.jpg)
Winter Haven's 1st round playoff win over previously unbeaten New Smyrna Beach short lived; knocked out in 2nd round by Daytona's Mainland squad
Headline Surfer videos produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina King-Frederick / New Smyrna Beach High School Principal Jim Tager talks football and more in our online newsmaker show, "The Sunday Conversation."
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- New Smyrna Beach High School Principal Jim Tager is beaming with pride over the football team's undefeated regular season, despite the playoff loss to Winter Haven. Headline Surfer interviewed him right after the game for its online newsmaker show, "The Sunday Conversation, which you can watch by clicking the videos.
Tager spoke with the 24/7 Internet newspaper about the Cudas football season, including the flap over the Spruce Creek marching band's pre-game show interruption by players leaving the field, a recent trip he took to Haiti wih a small group of students and his take on funding shortages.
Our video coverage also includes post-game interviews with Cudas head football coach Lance Jenkins, quarterback Marcus Jognson, linebacker Vincent Jackson and highlights of the playoff game.
New Smyrna Beach lost its first round playoff game to Winter Haven, 24-20, at home. Highlights are shown in the first video (top left).
.jpg)
Cudas head coach Lance Jenkins, shown here, talks about the loss following a perfect season in his post-game interview with Headline Surfer (top right video).
The 24/7 Internet newspaper also gets reaction from Cudas linebacker Vincent Thomas (bottom left) and from quarterback Marcus Jognson (bottom right).
Despite a perfect regular season with nine wins, New Smyrna Beach came up short, 24-20, to Winter Haven in a 6A region quarterfinal, despite a strong showing from D'Cota Dixon with two touchdowns and James Clark with eight catches for 132 yards.
The Cudas went into halftime trailing 21-20, with lost scoring opportunities in the second half as both teams grinded it out with Winter Haven sealing it with a field goal.
Winter Haven showed class taking a knee in the red zone with the final secons clicking to the end of the Cudas' quest for a championship. The difference maker was Winter Haven's star running back, Adam Lee, committed to play for the University of Florida. a Florida Gators. He ran for 143 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown.
But in it very next plyoff game, Winter Haven was knocked out by Mainland, whom the Cudas had defeated during the regular season wih a thrilling come-from behind win.