Wild night ends 'Cats' run

A suspended head coach wasn’t enough to stop the Seminoles from outrunning Winter Park in the regional semifinals Friday night. The ‘Noles rushed for 240 yards to outpace the Wildcats in a 48-31 finish.

For the Wildcats, who had barreled into the semis with an 11-game winning streak, it all came to a crashing end as the ‘Noles sped away in the fourth quarter.

Much of the 2008 state champion Seminoles’ offensive firepower came courtesy of Serderius Bryant, who rushed for four touchdowns on his own in what would become a two-man duel on the ground.

Winter Park’s Brandon Brown-Dukes raced to three touchdowns of his own in the contest, helping to keep things exciting as the momentum swung wildly in both directions.

Several key turnovers and a game-changing penalty in the first half sucked the life out of Winter Park’s offense, but defense kept finding a way to get the ball back, including two key interceptions.

At one point after a Seminole touchdown put the ‘Noles up 28-16, the Wildcats’ defense responded by forcing a safety. Over and over the Wildcats would find a way to creep back into the game, but the Seminoles would always find a way to score.

In the end, the Wildcats’ efforts wouldn’t be enough, as they watched Seminole, narrowly ahead in the fourth quarter, pull even farther away.

In his final game as a Wildcat, quarterback Sam Richardson threw for more than 140 yards and a season-high two interceptions, which may have swung the game. He’ll be at Iowa State next fall.

In the end, Brown-Dukes’ owned the Wildcats’ highlight reel, racing for 150 yards on the ground.