VENICE (SNN-TV) – For this Friday Football Fever we trekked to Venice once more, where the Indians played host to Buchholz out of Gainesville, in the 4S State Semifinal, with a shot at a championship and a trip to DRV PNK Stadium on the line.
The Bobcats entered tonight’s game with Venice, after an upset win over top-seeded Bartram Trail. Buchholz showcases top-tier talent, including WR and Alabama commit Jaren Hamilton, as well as Mississippi State commit, QB Creed Whittemore.
First Buchholz drive, Whittemore drops back, but he’s flushed from the pocket, where he’s met by 5-star DE Damon Wilson, who strips the ball and recovers it in Bobcats territory, giving Venice prime field position.
Indians looking to capitalize on the turnover, and they will, as QB Brooks Bentley finds WR Keyon Sears on the slant route who goes untouched for the score. Venice takes an early 7-0 lead after the Kirill Kotov PAT.
Bobcats back at it now, and its 3rd down and Whittemore rolling to his right finding nothing downfield, forced to roll back to the middle of the field, and now he plays the roll of the human pinball, evading every Venice defender, turning upfield making something out of nothing as he finds the space to pick up the first down. Catch your breath young fella! Bobcats though, unfortunately, would be forced to punt plays later.
Indians grinding away again, this time Bentley finds RB Alvin Johnson out of the backfield, and he finds paydirt untouched as well, Venice now leads 14-0, still in the 1st Quarter.
Next Buchholz drive, Whittemore trying to make some rumblings here down two scores, trying to find Jordan Richardson over the middle, Whittemore has his pass intercepted by Elliot Washington, and the Penn State commit returns it down to the Bobcats 5-yard line, turning the tide back in the Indians favor.
Plays later, its Bentley keeping this one himself, faking the hand-off, and he pounds it up the middle for the score and the senior signal-caller is fired up, as Venice begins to pull away early, its 21-0 after the PAT, and we’re still just in the 1st Quarter
Second quarter now, next Venice drive, its still 21-0 when Bentley on the play action finds a wide-open Ryan Matulevich down the left sideline for the TD, Venice adds to their lead its 28-0 just before halftime.
Buchholz would mount a comeback in the 2nd half, tying it up at 28-all at one point, but Venice would tack on two more TD’s late, advancing to their 2nd state title game in as many years, by a final of 42-35.
Class 4S-State Semifinals:
FINAL: Venice 42, Buchholz 35
Venice Indians Stats:
RB Jamarice Wilder – 16 carries, 160 yards, TD
QB Brooks Bentley (Rushing) – 14 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD’s
QB Brooks Bentley (Passing) – 7-of-11, 116 yards 3 TD’s
FHSAA Class 4S-State Finals:
Venice (9-3) vs. Lakeland (13-0), Saturday, Dec. 17th, 1pm
Location: DRV PNK Stadium – Fort Lauderdale, FL
