The George Jenkins football team embraced its philosophy of earning everything as they secured a decisive 51-26 victory over Lake Region High School on Friday night. The standout player of the game was running back Trevon Evans, who made a significant impact after returning to the field following a year of ineligibility.
Coach Paul Freeman praised his team’s mindset, noting their ability to avoid distractions and focus on hard work. Evans shined with four total touchdowns, including a 65-yard kickoff return, and accumulated 218 rushing yards on 19 carries. Freeman expressed joy in seeing Evans thrive after having a previous season taken from him.
Quarterback Cam Turner also had a remarkable performance, with two touchdown passes amounting to 175 yards and a rushing touchdown of 65 yards. He connected with Quinn Migliore for a 45-yard touchdown catch and had another scoring pass to Sam Frederking, who recorded four catches for 85 yards. Freeman noted the strong contributions from both Evans and Turner.
The Eagles’ offense didn’t stop there, as fullback Andre Caraballo added an 18-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Defensively, Melik Murray led the charge with six tackles and a sack, while Elliot Ortiz added two sacks.
Looking ahead, George Jenkins (1-0) will face Fort Meade (0-1) at home this upcoming Friday at 7:30 p.m., while Lake Region (0-1) will take on Winter Haven (1-0) on the road at the same time.
In other games, Providence defeated Frostproof 20-17, with Frostproof’s efforts falling short despite valuable experience for younger players. Hardee managed a narrow victory over Fort Meade, winning 28-20, while Durant comfortably beat Lake Gibson 40-19. Haines City kicked off its season with a strong 35-12 victory over Zephyrhills.
Santa Fe Catholic lost to South Florida Christian 22-7, despite quarterback Trevor Smith’s contributions. Victory Christian triumphed over Golden Gate 28-14, showcasing the talents of My-Shawn McKinley and Jozia Scott. Mulberry achieved a shutout against Avon Park with a score of 39-0, and Auburndale blanked Ambassador’s Christian Academy 55-0.
Ridge Community celebrated a 40-7 win over Kathleen, marking a successful start to the season. Other notable game results included Spoto’s 38-19 victory over Davenport, Clearwater’s 30-0 win against Bartow, and Umatilla’s 35-0 shutout of Tenoroc.