The Toll Gate Titans edged the Juanita Sanchez/PCD/Wheeler Cavaliers 12-8 at Toll Gate on Saturday morning in the season opener for both teams.

Sophomore Anthony Vann started at quarterback for Toll Gate while junior Luis Florentino was the signal caller for the Cavaliers.

“He controls the field,” Toll Gate head coach Jim Stringfellow said of Vann. “He’s very good.”

The Cavaliers received the opening kickoff and drove right into Titans’ territory.

The drive featured Cavalier sophomore Odarlin Garo carrying the ball four times for 12 yards, an 11-yard reception by Devin Greene and a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-4 by Florentino. However, the drive ended when Florentino threw an interception in the end zone to Toll Gate defensive back Qyon Pichardo.

Toll Gate would be forced to punt on that possession when Vann was sacked on third down by Joseph Mendes.

When the Cavaliers seemed to be jelling again, Florentino threw another interception to Pichardo. This time, Pichardo ran it back 55 yards to the Cavaliers’ 21-yard line. 

Next, Toll Gate running back Sean Devlin ran for 16 yards to set up a first-and-goal for Toll Gate. Devlin would follow with another carry, this time finding pay dirt for a 5-yard touchdown.

However, Toll Gate’s extra point attempt would be blocked by the Cavaliers’ Elijah Matthews, keeping the score at 6-0.

Matthews’s strong play would continue.

On the next play, he returned the kickoff for a 78-yard touchdown. Florentino ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Cavaliers an 8-6 lead with 8:13 to go in the first half.

Then it was Toll Gate kickoff returner Austin Giard who responded by running back a 70-yard return of his own.

“The kickoff return by Giard was unbelievable,” Stringfellow said. “That set the tone.”

Its attempt at a 2-point conversion attempt failed but Toll Gate held a 12-8 lead heading into the half.

When Toll Gate was winning, 12-8, and had possession with three minutes to go in the game, the Juanita Sanchez/PCD/Wheeler defense came up with a huge turnover when they forced Alex Mowry to fumble on the Cavaliers’ goal line, giving the Cavaliers one last chance to drive the entire length of the field for the win.

The Cavs would come up short on their final drive, though, and Toll Gate would win 12-8.

Matthews rushed for 55 yards for the Cavaliers. He was mainly rushing the ball but you could catch him blocking punts, punting, recovering fumbles and throwing passes.

Garo added 19 rushing yards for the Cavaliers.

For Toll Gate, Devlin ran for 43 yards and had 13 yards receiving. Vann rushed for 15 yards and threw for six yards and was sacked four times.

Stringfellow was humble in getting the win against the Cavaliers.

“They’re a very well-coached team,” Stringfellow said. “They’re disciplined. They’re a tough team. We battled back and forth. We had a couple plays that were in our favor and we broke a couple runs.”