Verot crushes Lemon Bay 35-6
Despite a slow start on the ground, the Bishop Verot Vikings took to the air and found success, defeating the Lemon Bay Manta Rays 35-6 Friday night at Viking Stadium.
Quarterback Jake Kistel had a colossal night throwing for more than 200 yards, finding the end zone three times, twice through the air and once on the ground.
Donnie Farrah led the rushing attack for the Vikings with 59 yards on his first 12 carries. On his 13th, Farrah hit a huge hole, making two cuts and sprinting past the defense 66 yards to the end zone. Farrah finished with 134 yards on 14 carries.
The opening quarter was a promising one for Lemon Bay, which led 3-0 after a 40-yard field goal by Shawn Galvin.
The Rays’ defense caused Verot’s offense problems, forcing them into a punt and a failed fourth and one in the quarter. The end of the first quarter ended Lemon Bay’s hopes to win the game, as Verot handled them the next three quarters.
On the first possession of the second quarter, Kistel connected with tight end Forrest Campbell on back-to-back plays, going for 19 and 22 yards. The Vikings then showed their “wildcat” offense, with wide receiver Jeff Farrell getting the ball inside the 10-yard line. Two plays later. Farrah punched it in from one yard out, giving the Vikings the 7-3 lead.
Verot’s next scoring chance came a minute and a half before halftime, although it didn’t seem to faze Kistel. It only took him six plays and a little over a minute to guide the offense to the end zone with a final strike to receiver Jamie Alvarez. Alvarez led the team in receptions with four for 64 yards. Verot took the 14-3 lead into the half.
Lemon Bay had a huge boost in momentum, when a special teams blunder left Verot starting at their 1-yard line to begin the third quarter. That momentum was deflated when a Manta Ray player hit a receiver late on a failed third down attempt, adding another 15 yards in penalties when he argued with the official over the play.
The swing in momentum was all Kistel needed, scoring a few plays later on a 5- yard quarterback bootleg.
After Farah’s score, making it 28- 3, a pooch kick got Verot the ball right back, and Kistel wasted no time finding Campbell on the first play. Campbell broke two tackles and scored the Vikings’ final touchdown of the night. Campbell finished with three catches for 79 yards, and Farrell completed the receiver trio with four catches for a team-high 84 yards.
Kistel finished 13-of-19 with 244 yards, also rushing for 33 yards.
Lemon Bay 3 0 3 0 – 6
Bishop Verot 0 14 21 0 – 35
First Quarter
LB – FG, Shawn Galvin 40
Second Quarter
BV – Donnie Farrah 1 run (Jeff Farrell kick)
BV – Jamie Alvarez 13 pass from Jake Kistel (Farrell kick)
Third Quarter
BV – Kistel 5 run (Farrell kick)
LB – FG, Galvin 33
BV – Farrah 66 run (Farrell kick)
BV – Campbell 38 pass from Kistel (Farrell kick)