Published: October 10, 2006 05:56 pm      

Dogs fall 57-7

It was over almost before it began. The Trinity Catholic Celtics scored early and often against the Bulldogs Friday night in Ocala, building a 21-0 lead in the first six minutes before cruising to a 57-7 demolition of the Dogs in a non-district match-up.

But the real loss may not reflect on the scoreboard. Three key players -- lineman Bryne Allen and linebackers Barney Wainwright and Justin Starling -- left the game with injuries and may be out indefinitely. Allen suffered a leg injury and was taken to the hospital for x-rays. Wainwright injured his knee, Starling his ankle. Nothing more was known of their conditions at press time.

Bright spots were few for the Bulldogs. Quarterback Taj Roundtree hit Marcus Walker on a 65-yard reception to the Trinity six in the second quarter, though the Dogs couldn't capitalize. Joe Kelly blocked a Trinity extra point try and Jarrett Yulee scored on a 38-yard run in the closing minutes. But Lee Laxton and Edwanyte Jones stole the show, to the degree that was possible in such a lopsided loss. Laxton recorded 11 tackles, Jones nine, three for losses.

"I wish we'd played a little harder," Suwannee Head Coach Bobby Bennett said after the game. Trinity coach Kerwin Bell said the Bulldogs posed a real challenge to his team. And he wasn't just patronizing an outmatched opponent. "They made us play hard," he said. Coming into the game, the defending 2B state champions had outscored their opponents 333-29 in six games. But in running up those scores, Bell said, the Celtics had been "sleepwalking." "We had to work for it tonight," he said. It was the Celtics' 21st consecutive victory.

For the Bulldogs, Roundtree was three of six, passing for 83 yards and two interceptions. Jarrett Yulee gained 58 yards and a touchdown on five carries, Brandon Allen 39 yards on 11 carries. Marcus Allen had one reception for 65 yards.

The Sports Connection/WQHL players of the game, as selected by WQHL radio, were Jones and Laxton.

Going into the game Bennett knew the Trinity passing attack was a deadly threat. His instincts were right. Celtics quarterback John Brantley threw for 258 yards and six touchdowns before leaving the game in the third quarter. Brantley has committed to play for the University of Texas next year.

Dion Lecorn, another heavily recruited Division I prospect, caught seven Brantley passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

Trinity's Derrick Dempsey fumbled the opening kick-off out of bounds at his own seven, but that was one of the Celtics' few mistakes of the night. Brantley connected with Lecorn at the Suwannee 46 three plays later, then with Patrick Nelson on the following play for the score. It was 7-0 Celtics 1:28 into the game.

The Bulldogs went four-and-out and Brantley went back to work, hitting Lecorn again for a 24-yard touchdown to cap a four-play, 58 yard drive that made it 14-0 at the 7:16 mark.

Following another Suwannee punt, the Celtics got fancy, scoring on a 49-yard flea-flicker to go up 21-0 at 5:14 of the first.

The Bulldogs put together a 10-play drive but ran out of steam at the Trinity 45. On the Celtics' ensuing drive, Lee Laxton caused a fumble that Bryne Allen recovered at the Suwannee 47. But once again the Dogs went four-and-out, and soon the Celtics were back on the march.

This time it took them eight plays to score, with Brantley hitting Dempsey in the end zone from the Suwannee 11. Trinity led 28-0 at 5:29 of the second quarter.

Bell kept his starters in for the Celtics' first two series on offense in the second half. Trinity scored on an eight-play, 61 yard drive to make it 35-0 at 7:16 of the third. Brantley connected with Lecorn on a 21-yard strike for the touchdown.

Brantley's last pass of the night was an eight-yard scoring toss to Kadron Boone for a 42-0 Celtic lead at 3:21 of the third.

After that it was more of the same, but with backups on the other side of the ball. Brantley was replaced by Andrew Kuykendall, and running back Rudell Small, who gains 10 yards just about every time he touches the ball, was taken out for Chris Allen. It didn't make much of a difference.

Trinity scored next on a safety when a high snap sailed into the end zone on a Suwannee punt. Following the free kick, the Celtics' ensuing seven-play drive ended in a 14-yard touchdown run by Chris Allen to make it 51-0.

Two plays into Suwannee's next offensive series Derrick Dempsey picked off a Roundtree pass at the Suwannee 28 and ran it in for the Celtics' final score. Suwannee's Joe Kelly blocked the point after attempt.

The Bulldogs' only consolation came on a 38-yard Jarrett Yulee touchdown run with two minutes left in the game. The Cullen Boggus kick made it 57-7.

However much this one hurt, Bennett told his boys after the game, they'd better get over it fast. District 3-3A foe Baker County is coming to town next week, and that's the one that really counts.

Robert Bridges can be reached by calling 386-362-1734 ext. 134 or by e-mail at robert.bridges@gaflnews.com