After trailing 15-14 going into the fourth quarter, Northeast Lauderdale High School scored two touchdowns and fended off a late push by Kosciusko High School to capture a 28-21 victory Friday night.

And by late push, literally the waning minutes of the game. Kosciusko faced a fourth-and-goal in the final minute of play, and Northeast Lauderdale was able to bat down a pass to secure its first win of the season. 

“It was very exciting and promising for the kids and the season,” Trojans head coach Curt Blackburn said Saturday. “I told them the week before against Jackson Academy that they played with a lot of effort, and they just needed to clean some stuff, and for the most part I feel like we did. We played with a lot of effort this week, and it paid off.”

After two touchdown runs by Kameron Hulin, the Trojans were able to finally go ahead early in the fourth quarter on Hulin’s third scoring run of the night, giving them a 21-15 lead. A few plays later, the Trojans recovered a fumble and drove down the field before seemingly settling for a field goal on fourth and 4 on the 8-yard line. Blackburn instead opted to fake the kick, and Braxton Lee connected with Frank Radcliff for a touchdown pass to make it 28-15.

Kosciusko wouldn’t go down without a fight, scoring with several minutes left in the game to make it 28-21 and then stopping the Trojans on the ensuing drive and getting the ball back with the chance to tie or take the lead. After the goal-line stand to end the game, Blackburn said it should give his team some positive momentum going into the rest of the season.

“I feel like it’s really big,” Blackburn said of the win. “Kosciusko has a lot of returning starters from last year and went three rounds deep in the playoffs. They’re a school with a lot of tradition, and to win against a school like that is a confidence-booster for sure.”

Northeast Lauderdale (1-1) will host Southeast Lauderdale High School this coming Friday.

 

HEIDELBERG 46,

SE LAUDERDALE 20

 

After having a bye during Week 1, the Tigers began their season going up against a team that, in the words of Southeast Lauderdale head coach Charles Black, was simply too much to handle.

“We played a good physical team, and ultimately, we couldn’t match up with them up front,” Black said. “But we kept fighting and didn’t quit, and I expect us to get better.”

Southeast Lauderdale scored its first touchdown on a pass from Jalen Smith to Raymon Harris in the first quarter, and a run by Smith in the third quarter gave the Tigers their second score. Smith also connected with Jamaricus Ivy in the fourth quarter on a long pass to round out the Tigers’ scoring.

Southeast Lauderdale (0-1) will play at Northeast Lauderdale this coming Friday.