Titusville advances in region 3-2S playoffs after close win over Palm Bay
TITUSVILLE — The Titusville High Terriers extended their season after a third quarter touchdown run by Nate Lopez fueled a 13-7 win over Palm Bay in the first round of the region 3-2S playoffs.
The Terriers found themselves trailing 7-3 after halftime. Their path to this comeback win started after the defense recovered a fumble around the 45-yard line and returned the ball to its offense in the third quarter.
With less than five minutes left in the third and the offense getting the ball inside the 10-yard line, Lopez worked through defenders to score a six-yard touchdown run to give Titusville the lead and put the team on top for good.
"The inside was closed off. I bounced to the outside and seen a lane, broke a couple tackles and dove in the end zone," Lopez said on his touchdown run.
The Terriers had a 3-0 lead for much of the first half thanks to a field goal by kicker Dean Roberts. Palm Bay took the lead late in the second quarter when Bradyn Cook ran the ball in at the 1-yard to put the visitors in front by four points.
In the second half after Lopez scored his touchdown, Titusville's defense did its job and held Palm Bay scoreless. Roberts knocked in another field goal with less than two minutes left in the game to give Titusville the 13-7 win.
Besides the first quarter field goal by Roberts, Titusville did not score any other points in the first half. Lopez mentioned that the team knew they had to play better going into the second half.
"At halftime we talked about the first half being sluggish and that we had to tighten up," Lopez said. "We came out in the second half and put pressure."
Titusville moves on the regional semifinals where it will face South Sumter on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. South Sumter (10-1) defeated Nature Coast Tech, 48-6, in its regional quarterfinal game.
This playoff win adds yet another thing for the Terriers to remember in this outstanding season for the program. They enter their game against South Sumter with a 10-1 record.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Titusville moves on in region 3-2S playoffs with close win over Palm Bay
