High school football: Barron Collier's big line too much for Immokalee in shootout win

After seeing a late lead evaporate in a tough, one-point loss to Superior Collegiate last week, the Barron Collier High School football team was determined to close out a tough opponent this week.

The Cougars offense dominated from start to finish, and the defense came up with some key stops to thwart the return of Immokalee star quarterback R.J. Rosales to the starting lineup, rallying from an early deficit to post a 44-33 win at Gary Bates Stadium on Friday night.

Running back Drew Powell had a huge night behind a punishing offensive line, rushing for more than 200 yards and five touchdowns as the Cougars blew the Indians off the ball up front most of the evening.

“All the offensive line did a great job tonight. If not for them I wouldn’t have had any yardage,” Powell said. “The holes were there all game long, every single run. And that’s the reason I did so good tonight.”

Barron Collier coach Mark Jackson applauded the big boys up front, who have made things easier for new starting quarterback Jason Grimes, who is still learning on the job.

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“They’ve been working their tails off,” Jackson said. “We stressed after last week, we have to finish (better), we have to lean on those guys. They’ve got to take care of the quarterback behind them because Jason’s growing up. But we’re going to lean on those guys up front and stay physical. And in my opinion, those guys are going to get better every week.”

Among the offensive linemen who delivered all night were the mountainous tandem of Elkanhan Tanelus (6-foot-3, 295 pounds) and Joseph Landy (6-2, 290). The Indians fought gamely on defense, but struggled with the size disparity on this night.

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Offensively, the Indians welcomed Rosales back to the fold and resembled the team that advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals at times.

The Indians broke a few big plays, including a 51-yard touchdown run by Raheem Toombs that gave the Indians their final lead of the evening at 13-8 after one quarter of play. A 68-yard touchdown run by Raheem’s brother, Charles, closed the gap to 23-19 in the third, and Rosales found Eddie Joseph with a 51-yard touchdown pass late in the third to close it to 30-25. But every time the Indians made a move, the Cougars and their hulking offensive line kept coming up with the running lanes for Powell and Jayden Rolle to run through.

“I was overall pleased with what I saw effort-wise tonight and tenacity-wise, I thought we were knocking at the door,” Immokalee coach Rodelin Anthony said. “The sky isn’t falling for Immokalee, I can tell you that right now. At this point we’re 0-3, but guys have to understand we’ve got to keep digging. We’ve got a sword in one hand and a shovel in another. We’ve got to dig and stab, dig and stab. That’s what we’re about right now.”

Infobox follows

BARRON COLLIER 44,
IMMOKALEE 33

BC          8             15           7             14           -              44

I              13           0             12           8             -              33

First quarter

I -- Edgerrin Anderson 3 run (Jose Lopez kick), 8:16

BC -- Drew Powell 2 run (Jayden Rolle pass from Jason Grimes), 1:54

I -- Raheem Toombs 51 run (kick blocked) 1:40

Second quarter

BC -- Powell 3 run (pass failed), 9:33

BC -- Safety, snap sails out of end zone, 5:20

BC -- Powell 17 run (Mason Campbell kick), :40

Third quarter

I -- Charles Toombs 68 run (kick blocked), 8:44

BC -- Rolle 11 run (Campbell kick), 4:43

I -- Eddie Joseph 51 pass from Rosales (pass failed), 4:17

Fourth quarter

BC -- Powell 55 run (Campbell kick), 10:27

BC -- Powell 47 run (Campbell kick), 4:34

I -- Anderson 11 run (Jean St Facile pass from Rosales), 2:24