BROOKSVILLE — Land O'Lakes (2-6, 1-5) defeated Central 31-14 on Friday night in a battle to avoid last place in Class 6A, District 6.
The Gators got a great performance from sophomore Larenz Scroggins, who had two touchdown receptions off screen passes and a rushing touchdown. Scroggins made a key interception that negated a possible Central score with 25.2 seconds left in the first half.
"The kids played phenomenal, and they've worked hard," said Gators coach Brian Wachtel. "They've been in a lot of close games, and it was a phenomenal win."
Land O'Lakes got two first-half touchdowns, as sophomore quarterback James Pensyl hit Scroggins for a 36-yard touchdown pass off a screen for a 7-0 advantage.
Scroggins added a 2-yard touchdown rush in the second quarter for a 14-0 lead that would hold up into the intermission. The Gators' defense held Central (1-8, 0-6) scoreless in the first half, while holding them to just 87 total yards of offense.
In the third, Connor Stevens' long opening kickoff return from inside the 10-yard line to the Central 36 set up a Austin McGuire 1-yard touchdown run.
Central piled up 145 rushing yards in the third quarter. Senior Quadavis Battle took a toss and scampered 70 yards for Central's first score to cut the Gators' lead to 21-7. Another Scroggins touchdown reception put Land O'Lakes up 28-7.
Central quarterback Cole Teater cut the lead in half when he scored on a bruising 5-yard touchdown rush. The Gators added a 40-yard field for the final margin.
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