ST. PETERSBURG — Defense can make a game look really ugly. Add water and a one-hour lightning delay and things can get downright hideous.
Neither Gibbs nor Largo could get its offenses together in the first half Friday, taking 13 ½ minutes just to register the game’s initial first down. But just when the host Gladiators turned a wobbly Largo pass into a Javon Morgan interception and a 26-yard return for a second-quarter touchdown, the hearty few fans that endured the long break were wondering if the lone score would stand up.
Not if Brandon Drayton had anything to say about it as the junior made all the plays that counted in the Packers’ bounce-back 13-6 victory.
“After our tough loss against East Lake last week, Coach (Marcus Paschal) emphasized that we start strong on defense, come out hard early, and look for somebody to step up and make a play.”
Drayton did just that, running a perfect post pattern that saw Isaiah Thomas hit the junior in perfect stride for a 41-yard gain on a third-and-27 play to put Largo at the Gibbs 25. Two plays later, the pair hooked up on a slant for a 6-yard TD and a tie score with 21 seconds left in the half.
“The defensive back was in press coverage and I was able to get inside,” Drayton said of the tying score.
And while Largo’s defense was befuddling Gibbs’ attack (just 92 yards with three turnovers), the Packers were pulling together.
After a three-and-out and a weak punt put the visitors at the Gibbs 19, a Thomas scramble and two runs from workhorse junior John Clark (25 carries, 85 yards), the last to the house from 5 yards out, essentially sealed the deal.
Gibbs got one final shot with 1:55 left but Drayton came up huge again, starching receiver Sam Jones at midfield then picking off the Gladiators’ final pass on the next play for the victory.