By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

How fitting that to notch their first two-game winning streak in four years, the Celebration Storm had to win the game twice in the fourth quarter.

After stopping Palm Bay Heritage on fourth down with two minutes left, then fumbling the ball back to them, Celebration's defense held again for a 14-10 win at Storm Field.

"These guys have never won more than once, so you don't know what to expect there late," said an exasperated CHS Coach Ben Aarestad after the win. "But, what a game."

The play of the game came with 2:36 left and Celebration (2-1) trailing 10-7, with the ball on their 11-yard line, facing third-and-9. Quarterback Miguel Torres-Bruno scrambled and, inches from crossing the line of scrimmage, lofted a pass down the middle of the field to halfback Brandon Archambeau. The senior outjumped his defender, tipped the ball to himself in stride, hauled in the pass and sped the remaining 35 yards to the end zone for an 89-yard touchdown play that gave the Storm its first lead.

"It was literally a dream sequence," Archambeau said. "I saw the ball and said, 'This is our chance to win the game and I need to take it.'"

Torres-Bruno, who was 9-for-17 for 234 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception, said he thoughts were simple on the play -- he threw, and then he prayed.

"I felt that was where I had to go with the ball," the senior signal caller said. "In the air I hoped it was a good throw, and I just prayed, 'Please catch it Brandon.' I thank God he did."

The Storm defeated Lake Placid last week and has now notched back-to-back wins for the first time since 2006, also the last time it was over .500. It was their first home win since beating Tenoroc, 7-6, on Homecoming night 2008.

Like last week, Celebration did it after falling behind. The Panthers (1-1) led 7-0 six minutes into the game when Dedric Witherspoon intercepted Torres-Bruno and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. The Storm would answer in the second quarter, capping a 60-yard drive with a 28-yard scoring strike from Torres-Bruno to Tyler Osorio. Sam Wallace's PAT tied it at 7.

Late in the half, Witherspoon broke off a 53-yard run, but Osorio dragged him down from behind, pushing him out of bounds at the 10. The defense then notched a minor victory, holding Heritage to a 22-yard field goal.

Down 10-7, Celebration mounted a drive early in the fourth quarter, converting a third down and a fourth down, and reached the 6-yard-line. But Wallace would push a 24-yard field goal left with 6:15 remaining.

But, the Storm would again hold and get the ball at their 10 with 3:52 left, setting up the long-bomb, winning play. The Panthers, now trailing for the first time, returned the ensuing kickoff to the Storm 35, but floundered in three plays, then Celebration's John Raemisch seemed to lock down a victory with a fourth-down sack with 1:38 left.

Heritage still had timeouts, meaning Celebration needed a first down to assure victory, but Archambeau fumbled trying to get it. The Panthers got the ball back at the Storm 40 with 1:24 left, but after two incomplete passes, Jemiel Lowery batted down a fourth-down pass. Celebration went immediately into the victory formation to assure a win. For good. Finally.

Celebration enters into District 3A-8 play next week when they travel to Lake Wales. The Storm has never won a district game; this is their fourth season of district play.