MIAMI — Donta Jenkins knew what was coming.
Seconds before Miami Central snapped the ball on fourth-and-1, the Lakeland senior edge rusher recognized pass and split out just a little wider. Jenkins ended up knocking down Bekkem Kritza’s pass and sealing the Dreadnaughts’ 16-8 win against nationally ranked Central at Traz Powell Stadium on Friday night.
“I read my tackle,” said Jenkins, who has offers from UCF, USF, Louisville and several others. “The whole game he was giving it up with the pass, so I was ready. I knew they wanted that first down, so I just got ready. I saw the quarterback get ready to throw and I got my hands up.
“It felt great. I knew after I did that, we won the game. Great feeling.”
Lakeland’s defense, led by junior linebacker Malik Morris and Jenkins, stopped three Central fourth-down attempts in the second half.
Morris was outstanding, making a fourth-down stop to end a promising Central drive in the third quarter. On the Rockets next drive, Morris blocked a punt to give Lakeland prime field position. He ended up capping the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. It was the long touchdown of the game for Lakeland, which also had three field goals in the first half.