Wekiva’s comeback falls two yards short against University

Wekiva nearly erased an 18-point deficit on homecoming night, but its comeback bid came up just two yards short. 

The Mustangs fell to University 27-22 Friday night during Wekiva’s 20th anniversary homecoming game, rallying from a 24-6 deficit before turning the final possession over on downs with 1:20 remaining. 

The game was also interrupted by a power outage that shut down the stadium lights and much of the electrical power on the field side of the school for nearly an hour in the second half. 

Wekiva opened the night with a promising drive, moving into University territory behind runs from Landon Jerome and Dominick Sanguine. After the drive stalled, the Mustangs punted, but theirdefense forced University to punt right back. 

That set up Wekiva’s first score. 

Sanguine found Givonny Bufford across the middle, and Bufford broke a tackle before reaching the University 22. Two plays later, Sanguine kept the ball on a keeper to the left, cut through a lane and broke multiple tackles on his way into the end zone. The two-point attempt failed, giving Wekiva a 6-0 lead with 5:41 left in the first quarter. 

University answered quickly. 

A facemask penalty on the kickoff gave the Cougars possession at midfield. After moving inside the Wekiva 10-yard line, University scored on a 5-yard run to take a 7-6 lead with 1:37 left in the quarter. 

The Mustangs then turned the ball over after Sanguine was drilled in the back during a run. The Cougars capitalized on the next play with a deep touchdown pass as they took a 14-6 lead with 41 seconds remaining in the first. 

University added another rushing touchdown early in the second quarter. University later connected on a 43-yard field goal to build a 24-6 advantage with 2:29 remaining in the half. 

Wekiva had solid drives that were halted by penalties and mental miscues but finally found an answer just before halftime. 

Deandre Payne made a diving interception, taking the ball away from a University receiver, and the Mustangs turned the defensive play into their biggest offensive play of the night. 

Sanguine scrambled for 12 yards before connecting with Reshard Ricketts down the right side. Ricketts broke behind the defense and caught the pass in stride for a 64-yard touchdown. Sanguine then completed the two-point conversion to Jerome, cutting the deficit to 24-14 with 16 seconds left in the half. 

University took a 10-point lead into the break. 

Then, the lights went out. 

University opened the second half with a fourth-down situation, but the game was forced into an unexpected pause when the stadium lights, press box power and other electricity on the field side of the school went out. 

With the outage affecting the area, there was uncertainty over whether the game would resume that night. Players went back to the locker rooms, and officials left the field while some fans and cheerleaders went to their cars. 

Then the lights came back. 

After nearly an hour, the teams returned to the field and finished the game. 

Neither offense found much rhythm immediately after the delay. University missed a 43-yard field goal, but a high snap later in the quarter sailed over Sanguine’s head and was recovered by the Cougars at the Wekiva 4-yard line. University settled for a 20-yard field goal to make it 27-14 with 5:52 left in the third. 

Wekiva answered with its best sustained drive of the night. 

Jerome and Dominique Walker moved the Mustangs down the field before Sanguine added a first-down run with a personal foul against University tacked onto the play. From the University 15, freshman Tre’veion Goldsmith took the handoff up the middle and burst through a hole created by the offensive line for a touchdown. 

The extra point was blocked, leaving Wekiva down 27-20 with 2:53 left in the third. 

The Mustangs’ defense then forced a three-and-out, giving Wekiva another opportunity to close the gap heading to the fourth quarter. 

Instead, the Cougars’ punt snap sailed over the punter’s head and into the end zone, resulting in a safety. Wekiva had cut University’s lead to 27-22 with 11:55 remaining. 

Wekiva went three-and-out after the safety. University moved the ball on its next possession, but Wekiva’s defense stiffened. Tommy Henderson delivered a big hit to help force a fourth-and-9, and University missed another long field-goal attempt. 

That gave the Mustangs one final chance. 

Starting at their own 20 with 5:08 remaining, Wekiva leaned on Jerome. He picked up nine yards on one run, then added six more before Sanguine rolled right and found Walker for a 16-yard completion to move the Mustangs into University territory. 

Walker then took a reverse around the edge for 13 yards, and Jerome powered through the middle, breaking tackles for 24 more yards, taking Wekiva to the University 10. 

The comeback appeared to be within reach. 

After a short run and a sack pushed the Mustangs back to the 14, Sanguine’s third-down pass intended for Bufford fell incomplete. 

Wekiva had one play left. 

On fourth-and-goal, Sanguine handed the ball across his body to Jerome, who pitched it on a reverse to Walker. Walker found open space around the edge with Sanguine leading the way as a blockerand only one defender to beat. Walker dove toward the pylon while taking a big hit, and the officials ruled him out at the 2-yard line. 

University took over with 1:20 remaining and kneeled out the clock, ending Wekiva’s comeback attempt at the goal line. 

The Mustangs left their 20th anniversary homecoming game with a 27-22 loss, but not before turning what appeared to be a runaway University victory into a game that came down to two yards. 

Wekiva looks to carry the momentum it finished with into its road game on Friday against Lake Minneola.