Tavares, Fla. — The Villages High School football team used a strong second-half effort to remain unbeaten Friday night in Tavares.

The Buffalo broke a 14-14 tie at the half with 21 unanswered points over the final two quarters of play, pulling away with a 35-14 road victory over the Bulldogs.

VHS (5-0) scored on its first three offensive possessions of the second half and the Buffalo defense pitched a second-half shutout, as junior Jadence Kennedy threw two touchdowns and senior Kevonte Corbin accounted for four scores in the win.

Tavares (2-2) jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Khairi Coleman to Camare Williams, before the Buffalo needed just five plays to answer right back.

On a third-and-10, Kennedy dropped back and fired downfield to his left, where senior Ja'Marian Clark made a contested catch at the 10-yard line. The receiver dodged a tackle attempt and then made another defender miss on his way to the end zone and a 44-yard score. 

The Bulldogs took a 14-7 advantage with less than a minute to play in the first quarter, capping an 11-play, 72-yard drive with a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Coleman.

But VHS answered right back with a monstrous scoring drive of its own, marching 82 yards on 12 plays over six minutes of possession. The tying touchdown came with a bit of fright, as Kennedy fumbled a scramble attempt just prior to crossing the goal line, but Corbin was there to pounce on the loose ball in the end zone and tie the game at 14-14.

The second half belonged to the Buffalo, as VHS opened the third quarter with another 12-play drive — this one spanning 80 yards — and taking a 21-14 lead on a 27-yard touchdown run from Corbin.

After the VHS defense forced a quick punt, the Buffalo offense went back to work with a 6-play scoring drive. That possession was capped off by a 6-yard touchdown run by Corbin, who once again proved valuable in a direct-snap role in place of Kennedy at the quarterback position, extending the Buffalo lead to 28-14 with :31 seconds left in the third.

The Villages added on one last touchdown for good measure, as Kennedy tossed a 41-yard strike to Corbin on third down with 9:46 remaining and the night's final margin at 35-14.

Up next: VHS will return home for the first time in September, as the Buffalo host Belleview at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at H.G. Morse Stadium in Middleton.


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment via email at cody.hills@tvcs.org.