Lightning derails Westminster Christian High School’s comeback against Sebring High
Westminster Christian had all the momentum against visiting Sebring before its comeback attempt was struck short by lightning Saturday.
Down by three touchdowns at halftime, the Warriors scored twice and recovered a fumble to get the ball back before a second lighting delay eventually ended the contest.
With the second half already underway, the non-district game was called official, and Westminster, ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press Florida Class 3A rankings, took the 21-13 loss.
Down 21-0 at halftime, Elbre Gaiter scored twice in the third quarter to get the Warriors (1-1) back in the game. First, he reached the end zone on a 44-yard pass from Christian Matos a minute and a half into the second half, and later capped a 10-play, 58-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal.
Junior linebacker Daniel Duasso fell on a fumble to give Westminster possession with 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter, but that was when the lightning alarm went off, creating more than an hour-long delay and ultimately finishing the game as it was accompanied by heavy rain.
There was another short delay at halftime.
With five catches, Gaiter finished with 101 receiving yards. Matos threw for 167 yards, a touchdown and an interception, completing 12 of 19 passes, including his last six before the game was called.
Along with Duasso, Darian Stephenson also recovered a fumble for the Warriors. Sebring (2-0), which plays in Class 6A, let Westminster know it wasn’t going to see a repeat of its blowout Week 1 victory against Champagnat early.
The Blue Streaks drove for the first six minutes on an 11-play, 80-yard drive resulting in a Duran Randolph touchdown run. Randolph scored later in the first quarter to go up by three scores on a screen pass that went for 64 yards. In between the two Randolph touchdowns, Sebring’s DyGeriyan Barge returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown.
MORE FOOTBALL
▪ Southwest 20, Miami High 12: In an early Saturday morning game that featured 11 combined turnovers, the host Eagles emerged victorious over the Stingarees.
Severe weather Friday afternoon caused the one-day postponement of the non-district game at Curtis Park.
Southwest (2-0) had only one first down through the first three quarters Saturday, but enjoyed a 20-6 lead nonetheless. That thanks to a 70-yard kickoff return for a score by CJ McWilliams after the Stings (1-1) had just grabbed a 6-0 lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Marcelo Rodriguez to Keyshawn “Pie” Young, a 50-yard interception return for a score by James Barnes and another pick-six when lineman Ilan Jorge took a botched screen pass 40 yards for a score.
But Miami High, behind backup quarterback Murphy Theodore — who started the second half when Rodriguez sustained a concussion just before halftime — rallied the Stings in the fourth with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Zahir Turner. But a botched snap later netted a 17-yard loss and ended their hopes.
“We knew our defense and special teams were the strength of our team coming into this season,” Southwest coach Tim Neal said. “And it was obvious from what you saw we needed both of them [Saturday] as the big plays carried us.”
BILL DALEY
▪ Hialeah Gardens 28, Coral Park 12: Andrés Menaham ran for 128 yards and a touchdown, and Yhostin Díaz added 77 yards and two more touchdowns to lead the visiting Gladiators (2-0) past the Rams (0-2) in a game that was postponed Friday because of bad weather.
Offensively, the Gladiators churned out 264 yards on the ground, and the defense came up with a timely forced fumble that was recovered by Carlos Sánchez in the first half to stall a Coral Park drive.
“Just with the change of schedule and it was muggy and hot, for us to be able to match their physicality, we’re proud of that,” said Hialeah Gardens coach Joe Harrington. “We’re happy that they executed well and were able to come out on top [Saturday].”
Coral Park was led by running back Marcos Ruíz, who led all rushers in the game with 146 yards and two touchdowns.
JUAN ARANGO
▪ North Miami-Miami Beach, canceled: Saturday’s game between the Hi-Tides and Pioneers was canceled because of rain and lightning strikes over North Miami Stadium. Officials from both schools will discuss whether a potential makeup date will be scheduled.
JIM MCCURDY
▪ Late Friday — Gulliver 19, Keys Gate 0: Defensive end Charles Callender returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown to lead the visiting Raiders (1-1, 1-0) at Harris Field on Friday night. Dontay Mayfield also scored for Gulliver on a touchdown pass from Harrison Herskowitz.
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Mater Lakes at Booker T. Washington, 3:30
Somerset Academy Central at Hialeah Educational Academy, 3:30
Somerset ACHS (S.Homestead) at Redland Christian,4
Lourdes Academy at South Miami, 5
Divine Savior at Hebrew Academy, 5
Florida Christian at Greater Miami Academy, 5
Coral Reef at Homestead, 5
Hialeah Miami Lakes at Ronald Reagan, 5
Pine Crest at Gulliver, 5
Westland at Mater Academy Charter, 5
Miami Beach at Hialeah, 5
Edison at Monsignor Edward Pace, 5
Mourning High at Barbara Goleman, 5
Krop at Miami High, 5
Carol City Sr at Northwestern, 5
Mast Academy at Miami Springs, 5
Keys Gate Charter at Saint Brendan, 5:30
Palm Glades at Riviera Prep, 6
Archimedean Academy at Princeton Christian, 7
Killian at Palmetto, 7:15
Ferguson at Southwest, 7:15
La Salle at Doral Academy, 7:30
Archbishop F Coleman at SLAM Charter, 7:30
Varela at South Dade, 7:30
North Miami at American, 7:30
Doctors Charter at Miami Country Day, 7:30
North Miami Beach at Norland, 7:30
Coral Park at Coral Gables, 7:30
BOYS’ GOLF
Ferguson, Southwest at Killian (Killian Greens), 3
Goleman, Krop at Hialeah Gardens (Country Club of Miami), 3
GIRLS’ GOLF
Goleman, Krop at Hialeah Gardens (Country Club of Miami), 3
Coral Gables, Coral Park at Miami High (Melreese), 3:30
This story was originally published September 5, 2015 at 11:29 PM with the headline "Lightning derails Westminster Christian High School’s comeback against Sebring High."