Stallions bid at repeat ends
December 5, 2008

America Heritage-Delray's bid for back-to-back Class 1A state titles came to a crashing halt Friday night as Fort Meade used several big plays en route to a 33-10 victory.

Senior running back Tamorris Grace led the way for the Miners (11-1) with 213 yards and three touchdowns — two coming within the first three Fort Meade plays of the game.

"They started off pretty fast, and that running back is something special," Stallions coach Willie Bueno said. "With only four seniors on our team, we talked all week long about how we were going to handle the atmosphere. We knew something could happen early."

That "something" did happen, as Grace rushed for 31 yards on his first carry, 25 yards and a touchdown on his second touch, and 66 yards for another score on his third carry.

The young Stallions (9-4) didn't get discouraged by the early deficit, though, and were down only 12-3 at the break. But then, just over six minutes into the second half, came the real turning point of the contest.

American Heritage-Delray's Justin Haig, who had earlier booted a 42-yard field goal, lined up for a 40-yard try, but never got the kick above his linemen.

Ronald Jones scooped up the loose ball and ran 68 yards for the Fort Meade touchdown.

A touchdown score by James Potts, who finished with 164 yards rushing, brought the Stallions within 10.

Heritage then held the Miners, but quarterback Billy Strode threw his first of two picks on the initial play of the next drive, and Fort Meade scored four plays later to put the game out of reach.

Ross Devonport

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