Navarre wins varsity half, falls in overall outcome to Pace

NAVARRE — The stands were packed, the intensity was high and the home team made an inspired defensive stop to preserve the win.

This wasn’t a run-of-the-mill Kickoff Classic.

Boasting a new attitude and perhaps the most talented team of coach Chad Lashley’s three-year tenure, Navarre opened the 2010 season in style by beating Pace 14-13 in one half of varsity play at Bennett C. Russell Stadium. Overall, the Raiders won 22-19.

Pace kicker Nathan Lord’s 29-yard attempt at a game-winning field goal hit the cross bar with 19 seconds left to seal the win for the Raiders.

Both schools’ varsity teams played the second half after the freshmen teams played the first quarter and the junior varsity teams played the second.

The last-second theatrics came after it looked like the Raiders had the win all but sealed. With 4:29 to play, Pace punted the ball away after a three-and-out. However, Navarre punt returner Nick Benton fumbled the return and gave the ball back to the Patriots at the Navarre 40-yard line.

The Raider defense responded to the challenge despite a fourth-down conversion that gave the Patriots the ball at the 10-yard line. After a short running play and a false start, Lord was forced to kick.

Navarre took the lead in the fourth on a slick run by tailback Dewayne Carter with 5:27 to play. Trailing 13-7 with 5:27 to play, Carter took an option pitch from quarterback Colton Kane and broke several tackles on his way to a 57-yard touchdown run.

The Patriots looked to be in control behind the ground game of running back Richard Carrion. Carrion put Pace on the board with a 19-yard touchdown run with 8:22 left in the third.

Navarre answered on the next drive on the strength of Kane’s running. He carried the ball six times on Navarre’s first drive, capped by an 8-yard touchdown run.

The tie that resulted from Kane’s touchdown lasted until Austin Autrey rumbled in from 2 yards out with 10:05 left in the game to give the Patriots their second lead of the game. Navarre made sure that lead didn’t hold up.