Football

Football October 16, 2023

Seminoles down DeLand 49-42

Seminole traded blows with DeLand like two gladiators in the arena the Noles game against the Bulldogs saw each team slugging it out until the end. DeLand struck first in the Battle for the Bridge rivalry game, but in the end it was the Noles that consistently hit with knock-out blows in a 49-42 win that keeps Seminole 3-0 in district play. The Noles traded touchdowns on back-to-back possessions seven times with DeLand including twice in the first half and then  at the beginning of the second half. It was the Noles running game behind an offensive line that had all of its starters back after injuries hampered Seminole the past couple weeks. Three of those touchdowns came off runs by Trey Clark and two others on the ground by Rodney Grant III. “That was a big win against a great program,” Noles coach Karl Calhoun said. “I am very, very proud of our offense to get the running game going, having our offensive line back helped us a lot.” The Noles had Clark lead the way on the ground with 10 carries for 201-yards including a 78-yard scamper, the senior added another 33 yards on one reception. Calhoun didn’t hold back heaping praise on his Senior running back who he calls “one of the best players in Central Florida.” “Trey Clarks needs to get an (scholarship) offer” Calhoun said. “College coaches need to open their eyes, he’s fast, he’s strong, he’s quick, he’s smart, has great vision and tonight he showed that.”Though the Noles runners where a highlight in the win, Callhoun said he thinks it was the special teams that were “dominate.” “I loved how they all played,” the coach said.Those special teams accounted for a fake punt that went for a touchdown by Clark and a Justin Rosato 89-yard kick return for a score. The senior ended up with 192 yards in kick and punt returns on the night. He also added two receptions for 20 yards. “(Justin) is another under recruited kid that needs to be recruited and tonight he showed why,” Calhoun said.  “His speed was electric, he made just a bunch of big plays.” Seminole heads back on the road Oct 20 to take on district opponent Lake Brantley. Kick off is set for 7pm.

Football October 2, 2023

Noles drop Apopka on Homecoming

Heading into the homecoming game against Apopka Seminole coach Karl Calhoun said his team had a mission to accomplish. Over the past six years, the Blue Darters were 4-1 against the Noles including the past two season that saw Apopka down Seminole 28-27 and 24-23. Both years Apopka went on the end the season as state runners-up.This time around, it was No. 3 Seminole who came out on the winning side as the Noles dropped the No. 5 Blue Darters 21-3. “That was a big statement,” Calhoun said. “That’s a great program over there I am so happy our guys came out to play start to finish.” After a slow start that saw both teams trading three and outs or punts as they found their groove. With Apopka at the 19-yeard line, it looked like the Blue Darters would take the early lead when a field goal attempt sailed wide with 10:19 left in 2nd quarter. Another stalled Noles drive followed by a Darters punt, set Seminole up on Apopka’s 40. Karson Siqueiros-Lasky would hit David Parks for the first of two touchdowns the duo would have on the night. This one an 18-yard touchdown pass with 1:43 left in half for the game’s first points. “Karson and Parks are (great) players, they make great plays,” Calhoun said. “We saw a couple of things we wanted to take advantage of in the passing game and we capitalized on those opportunities.” Siqueiros-Lasky ended the night 11-of-17 for 143 yards. He add 18 yards on the ground. Apopka added a field goal as the half ended for a 7-3 Noles lead. Siqueiros-Lasky found Michael Key for a 26-yard touchdown to cap an 80-yard drive with 6:13 left in third quarter as the Noles went up 14-3. A 26-yard run by Siqueiros-Lasky followed by a 15-yard personal foul call on the Blue Darters set up the senior quarterback second touchdown pass to Parks, this time a 5-yard throw as the third quarter came to a close. Apopka would threaten one last time, but the Blue Darters threw an incompletion on fourth-and-5 on the 8-yard line with under four minutes left in the game. Seminole heads to Cocoa Beach on Oct. 6 for a key out of district match up. Kickoff is set for 7pm. Photos by Marlena Swain and Abra Stalker

Football September 9, 2023

Noles drop game on road

PORT ST. LUCIE – Anytime a team loses a game to an opponent that on paper they should beat it leaves them looking. Some look for excuses, some for cliches, or others for answers. But not Seminole coach Karl Calhoun. He knew exactly why after his team lost a wet, weather delayed game after a two-an-a-half hour bus trip 14-9 to Treasure Coast. “You go on road, there is a slim margin for errors,” Calhoun told his team after the game. “That is how you lose a game like this. “We drove this far to learn a (hard) lesson, but we will respond.” After the Titans took a 7-0 lead, the Noles forced an intentional grounding in the endzone for a safety to get their first points of the night with just under seven minutes left in the half. From there those little errors and not capitalizing on opportunities Calhoun spoke of hit the Noles. Following the ensuing kick-off from the safety, Seminole quarterback Karson Siquerios-Lasky threw one of his two interceptions on the night. This one resulted in a return for a touchdown and a 14-2 Treasure Coast lead. The Noles running game was effective on the night, and Seminoles went into a hurry-up offense trying to take advantage of the Titans subbing often. After a running back Rodney Grant touchdown was called down at the 1-yard line, Seminole was stopped on fourth down with 2:39 left in the half. “When you play a team like this every inch and every second matters,” Calhoun said. “We didn’t capitalize on certain things and it showed when you by five points it really shows.” The Noles seemingly got things going when Siquerios-Lasky hit Justin Rosado with 3:42 left in the third to close the gap 14-9. Again the error bug hit Seminole, with 11:50 left in the game as the defense forced a Treasure Coast punt, only to fumble the return that was recovered on the Noles 45. The Titans would pooch punt to end the drive pinning the Noles inside the 5. Seminole again would drive deep into Titans territory only to be stopped again on fourth down. A quick three and out by the Titans led to a mis-handled punt by the Noles that would again pin the Seminole deep in its own territory. A short pass reception, two sacks on Siquerios-Lasky and an over thrown pass ended the night. “We ran the ball effectively all night, but turn overs, turnovers on special cost us,” Calhoun said. “And on offense we have to punch it in when we the chance to. “We will respond.” The Noles (2-1) will have to fix the errors and issues quick. Seminole travels to district foe Evans for a Thursday night game on Sept 14.  The Trojans will also be looking to get back on track after a 17-8 loss to Ocoee. Kick-off is set for 7pm.

Football September 2, 2023

Noles dominate Kowboys 31-6

What started out as a defensive slugfest ended with a dominate performance by Seminole as the Noles rolled over visiting Osceola 31-6 on a wet, rainy night. After a quarter and a half of back-and-forth, Seminole got on the score board with 6:02 left in the first half when Chase Johnson recovered and errant snap in the endzone. “I thought the guys came out and accomplished the mission,” said coach Karl Calhoun. “They were really fired up and executed in all aspects of the game.” Along with the scoring the Noles first points of the game, Seminole’s defense was dominate. The defense forced a punt on all but three Osceola possessions and held the Kowboys strong running game to under 100 on the ground. The Noles on the other hand had no issues on the ground racking up 255 yards with the run game. “We came out and tried to establish the run,” Calhoun said. “You just have to go with the conditions and go with it.” Those conditions included several delays prior to kick-off which was pushed back about 30 mins because of rain and lightning. Calhoun added that while the weather wasn’t optimal “It’s Florida you have to deal with, the guys were great, they didn’t make any excuses.” Trey Clark led the Seminoles on the ground, with 14 Carries for 86 yards and a 5-yard touchdown run with 39 seconds left in the half and a 14-0 lead. A Noles interception on the Kowboys next possession set the stage for a Karson Siqueiros-Lasky to Michael Key 50-yard touchdown with 6 seconds left and a 21-0 half time lead. Siqueiros-Lasky finished the night 7-of-16 for 152 yards, 2 touchdown and six rushes for 43 yards. A William Allen field goal and a Marvin Brown touchdown accounted for the rest of the Noles scoring. The Kowboys were the first of several big tests that Seminole will face this season, along with Apopka (home coming), Cocoa and Lake Mary to end the regular season, the Noles travel to Treasure Coast Sept 8. Treasure Coast beat Osceola 22-8 in week 1 and won 66-28 against Tampa Jesuit in week 2. “It’s not an easy trip, it’s tough trip, it’s a long trip on the road too,” Calhoun said. “We have to go down with our mission to go to 3-0 and we’re excited about it. “But we have one of the toughest districts in the state, so each week you have to come out and play.” Kick off in Port St Lucie is set for 7pm. #Bokey

Football August 19, 2023

Seminoles down Edgewater

Coaches often tell teams to make a statement from the start. Seminole athlete David Parks took that to heart Friday as the Noles opened the season with a. 16-7 win over visiting Edgewater.