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Football: East Lake 17, St. Petersburg 7

 
Published Sept. 17, 2016

EAST LAKE — At this point last season, East Lake was 1-3, suffering more losses than in its previous three seasons combined. The defense was inexperienced and there were injuries on offense.

Things have changed dramatically.

The Eagles are 3-0, exacting revenge on the three teams they lost to early last season. The latest was a 17-7 win over St. Petersburg in Friday's Class 7A, District 10 opener.

"We were so young last year," East Lake coach Bob Hudson said. "We just have a lot more experience, even with our scout team. That's been big in helping us really get prepared. Our starters were really young, and our scout team was even younger than that. There's just continuity."

In the first two games, the Eagles beat Palm Harbor University 38-35 and Lake Brantley 22-19. Both were not decided until the final minute.

On Friday, there were no close calls. East Lake's running game and defense made sure of it.

The Eagles grinded out 313 yards on the ground. They set the tone on their opening possession with an eight-play, 72-yard drive that was capped off by Xavier Jackson's 3-yard run for a score and a 7-0 lead.

The success of the running game helped take the pressure off quarterback Jackson Rowland, who was starting for the first time this season. Rowland replaced Tyler Rupe, who sustained a concussion last week and was held out for precautionary reasons.

Jackson was the main beneficiary of this grounded approach. The senior finished with a season-high 181 yards rushing on 31 carries.

"The coaches were talking to me and the linemen this week and saying we had to be more physical than them," Jackson said. "That's what we did. It feels awesome to still be undefeated. We trust each other. Our offense could do a few things better, but a win is a win."

The Eagles (3-0, 1-0) missed on another scoring opportunity when Ian Woodward's 40-yard field-goal attempt fell short.

Special teams also played a role in helping the Green Devils (2-1, 0-1) get back into the game. On fourth and 10, St. Petersburg decided to call a fake punt. The ball was hiked to D'Quante Lumpkin, who ran 42 yards for a touchdown to tie the score.

East Lake answered with Woodward hitting a 39-yard field goal as time expired for a 10-7 lead at the half.

On their first possession of the third quarter, the Eagles scored again, this time on a 50-yard pass from Rowland to Bryce Miller to make it 17-7.

Miller was matched up with Green Devils defensive back Anthony Johnson, who had a pick in last season's game and started this season with interceptions in the first two games. But Miller had the better results this time, finishing with three catches for 77 yards and a score.

Miller now has six touchdown receptions in the first three games this season.

"(Johnson) talked a lot before the game," Miller said. "He didn't talk much after that."

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The Eagles' defense held St. Petersburg scoreless in the second half. Green Devils receiver Matt Landers, a Georgia commit, did not have a catch.