DUNNELLON DUO

DUNNELLON — When asked, Dunnellon senior Frank Williams said he believes he and teammate Josh Williams make up the state's best safety tandem.

After Friday night, the Belleview football team might be willing to provide a testimonial.

Josh, the free safety, finished the 19-7 victory with a career-best three interceptions, while strong safety Frank added a fumble recovery and what coach Price Harris called the "game clinching" 94-yard interception return for a touchdown off BHS sophomore Corey Wilsher in the third quarter.

"They tried us," said Josh Williams, a senior who also added a rushing touchdown. "I'm surprised they kept trying to pick on (our secondary).

"We were where we were supposed to be, and the ball kept coming to me."

Entering the contest, "lights out" could have been a phrase used to describe the offenses of each team, as DHS (3-0) entered averaging 50.5 points-a-game, while revitalized Belleview (2-1) was averaging 43 ppg.

However, it was the defenses forcing a combined 12 turnovers (seven by Belleview) that were the story. And lights out? Well, that did happen, but just not the way that was anticipated, as the game was delayed 23 minutes with 8:04 remaining in the second quarter when the stadium lights on the visiting side went dark.

"Those kids hit us in the mouths, and we hit hard right back," Rattlers' first-year coach John Brantley said. "It was a challenge, and our kids didn't flinch.

"Coach Harris has a Madison County background, and up there, it's always physical. He brings that to his team here, and they were ready to go.

"I'll take this loss on myself. I didn't have our guys ready enough to play. But we have a week off and will get some work done to get better."

The first half was hard-fought, even if it wasn't the most cleanly played.

Each team entered the locker room having turned the ball over three times, and both probably felt fortunate the score was 7-7.

Then, Frank Williams' pick-six came with 7:47 left in the third, and Josh Williams' two-yard scoring run came with 3:51 remaining in the contest to give the game its final margin (both conversion attempts failed).

"We knew what we needed to do," said Frank Williams, who grew up in Dunnellon before moving to Lake Butler from seventh through 11th grade and then returning this year. "We could have done better (offensively), and we started slow. We have to learn how to speed things up.

"But this is (a good win) to have."

His coach agreed.

"It wasn't the prettiest you'll find, but I love games like this," Harris said. "It was ugly, and it was fun.

"I'll gladly take it."

Belleview;7;0;0;0;—;7

Dunnellon;7;0;6;6;—;19

1st quarter

BHS- Trent Lecorn 2-run (Robert Jones kick)

DHS- Jase Williams 1-run (Layne Sanderson kick)

3rd quarter

DHS- Frank Williams 94-interception return (kick failed)

4th quarter

DHS- Josh Williams 2-run (pass failed)