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Football: Steinbrenner 13, Gaither 0

 
Published Aug. 29, 2015

LUTZ — Steinbrenner seized control from the start and refused to relinquish it Friday night. After an opening-drive interception on defense, Steinbrenner scored 13 unanswered points while its defense held to secure a Week 1 shutout and the program's first win over Gaither.

Drives of the game: Following a forced interception by Steinbrenner's Ryan Bogdansky, sophomore Colin Wray — making his first career start — hit senior Jayquese Dantley on a swing pass up the right side of the field for a 78-yard score to put the Warriors up 7-0 early in the first quarter. … Down by seven early in the first quarter, Gaither trudged down the muddied field on a 12-play drive, leading the Cowboys deep into Steinbrenner territory. With a fourth and 13 on the Warriors' 14-yard-line, Gaither quarterback Gavin Denboer scrambled to avoid pressure, but was sacked by Cole Pavlock. Gaither crossed into Warrior territory only once more.

Stars of the game: Wray finished 11-of-23 for 146 yards and a touchdown. After beginning the game 3-for-3 for 89 yards and a score, Wray stumbled in the second half, completing only four of his eleven passes. …Dantley led the Warriors with a game-high 14 carries for 70 yards in addition to his lone reception that went for 78 yards and a touchdown. Dantley was able to wind down the clock late in the game with six rushes on the game's final drive, keeping the Cowboys' offense off the field and eliminating the chance of a comeback.

Stats of the game: The Warrior defense was able to force three turnovers. Late in the fourth, senior defensive back Josh Edwards intercepted Gaither's David Masuck — who entered in the third quarter — sealing the game for the Warriors. Steinbrenner held the Cowboys to just 108 yards of total offense including just 29 in the second half. …Warrior kicker Noah Ruggles put through a pair 40-yard field goals and an extra point.

Final words: "They have never lost to us in school history. This was the first time we were able to have success against them and that's a tribute to the way (the warriors) played football." — Warriors coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo

"Just coming out and setting the tone was huge. Gaither came out with some fire all of the sudden and we deflated just a little bit and we kept rolling from there." — Perez-Reinaldo