Fuller powers Plantation to win over rival

BY MICHAEL HANDLERMiami Herald Writer

Plantation defeated division rival Piper 30-13 on Friday night. Lamario Fuller led Plantation with 276 punt and kickoff return yards and two touchdowns.

''He was just exciting to watch tonight,'' Plantation coach Steve Davis said. ``He was the major reason for our success out there.''

The Colonels, who have shut out their past two opponents (Stranahan and Douglas), have been relying heavily on their defense and special teams of late.

On Friday, the defense had four sacks and three fumble recoveries.

Plantation opened the scoring after a 63-yard punt return by Fuller set it up for first-and-goal at the Piper 7-yard line. Imonni Carswell connected with Reggie Washington for the Plantation touchdown.

Piper was forced to punt on the next series of downs as Plantation defensive back Gilbert St. Louis got his second sack of the game. Fuller returned the punt 56 yards to put the Plantation offense in good position again. After several Plantation penalties, Anthony Cali kicked a 41-yard field goal and Plantation led 10-0 after the first quarter.

Piper came alive in the second quarter, as Gabriel Gonzalez and Robert Higgins paired up for a 36-yard touchdown pass.

Plantation blitzed both of its safeties and Higgins was wide open down the center of the field to walk in for the touchdown.

Piper cut the lead to 10-7 at halftime, and its defense came out strong in the third quarter, as Mailkol Adana recovered a Plantation fumble to put Piper at the Plantation 20.

Three plays later, Gonzalez threw his second touchdown pass, this one to Marc St. Fort for a 23-yard score that put Piper up 13-10. The lead was short-lived.

On the ensuing kickoff, Fuller added to his kick-return yards by going 97 yards for a touchdown that put Plantation back ahead 17-13.

Fuller was not finished. As the fourth quarter started, he returned a punt 60 yards for his second touchdown.

Plantation had the lead and was in control of the game defensively and on special teams. Brandon McGee sacked Gonzalez, forcing him to fumble. The fumble was recovered by defensive back Ravelto Robinson to put Plantation at the Piper 9. James McFadden finished the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run.

• Hallandale 37, Jackson 14: Korvic Neat rushed for 133 yards and a score, Marc Victor threw a 63-yard touchdown pass and Hallandale beat Miami Jackson in a district 16-4A match-up.

''Coach wanted to go over the top for a big play,'' Victor said of his pass, ``and it worked.''

So did everything else on Friday night for the Chargers. Hallandale (4-2, 2-0) forced three turnovers, scored on four of its seven possessions and answered back when they needed to.

Neat scored his touchdown, a 20-yarder, in the second quarter only two minutes after Miami Jackson tied the score at 7 when Robenson Therezie ran the ball in from 2 yards out.

Therezie led Jackson with 39 yards on 11 carries.

In the fourth, after Jackson backup quarterback Rashard Stewart connected with Badrevin Kelly on an 8-yarder to make it 30-14, Hallandale's Joel West returned an onside kick 53 yards to put the game out of reach.

Jackson abandoned its run game after halftime and couldn't gain momentum.

-- SOLANGE REYNER

• Coral Springs 23, Taravella 21: Carlos Romero nailed a 46-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game to lift host Coral Springs to the victory over crosstown rival Taravella in a District 9-6A matchup.

 

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