Boone Braves run past Lake Nona for 4M-4 title

Lagarrius Marshell rumbles for 273 yards, 3 TDs in 48-21 win

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Lagarrius Marshell was a picture of joy after Boone’s 48-21 victory against visiting Lake Nona on Tuesday night. Running for 273 yards and three touchdowns can do that to a football player.

Marshell’s superb performance sparked a dominating running game that produced more than 320 yards and five TDs and lifted Boone to the Class 4M, District 4 championship with a full district game to play.

“He’s had a great season,” said Boone coach Andy Johnson. “We’ve played some really good, athletic defenses. So, he had a chance (Tuesday night) to kind of stretch out a little bit.”

The Braves (5-3 overall, 3-0 in 4M-4) went on a rampage in the first half, racing to a 41-0 lead as Marshell galloped for 258 yards and scoring runs of 33 and 58 yards. The second half was played on a running clock.

“Two big games and you had to come out with the fire,” Marshell said of Boone’s district wins against Cypress Creek, 41-0, last Friday and then Lake Nona. “Great offensive line. They did a great job blocking.”

Boone scored on five of its first six possessions to take a commanding 41-0 lead. The only misfire was a missed 40-yard field goal.

After Marshell ripped off scoring runs of 33 and 58 yards to give Boone a 14-0 first-quarter lead, the Braves exploded for 27 points in the second quarter to salt the game away.

Exavian Westbrook scored on a nifty 20-yard TD run around right end, Elijah Rooney threw a razor-sharp 26-yard TD pass to Isaiah Mizell, Marshell ran for a 29-yard score, and Shayne Grandison had a 20-yard pick-6.

Elijah Rooney (15) threw a touchdown pass in Boone's 48-21 victory over Lake Nona on Tuesday night / Photo by Jeff Gardenour

Grandison’s play highlighted a superb effort by the Boone defense, which forced three punts and a turnover on downs, and intercepted two passes in the first half alone.

“It was a quick turnaround,” said Johnson, referencing playing two games in five days. “You never know how these games are going to go. I’m really proud of how we were able to prepare and get ready to play on two days on just really a walk-through and we got a Sunday practice done.

“You never know how it’s going to turn out,” Johnson said. “But the kids rose to the occasion and had a good effort.”

Lake Nona (3-5, 2-2) found itself down a starter less than 12 minutes into the game. Star running back Daniel Cevallos suffered what appeared to be an ankle or leg injury in the first quarter and had to be carted off the field.

Cevallos entered the game with 560 yards rushing and 10 TDs.

James Mesidor came in for Cevallos and played well, scoring on a 46-yard TD run and a 70-yard fumble return for a score in a 21-point fourth quarter for Lake Nona. Zayn Henry caught a 47-yard TD pass from Carter Emanuel for the Lions.

Mesidor finished with 83 yards rushing.