TARPON SPRINGS — After graduating so many megastars the past few seasons, East Lake coach Bob Hudson has preached that the team needs players to step up in a variety of ways to keep its current win streak intact. On Friday, it was George Campbell’s turn.
The FSU recruit had been bottled up through the first four games of the season with just 123 yards receiving and no touchdowns. Against rival Tarpon Springs, Campbell had nine catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 24-14 victory and extend their regular win streak to 20 games.
East Lake (5-0) also beat the Spongers (4-1) for the sixth straight season, the longest streak in the 26-year history of the rivalry.
“It’s a rivalry game and I wanted to play well,” Campbell said. “But I’ll be looking to getting back on the field next week and playing well, too. I’m just glad my team has enough trust and faith in me to go out there and make big plays.”
Part of the reason Campbell wasn’t able to break loose this season was because he has received a steady diet of double teams from opposing defenses. On Friday, he made an impact on the Eagles’ first play from scrimmage, flying past single coverage on the outside to haul in a 57 yard touchdown pass from Jake Hudson for a 7-0 lead.
The play was called at the line by Jake Hudson.
“Jake saw something that he thought would work and bugged me all week about running it,” East Lake coach Bob Hudson said. “They gave us a look we liked and we were able to get a big play.”
Campbell continued to get favorable matchups and came through again with a 19-yard touchdown reception from Hudson to make it 14-0 in the first quarter. In that quarter alone, Campbell had six catches for 92 yards.
East Lake’s Daniel LaCamera added a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter for a 17-0 lead
Then Tarpon Springs’ Daniel Davis went to work. The electrifying receiver caught a screen pass from Brandon Casler, and zig-zagged through the defense and raced 45 yards for a touchdown to cut it to 17-7 at the half.
Davis led all receivers with 14 catches for 168 yards.
In the second half, Campbell caught his third touchdown pass, a 13-yarder from Hudson, to put East Lake ahead 24-7. Tarpon Springs answered on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Casler to Mitchell Wilcox to cut it to 24-14.
After that, East Lake’s defense turned the game in its favor. Justin Strnad picked off Casler at the 4-yard line to end a scoring threat. The Eagles forced three punts and stopped the Spongers on downs the rest of the way.
“This was a great high school football game,” Tarpon Springs coach Ron Hawn said. “We hung in there right until the end. East Lake is just a good football team that made plays and stops when they needed to.”
Stars of the game
George Campbell, East Lake: The five-star receiver had nine catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns. He also recorded a sack on defense.
Daniel Davis, Tarpon Springs: He led all receivers with 14 catches for 168 yards and also had a fumble recovery on defense.
Christian Panduro, East Lake: He was in the backfield all night and had two of the Eagles’ six sacks.