THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

Turning your offense over to a sophomore quarterback and running back is often times cause for concern to a head coach. Not in Lake Wales. Sophomore Johnny Richardson scored three times, on runs of 25, 29 and 60 yards, and Chayil Garnett, a fellow sophomore, completed a 62-yard touchdown pass to help the Highlanders to a 34-20 win over Nature Coast Friday night before a water-logged homecoming crowd of 800 at Legion Field. The win snapped The Sharks’ 24-game regular season winning streak. Lake Wales improved to 4-1, while the visitors slipped to 2-1 Turning Point With Garnett scrambling to his right, he found a wide-open Tony Medina over the middle, who did the rest of the work on what turned out to be a 62-yard touchdown play just 29 seconds into the second half. Lake Wales never trailed after that, and a tenacious Highlanders defense forced three straight three-and-outs. The Sharks didn’t get their first first down of the second half until three minutes were gone in the final period. Difference Makers Richardson was the workhorse, carrying 29 times for 208 yards. Garnett also had a nifty 40-yard run to the Nature Coast 1 to set up a short touchdown plunge by Willie Knighten that gave the hosts some breathing room at 34-14 with 9:50 to play Key Stat Richardson rolled up 124 yards on 14 carries by intermission, but it was a two-yard run that was perhaps his finest moment. Facing a fourth-and-two at the Sharks’ 31, the sophomore running back appeared stopped in the backfield, but managed to break free and fight forward to get a first down. On the very next play, he scampered 29 yards to tie the game with 2:47 to go in the first half. What They Said “He never complains. The kid is stellar. He’s just a young man that demonstrates exceptional work ethic. He’s a workaholic. I love the kid,” said Head Coach Tavaris Johnson about Richardson. “The offensive line made a goal for him tonight. They told him we need 200 yards, and I tell you what, they accomplished it. I’m very proud of that. The line and everybody came together tonight.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

SOPHOMORES CARRY LAKE WALES OVER NATURE COAST

B. DOUGLAS ACKLEY

The Ledger | 9/30/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Lake Wales High School Athletics