Tritons rout Panthers 33-7
The Mariner Tritons had many opportunities to recover Cypress Lake fumbles during Friday’s high school football preseason game.
It was the one that bounced into the arms of senior defensive tackle J.J. Mendoza, in the final minute of the first half, which put the visiting Tritons on their way to a 33-7 victory.
With the Panthers at the Tritons’ 11, and trailing 14-7 with 53 seconds left in the half, Mendoza busted through the line, knocked the ball loose from the quarterback, scooped it up and never looked back.
“I just took off,” said the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Mendoza. “All I remember is I heard people yelling and I was thinking they’re going to catch up to me.”
They never did, and it was extra special for Mendoza, who missed spring football practice after some off-the-field issues.
He made several plays in the backfield on defense Friday and provided a strong presence at left tackle on offense.
“He’s more mature now,” Tritons coach Chad O’Brien said, “and that’s made a difference. He played an excellent game on both sides.”
Mendoza wasn’t the only senior to return to the lineup for the Tritons. Quarterback Gabby Rojas, who underwent surgery on his knee, returned to game action after missing the spring, and sparked the Tritons on their first possession with a 35-yard touchdown run.
He gained 75 yards on nine carries, and completed three passes for 40 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown toss to George Ruesca.
“At first I was really scared and nervous,” said Rojas, who was injured in the Tritons’ ninth game of last season against Cape Coral. “Once I got that first hit, I unleashed it. I had a lot of trust in my line.”
The Tritons, who are looking to improve on their 4-6 record in 2008, had their backs to the wall early in Friday’s preseason contest after Cypress Lake’s Chad Redenius returned the opening kickoff into Tritons territory.
On the Panthers’ second play from scrimmage, though, the Tritons knocked the ball loose and senior Jerren Julien recovered. That became a recurring theme, as the Panthers put the ball on the ground 11 times and the Tritons recovered six of them.
“When you’re swarming around the ball good things are going to happen,” said O’Brien.
The Tritons cashed in and took a 7-0 lead on an eight-play, 66-yard drive, which was capped by Rojas’ dash to the end zone.
They put together another long drive to go up 14-0 on a two-yard run by senior Eric Mitchell. The Tritons used sophomore quarterback J.T. Etnoyer on that drive and he moved the ball with two first-down runs and a 14-yard pass to senior David Tyrrell inside the 5.
In the second quarter, the Panthers started to climb back in the game. Senior Savon Seward spent much of the game bottled up by the swarm of Triton pursuers, but managed to break free in the second quarter on a dazzling, 80-yard touchdown run.
The Panthers moved the ball into scoring position again late in the half, but Mendoza’s fumble return for touchdown resulted in a pivotal swing of momentum.
The Tritons scored twice more in the third quarter. Rojas connected with Ruesca on the first scoring play and Etnoyer threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tyrrell.
The Tritons open their regular season next Friday when they host Cape Coral.
Cypress Lake 0 7 0 0 – 7
Mariner 14 7 12 0 – 33
First quarter
M – Gabby Rojas 35 run ( Matt Isherwood kick)
M – Eric Mitchell 2 run (Isherwood kick)
Second quarter
C – Savon Seward 80 run (Logan Franklin kick)
M – J.J. Mendoza 89 fumble return (Isherwood kick)
Third quarter
M – George Ruesca 25 pass from Rojas (run failed)
M – David Tyrrell 23 pass from JT Etnoyer (run failed)