Seminole ousts Lake Mary behind Whack’s momentum-changing run
Seminole’s coaches were content with running out the first-half clock and regrouping while trailing 7-6 against rival Lake Mary in a high school football playoff game on Friday night. Donta Whack had other ideas.
From the shadow of his own end zone, the Seminole running back ripped off a 67-yard run through the heart of the Rams’ defense. That gave the ‘Noles a first down at Lake Mary’s 30-yard line with just under a minute to go.
Two plays later, quarterback Luke Rucker connected with Ja’Cari Henderson for a 29-yard catch and run touchdown pass to shift the momentum. The four-play, 90-yard scoring drive proved to be decisive in an 18-7 victory in the Class 8A Region 1 semifinal game for No. 1 ranked Seminole (11-1). It gave the ‘Noles a 12-7 lead and Seminole’s defense never gave Lake Mary (10-2) a chance in a slugfest second half.
“Right before the play, a teammate came over to me and told me he didn’t want this to be our last game,” Whack said of the big run. “And when coach called the play for me, I knew I didn’t want this to be my last game, either. I ran it like I may never have another chance to run it and hit the hole a little harder than I had all game.”
Before Whack’s gamechanger, the Rams were in control despite their offense failing to move the chains. O.J. Mosley gave Lake Mary a 7-6 lead when he returned an interception 57 yards for his team’s only score.
C.J. Sheets and Dominic Kontogiannis teamed up for a Rams sack on Seminole’s first play after the touchdown to back the ball up to the 3 before Whack made his burst. “That was huge. The momentum definitely swung on that play,” Lake Mary coach Scott Perry said of Whack’s run.
The score remained the same until the final three minutes of the game. Goldie Lawrence shoveled a pass to Kameron Moore for a 1-yard score with 3:01 remaining to ice the victory.
Rucker passed to Lawrence three times on the 13-play 70-yard drive. The big play came when Rucker threw to Lawrence for 13 yards on fourthand-5. “As long as he makes the right read, that guy can make all the throws,” Seminole coach Eric Lodge said of his quarterback. “And Goldie is the best athlete every time he steps on the field. We are really confident in that combination.”
Rucker completed 10 passes for 179 yards and 1 touchdown. Lawrence had 4 catches for 52 yards — all in the second half.
Whack finished with a game-high 99 yards rushing on just 10 carries but did not play after hurting his knee on the first play of the second half.
“It was hard watching the rest of the game from the sidelines, but we had to
think ahead for what’s best in the long run for myself and the team,” Whack said.
Seminole’s defense limited Lake Mary to just 78 yards from scrimmage. The Rams didn’t earn a first down until a penalty moved the chains in the fourth quarter. Lake Mary finished with just two first downs. “We did a much better job of not turning the ball over this game, but we just could not move the ball against their defense tonight,” Perry said. “Their defense is very good.”
Friday night’s game was a rematch from the regular season where Seminole forced 4 turnovers in a 29-12 win. Seminole scored 23 points in the first half of that game to decide the district title.
“Very proud of our team this season,” Perry said. “They played their hearts out all season and really set the excellence here at Lake Mary.”
Seminole will host No. 3 Apopka next Friday night for the regional championship.