For most of the game, Poinciana seemed to have a hard time getting out of its own way of an undermanned and youthful – but gamey – Harmony football team.
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie through 42 minutes, before the Eagles scored three quick touchdowns to secure a 19-0 win over the Longhorns.
Although the Eagles dominated in total yardage, it was not easy sledding as 14 penalties for 111 yards and two fumbles that resulted in 20 yards of losses kept them out of the end zone for almost the entire game.
“Poor execution in the first half hurt us. We kept making mistakes and the penalties hurt us,” Poinciana Coach Taron Mallard said. “But in the end, we did what we needed to do to win the game and that’s all that really matters.”
That lack of execution included a Jamarie Williams punt return for touchdown in the second quarter that was called back for an illegal block in the back.
Harmony, who was playing without its best running back in Nicholas Bertolani (knee injury last week) and was without several other players for undisclosed reasons, put up a great fight.
In fact, the Longhorns had two excellent scoring opportunities in the first half -- driving down to the Poinciana 18 on their first drive and later having a first and goal just before halftime. But the first opportunity ended with a Xaiden Hill interception and the second when the Eagles defensive line bottled up quarterback Lucas Haddad for a two-yard loss on fourth and goal from the one.
“That play certainly changed the complexion of the game,” Harmony coach Tyler Anderson said. “Nick is a big bruising back who always seems to gain positive yardage for us. Had he been available it might have made a difference. But we won’t use that as an excuse, we always tell our players that it has to be next man up.”
After the stalemate that lasted deep into the fourth quarter, the Eagles took advantage of a short field to get on the board at the 8:08 mark. After a defensive stop deep in Harmony territory, Williams set Poinciana up on the Harmony 22-yard line with a 12-yard punt return. Quarterback Lucas Minenok hit Chance Frazier for 12 yards and two plays later, Jamare Eugene carried it over from the 1 for a 6-0 lead.
One series later, Poinciana recovered a muffed punt and three plays later Chance Frazier won a jump ball at the goal line for a 20-yard score and a 12-0 lead.
Tristan Fletcher put a bow on the win with a 23-yard pick-six interception return one minute later to seal the shutout.
“I am really proud of how we finished the game and I am really proud of our defense,” Mallard said. “Getting a shutout at any level of football is hard to do.”
The defense was indeed outstanding. In addition to the goal line stand, the Eagles recorded four quarterback sacks, two other tackles for loss, and limited Harmony to less than 100 yards of total offense.
It was Poinciana’s second win in three games and set them up for next Friday’s District 6A-7 opener against Ridge Community (0-2). Harmony (1-2) will also open district play next Friday against Gateway (2-0), who beat Colonial, 35-6.
