Curie's Fleming runs past Orr

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:06PM

Reese Fleming Jr. got focused.

He also took the advice of his coach. After a sluggish start, Fleming Jr. rebounded in spectacular style. "The team puts the ball in my hands and expects me to make the plays," the junior Curie quarterback said.

"Coach [Tyson] LeBlanc tells me to and go out and make plays."

Fleming Jr. scored three rushing touchdowns and added a touchdown pass as the Condors scored on their final seven possessions to throttle the Spartans 41-7 in a third-round Public League playoff game Wednesday night at Lane.

"This is my team," said Fleming Jr., who accounted for 163 yards of total offense. "We had that big win against Hubbard [last Friday] and we looked at Orr on film and we didn't think they were as good as Hubbard, so we took them lightly at the start."

Jamal McDowell got the Condors' collective attention. The Orr quarterback scored on a 35-yard keeper as the Spartans (8-3) jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter advantage.

Consecutive runs of 22 and 18 yards by Curie running back Kevonte McIntyre (10 carries, 94 yards, two touchdowns) sparked the Condors' attack. Two plays later, Fleming Jr. (11 carries, 75 yards, 7 of 10 passing, 88 yards) scored on a three-yard run to knot the score at 7 apiece.

He put the Condors up 13-7 at the break with a beautifully designed 21-yard option run. "We had to keep up the intensity in the second half," he said. Curie (7-5) broke the game open by scoring touchdowns on its first four possessions of the second half.

Fleming Jr.'s 28-yard-run set up McIntyre's six-yard burst. Four plays later, Fleming Jr. rolled right and threw a 40-yard bomb that was tipped and fell into the arms of Condor receiver Brandon Barker for a touchdown pass that extended the margin to 25-7.

McIntyre added a 24-yard scoring burst and Fleming Jr. ended the second half explosion in grand style with a 21-yard scoring run where he cut against the field to avoid a swarm of Orr tacklers.

Curie's defense limited Orr to just two second half first downs. They also intercepted a pass and recovered an onside kick. McDowell had 92 total yards for the Spartans. Shadale Mandelbove added 48 yards on 11 carries for Orr.

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