Story
Kelvin Taylor scores four times as Glades Day wins Class 1B title
Friday, December 11, 2009
by
Jason Lieser
Video courtesy of WFTV-Orlando | Game photos | Stats and more from the game
ORLANDO -- Glades Day cornerback J.T. Thornton spent the entire game watching South Daytona-Warner Christian beat him on the same out route.
But the fifth time he saw it, Thornton cut it off for an interception, sealing the Gators' 27-20 overtime win over Warner Christian in the Class 1B state championship at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
"They'd been picking on me all game, but that time I recognized it," Thornton said. "I knew it was mine. I knew we were state champions when I saw that ball in the air."
Glades Day took the lead on Kelvin Taylor's 3-yard touchdown run in the first overtime and Thornton ended the game by picking off Warner quarterback Shelton Willis at the 6-yard line on the Eagles' possession.
When Thornton fell to the ground with the interception, his second of the game, the Gators (12-2) swarmed him on the field in celebration of the school's sixth state title. The Gators have played in 13 state championship games, winning in 1980, '82, '86, '95, '06 and this year.
As he did throughout the regular season and the playoffs, Taylor carried the Gators' offense. He ran the ball 42 times, tying a 37-year-old state record, for 213 yards and scored all four of Glades Day's touchdowns.
Taylor, the son of former Glades Central and Florida Gators standout Fred Taylor, ran for 1,158 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 146 carries in Glades Day's four post-season games. He piled up 1,439 yards and 28 touchdowns on 149 attempts in the regular season.
Warner Christian (12-2) never stopped Taylor for a loss and he had five runs of 11 yards or longer.
"I knew he was going to have a good day," said Warner Christian coach Andy Price, whose team lost the 2008 title game to Jupiter Christian. "He didn't run as hard as I thought he would, but I underestimated his quickness and I think our kids did, too."
Glades Day got the ball first in overtime and handed the ball to Taylor three times.
On third-and-goal from just beyond Warner Christian's 3-yard line, Taylor e broke to the outside, then cut back toward the middle before dragging Warner Christian defensive end Marcus Bush across the goal line.
"I really had to fight my way into the end zone," Taylor said. "I was patient and it turned out all right."
Glades Day's defense forced Warner Christian to punt on five of 11 possessions during regulation and limited the Eagles' time of possession to 16:23.
Warner Christian burned the Gators on three big plays for touchdowns, however. Running back Breon Allen scored on a 60-yard run in the first quarter and the Eagles scored on passes of 22 and 61 yards with trick plays.
Glades Day led 20-13 in the fourth quarter when Willis hit Rashad Greene on a 6-yard out route, then Greene pitched the ball back to Sharrod Williams.
Williams sprinted 61 yards through the Gators' secondary to tie the game with 2:01 remaining.
"All in all, the defense played great," Glades Day coach Pete Walker said.
"They had a big touchdown run and that hook-and-ladder, but we didn't quit. The defense was solid."
Photo by Greg Lovett / The Palm Beach Post
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User Comments:
Fred charlesa commented on December 11, 2009 at 5:02 p.m.: report abuse
congratulation glade day gator.go gators go
luther commented on December 11, 2009 at 8:33 p.m.: report abuse
1 down and 1 more to go BG.....come on GCCHS, do like Glades Day and bring two home to the muck. Congratulations Glades Day. By the way, is the head coach related to Byron Walker??????????????????????????????????????
crazylegs13 commented on December 11, 2009 at 9:18 p.m.: report abuse
byron walker is pete walkers cousin
poop commented on December 11, 2009 at 10:02 p.m.: report abuse
no he is not
warnerplayer commented on December 11, 2009 at 10:26 p.m.: report abuse
That was one hell of a game today..... As a senior at Warner the only thing I could've asked for was to go out on top. Overtime in the State Championship game. Doesn't get much better and bigger than that. Hats off to Taylor and the rest of the Glades team. I do believe the 2 best teams in 1B met today. And a break here or there and the tide could've turned either way. Goodluck to Glades in the offseason.
GC Raider Fan commented on December 11, 2009 at 10:32 p.m.: report abuse
Good job Glades!!! Yall brung the trophy back to da Muck! I'm so happy for yall!
chad commented on December 11, 2009 at 10:39 p.m.: report abuse
nice return crazylegs, shouldnt you be celebrating...
gds#30 commented on December 11, 2009 at 11:47 p.m.: report abuse
hey, now its the raiders turn. We did are part now bring yours home. Good Luck!
don henderson commented on December 12, 2009 at 2:53 a.m.: report abuse
Congrats to Glades Day from France!!!!
jason commented on December 12, 2009 at 5:59 a.m.: report abuse
From what I remember Pete is Byron's son.
easterner commented on December 12, 2009 at 8:21 a.m.: report abuse
Congratulations Gators good game. If only the Dolphins could play like that I
would not look so old. Sure would have been nice to see a GDS Marching Band on
the field. Bring back MR. Bonner.
valjac commented on December 12, 2009 at 11:34 a.m.: report abuse
way to go, Gators talk about a way too exciting game! Congrats to all the Gators & their families/fans. Great job, #22, Todd J! Your step-gramma.
GatorFan commented on December 12, 2009 at 1:53 p.m.: report abuse
GO GATORS!!! By the way, Pete is NOT Byron's son... they're cousins
Slate commented on December 12, 2009 at 3:05 p.m.: report abuse
Way to go Gators!!! Good football game. Hats off to Warner Christian they played a good game and had a good year. Congrats to Coach Walker, the coaching staff, players, school and Gators fans on a great season and the 6th STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!
babs commented on December 12, 2009 at 6:02 p.m.: report abuse
Congrats to the Glades Day Gators. Please dont let Taylor get away, or the championships will go away with him. Watching him play in the tiny division 1 program is like watching a grown man play against pee wee's.......he's ready to move up and play with the big boy's.
GatorWarrior commented on December 12, 2009 at 11:05 p.m.: report abuse
Thanks babs. However Taylor does not holds the keys to any championship future. Its the entire football program at GDS working together. This is how GDS won championships prior to the arrival of Kelvin Taylor. This is the way it will always be done there. Not to diminish Kelvin contribution to the team, he is quite talented but he had a great offensive line that blocks whistle to whistle for him, a defense that goes 3 and out with much heart to shut out offenses & get the offense back of the field with Kelvin. Just a little food for thought.
gator alum commented on December 13, 2009 at 12:28 p.m.: report abuse
Hey babs, Glades day has won 5 state titles and played in 12 championship games before Taylor. It takes a team to win in football regardless of size...
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