the woodshed last week. The ridge is aweful this year. And then this. Crazy daisy chain arguments happening own south here.

Agreed. I love my explorers but the Rockets are clearly on another level. No lie, looking for a close game for a quarter, then hoping no one gets hurt. On either team. Will be interesting to see the coaching this week knowing what we are headed into. MC is looking for a national title, we are just looking for states.

Horse collar called on Explorer defense. Bronco's set up at Columbus 6 - 1st and goal. Scrambling throw finds a receiver in back of the endzone, but holding call negates it. 7 seconds left and Explorers call timeout. Homestead wants to keep it respectful in front of the thinning home crowd. Final throw defending well by Bandy. It's a wrap: Columbus 21 Homestead 6 Explorers move to 7 and 0 Adelante!

4th down, 2 minutes left, Homestead QB targets receiver in double coverage. Very late PI flag. DB and receiver both on the ground apparently injured on the play. Broncos' bal on Columbus 48. Pass down to the 32. QB scramble finds slot back gain to the 20. QB scrambles down to the 6. Play called back for holding. 1 minute left in the game. McGee with the big sack. Next play scrambling QB again throws across the field into double coverage and rather late PI flag. Not as egregious as last one, but questionable. Ball at the Columbus 20 35 seconds left

Columbus takes over on downs as hurried Homestead QB wildly overthrows on the deep route. Columbus with 3 straight runs form the Homestead 30 tries to eat up some clock. Columbus goes for it on 4th and short, under throws an open receiver. Bronco's ball with 3:42 left. Ball on their 35. Homestead with no time outs.

Gusty play by Homestead - 4th and 1 inside their own 20 and they convert with a QB sneak - and nearly fumble it away. Two plays later, controversy with a tackle. Receiver brought down by Bradshaw. Receiver believes he was never down and gets up and runs 70 yards to the Columbus endzone. Refs rule receiver down. Hard to make out from my angle. Linebacker seems to swing him around twice and was on the ground. Not sure about receiver knee though. Chavez playing lights out as Columbus D pressures QB. Lots of forced/mistargeted passes due to hurries. 4th own coming up. 5:30 left in ballgame.

Columbus defense holds off a Homestead drive inside the 10. Columbus takes over but can't move the ball. Lots of penalties this quarter. Homestead receives a great punt at midfield. 4 and out. TJ with a great one handed stop. Explorer ball at midfield. 9:30 left in the game. Explorers can't get anything going. Bronco's ball at the 10 after another huge punt.

Kickoff return for Explorers pus them in good field position. Driving until a deep pass intercepted by Broncos secondary inside the 10. Homestead ball at their own 30 with 8:30 in the quarter. 4 and out. Explorers take over at midfield with 7:45. 20 yard pass, Explorers take it to Homestead 30. Explorers go up 15, 5:46 in the 3rd. Broncos' ball.

Nice return by Homestead on the kickoff. Begins at their 45 with 25 seconds left in the half. QB sneak almost picks up the 1st. No timeout called, next play QB fumbles the snap. Clock runs out. Explorers up 14 to 6 at the half.

2:00 left. Homestead drive stalls, ensuing possession, Columbus nearly fumbles it away. Next play hit Leon for another big gain. Irvin in the flats picks up a screen and nice YAC. Explorers threatening from the Homestead 20. Mendoza gets a QB keeper down to the 10 before it is called back for holding. 10yd pass on the next play. Now 3rd and 10 from the original line of scrimmage. 2nd and 20 with 50 seconds o the clock, and next play Jose Leon (Louisville) with a last minute adjustment pulls it in for 6. PAT good. Explorers up just before half.

Homestead drive stalls. Punt received at Homestead 46. Explorer ball with under 6 minutes left in the half. A couple carries by Irvin, short pass to Harper, and the Explorers go for it on 4th and 1 and miss. Turn over on downs. Homestead bal at their 35. Both defenses tightening up.

Columbus Blitz gets to the backfield. QB fumbles. Explorer ball near midfield. On 3rd and 8, Harper makes a big catch, now driving in Homestead territory. Leon with a great gain catch over the middle brings the ball inside Homestead red zone. Penalty brings the ball inside Broncos 5. 2 plays later, Irvin scores 9 min left in the 2nd. After an incredibly long delay, PAT good. Columbus 7 Homestead 6

Tight game so far at Harris Field. Homestead D is stout! Homestead drives, extra point blocked. Ensuing drive by the Explorers gets to almost midfield but turns it over on a fumbled lateral pass. Homestead drives, big INT by TJ Capers and Explorers have the ball inside the Homestead 15. Explorers go for it on 4th inside the 5 and get STUFFED! Turnover on downs. Homestead driving now out of their poor filed position end of the 1st. Gonna be a good one!

AHP starting to look like AHP. Puts together a nice drive. 20 yard reception for 7. AHP extends lead in mid 3rd quarter, 14 2 Gibbons with too many unforced errors. Several false starts, only to get inside the AHP 11 and on 1st and forces a throw. Picked off by AHP, returned to the AHP 34. AHP driving. CG D looking tired, some poor tackling and AHP is now knocking on the door again with their rungame just outside red zone. 5:30 left in the game. With 4:35 left AHP puts up another 7. Should be the ball game. Patriots just wore down Gibbons D. Gibbons turns ball over on downs. Two horrible snaps, some sloppy play. Gibbons offense looks out of sorts. Partially morale, partially solid AHP defense. AHP in victory formation.

Two top 25 teams battling it out Gibbons cant convert inside AHP 5, turnover on downs. Next play, big push by CG D and they come away with a safety. That was the difference in the 1st quarter. CG 2 AHP 0 2nd quarter. 5:30 left in quarter, AHP offense struggles. CG blocks punt. takes over with ball just outside the 20. Gibbons amped up now. Home crowd making some noise. CG struggles to punch it in. Turns over the ball inside AHP 10. AHP finally moving the ball against the stout CB D. AHP with ball at midfield, 2 minutes Drives down to to CG 8 calls timeout. 2 plays later QB sneak powers it in from the 1. PAT good. 37 seconds lift in half, CG 2 AHP 7