WINTER PARK — Seminole overcame a penalty-filled first half and a sluggish start to defeat Lake Howell 24-7 on Friday night.
But it was the mistakes and penalties that concerned Seminole coach Karl Calhoun Jr., who said the Seminoles needed to improve their discipline after a first half filled with penalties.
“We got to be a disciplined football team,” Calhoun said. “Happy. Obviously we won the game and we finished out.”
Seminole jumped out to a 6-0 lead when Daniel Proenza threaded a pass between two defenders to Luis Ojeda-Robles for a touchdown, but the extra point was missed. Lake Howell answered with a touchdown and extra point to take a 7-6 lead before Seminole responded with a 30-yard field goal to take a 9-7 lead into halftime.
Seminole took control in the second half. A long punt return by Jojo Watson set up the offense at the Lake Howell 5-yard line, and three plays later the Seminoles scored on a 6-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion extended the lead to 17-7.
“Jojo Watson is a special player — a Division I player,” Calhoun said. “That retunred jump started the second half for us tonight.”
The Seminoles finished with 390 yards of total offense, including 281 rushing and 109 passing. Proenza completed 8 of 15 passes for 109 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed four times for 26 yards, while Isaiah Taylor had one carry for 10 yards.
Tyree Howard rushed nine times for 56 yards and a touchdown, while Jamar Buckner had six carries for 102 yards and one reception for 10 yards. Da’khi Carr added 51 yards on seven carries, and Jelani Williams had 36 yards on five carries.
Proenza’s touchdown passes went to Cameron Roberts and Ojeda-Robles. Kadin Pierce-Flores caught two passes for 47 yards, while Ojeda-Robles had two receptions for 30 yards, Ladarian Hill had two receptions for 12 yards and Roberts caught one for 10 yards and a touchdown.
Seminole’s defense continued to make big plays. Antrell Armstrong led the way with eight total tackles, including five solo stops and three tackles for loss, and an interception. Mason Wills had four total tackles, including three solo stops and four tackles for loss, along with a sack, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery. Romere Ball added five total tackles, including four solo stops and two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.
RJ Hampton and Watson combined to allow just one completion on seven targets to Lake Howell’s outside receivers. The Seminoles also have allowed negative rushing yards in back-to-back games.
Coach Karl Calhoun Jr. said the Seminoles needed to improve their discipline after a first half filled with penalties.
“We got to be a disciplined football team,” Calhoun said. “Happy. Obviously we won the game and we finished out.”
Calhoun credited the team with rebounding in the second half but said the Seminoles need to clean up their execution and take better care of the football.
“Got to take care of the football. Can’t turn it over and we have to take what the defense gives us,” he said.
The win improved Seminole’s record to 1-0. The Seminoles host Eau Gallie next.
