Game changes during Mobley Time

BRADENTON — After Englewood Lemon Bay cut its deficit to six points in the third quarter Friday, Bayshore needed to respond in a critical Class 3A, District 10 matchup for the Bruins.

Did the Bruins turn to star tailback Alex Jackson? They tried but his 28-yard touchdown run was called back by a holding penalty.

How about Dominic Everett and his nine touchdowns this season? Nope.

Instead, it was sophomore Alex Mobley running with the ball on the Bruins’ key drive.

He broke loose for 13 yards and a first down on a counter, then burst through the open left side for a 30-yard touchdown run, helping to seal a 26-7 victory for Bayshore (4-4 overall, 2-1).

How did the sophomore end up getting the crucial carries?

“Because it was that time,” Bayshore coach Jean Gordon said. “They were focusing on Jackson, focusing on Jackson, focusing on Jackson. Mobley had some great blocks. I tell him to be patient, and when they overloaded to Jackson’s side … we came back with the counter.”

Mobley’s first touchdown of the season provided a big boost after Lemon Bay took the second half kickoff and marched 81 yards in 15 plays for a touchdown. The Manta Rays (3-4, 0-2) ran the ball for all 15 plays.

“I knew we were going to score some more,” Gordon said.

Mobley’s touchdown put the Bruins ahead 16-7, and then the teams traded fumbles. The Mantas took over at their own 12-yard line and marched 58 yards before coming up short on fourth down in Bayshore territory for a second time. Two plays later, Jackson came up huge, flashing down the home sideline for a 71-yard touchdown. Earlier, Jackson had a 61-yard touchdown as the senior finished with 237 yards on 13 carries. It was his second 200-yard game in three weeks after he topped that mark in one half against Booker two weeks ago in the Bruins’ last district win.

Bayshore closes out district play Nov. 6 at Southeast in a huge contest that will determine the playoff participants from Class 3A-District 10.

With a bye this Friday, the Bruins expect to be ready for the Seminoles, who won last year’s game 28-7.

“We have a chance to make the playoffs and we’re focused on Southeast,” Jackson said.

To make their first playoff appearance since losing in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs in 2005, the Bruins will have to beat a tested Southeast team, something that hasn’t happened in the last five meetings, including Seminole wins in each of the past four seasons.

“Southeast is a great football team,” Gordon said. “They have the Southeast mystique.”