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Red Devils Close in on District Title
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Courtesy: TheLedger.com By MIKE AKINS | LEDGER CORRESPONDENT LAKELAND | The Kathleen Red Devils avenged their one-point loss to Ridge Community last year with a 35-13 win front of 400 fans at Johnny Johnson Stadium Friday night. The Red Devils (8-0, 4-0), who are ranked fourth in Class 4A, can clinch the Class 4A District 8 championship in two weeks when they host Lake Gibson, which also is 4-0 in the district. "They (Lake Gibson) wanted us, so now they have us in our house," Kathleen coach Irving Strickland said. "It is going to be a war." Kathleen did not waste any time scoring as it went on a 16-play, 75 yard drive to open the game, culminating in a Brayun Andrews 15-yard run. Kathleen ran 20 plays in the first quarter to Ridge's four. Kathleen took a 14-0 lead as quarterback Isaac O' Neal hit a wide-open Jacques Mackeroy with a 35-yard score early in the second quarter. The Red Devils received a spark from running back Terry Bentley as he took an inside handoff and scored from 11 yards out to improve the lead to 21-0. The Red Devils' pass defense gave up a long pass from Ridge quarterback Shaykeem Pitts to Anthony Rivera in the back of the end zone which cut the lead to 21-7 late in the first half. "The kids played as hard as they could tonight," Ridge coach Richard Tate said. "We have a very young team." O'Neal threw two interceptions both into double coverage. Kathleen lost its second fumble of the game midway through the fourth quarter, which Rodney Hobby picked up and returned 93 yards for a touchdown. Ridge (2-5, 1-2) hosts Lake Wales next week, while Kathleen has a bye before the Lake Gibson game.
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