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Football playoffs: Seffner Christian 27, Carrollwood Day 16

 
Published Nov. 17, 2018

DOVER – Isaiah Knowles connected with Christian Helms on a pair on 10-yard touchdown tosses as Seffner Christian defeated Carrollwood Day 27-16 on Friday, giving the Crusaders their first playoff win in school history. The win, a rematch of a 34-7 Seffner Christian victory in September, earns the Crusaders a trip to the Class 2A, Region 3 final.

Carrollwood Day struck first as senior quarterback Chris Butash carved up the Seffner Christian defense on an 82-yard drive late in the first quarter.

Butash connected with fellow senior Seth Cribben on a 23-yard score to give the Patriots a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Seffner Christian took the lead early in the second quarter when Knowles connected with Helms from 10 yards out, followed by a 23-yard touchdown run by Chance Martin (12 carries, 63 yards) and a 14-6 Crusader lead.

It looked like the Crusaders had seized momentum, but Butash (19-29, 214 yards) hit Shelton Quarles Jr. (10 catches, 128 yards) on a 29-yard score to cut the lead to 14-13.

A big kick return by junior Avante Morrison set up the Crusaders in the red zone to start the ensuing possession, and Knowles connected with Helms for the second time on the first play of the drive to put Seffner Christian up by 21-13.

Butash brought the Patriots back again, leading an eight-play drive with just under a minute left in the quarter, culminating on a 45-yard field goal by Nicholas Molano cutting the lead to 21-16 going into the half.

"We knew it would be a dog fight. We knew it would be a physical game and knew we had to weather that storm," said Seffner Christian coach Travis Puleo.

In the second half, the Crusaders turned to the ground game, relying on Justin Stubbs (20 carries, 111 yards). The junior added a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put Seffner Christian seal the game.

"Justin was a warrior tonight. He played both sides of the ball and special teams. He ran the ball physically tonight. We made adjustments in the second half defensively with some pressure and our back end play was phenomenal," added Puleo.

Seffner Christian travels to Admiral Farragut next Friday.

Rick Cantor, Times correspondent