Ivy-Akins now has 835 rushing yards for the season, his first as a starter for Benjamin (3-4).
LOXAHATCHEE — Just because Benjamin running back Terrion Ivy-Akins is somewhat vertically challenged is no reason to doubt what he can do on the field.
Ivy-Akins packs 175 muscular pounds onto his 5-foot-3 body, which adds power to his elusiveness and makes him tough to bring down.
Ivy-Akins carried 25 times for 146 yards and three touchdowns on Oct. 3 as the Buccaneers defeated Seminole Ridge 21-7 at Al Packer Stadium for their second consecutive win.
“A lot of people doubt my skills because I’m short,” said Ivy-Akins, who bench presses 305 pounds and squats 530. “They feel they can toss me or whatever. But I’m shifty, I’m quick, I’m balanced. It’s awesome to be able to have those skills and perform.”
Ivy-Akins now has 835 rushing yards for the season, his first as a starter for Benjamin (3-4). Buccaneers coach Jason Belser appreciates how the senior has thrived in his role as featured back.
“He has good vision and a good burst. He runs with some tenacity behind his frame,” Belser said. “His size is an advantage for him. With his good vision, he squirts through and second-level players haven’t found him.
“He’s a powerful young man. He runs with some explosiveness.”
Benjamin coach Jason Belser thinks his young team coming around
Benjamin ended a four-game skid last week with a 29-14 win over Victory Christian. Belser feels his young team, which lost several transfers after former coach Eric Kresser resigned, is figuring things out.
“Our young players are now learning how to play important football,” Belser said. “Competitive football. I’m proud of them because they’re stepping up.”
Buccaneers running back-wide receiver Chancellor Reddick set the tone on the game’s first play, taking the kickoff 60 yards to the Hawks’ 30-yard line.
“I came up and caught it and my blocks developed,” Reddick said. “They were great blocks. The fact that I didn’t take it back for a touchdown, I felt like I wasted my teammates’ blocks.”
Actually, there was no waste though as the Buccaneers scored in four plays.
Seminole Ridge answered with a long scoring drive to make it 7-7 in the first quarter. But the Buccaneers defense and special teams denied the Hawks any more points.
Reddick and Jayden Cosby-Mosley each blocked a field goal by the Hawks’ Evan Holowecky. Reddick got one late in the second quarter, Cosby-Mosley got his in the fourth.
“That was a play with me and Jayden,” Reddick said. “We’re both going to shoot out gaps. If I don’t get it, he’s going to get it. If he doesn’t get it, I’m going to get it. They have to pick one. If they’re going to block him, I’m going to block it.”
Seminole Ridge coach Chad Chieffalo thought his team made too many mistakes.
“We made too many errors, penalties, shooting ourselves in the foot,” he said. “A couple long runs get called back. Special teams fell short tonight. We had a good week of special teams last week. This week it was quite the opposite.
“It was tied at halftime and we get the ball. That opening drive of the second half, we have to get started faster.”
Running back Elijah Smith led the Hawks (2-4) with 104 yards on 16 carries.
Benjamin 21, Seminole Ridge 7
Benjamin 7 0 7 7 – 21
Seminole Ridge 7 0 0 0 – 7
First quarter
B–Ivy-Akins 3 run (Calvo Ayers kick), 10:08.
SR–Argo 1 run (Holowecky kick), 4:24.
Third quarter
B–Ivy-Akins 3 run (Calvo Ayers kick), 5:13.
Fourth quarter
BV–Ivy-Akins 24 run (Calvo Ayers kick), 1:38.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–Benjamin: Ivy-Akins 25-146, Reddick 3-22, Smith 4-5. Totals:
33-178. Seminole Ridge: Smith 16-104, Lamar 8-30, Sistrunk 2-6, Argue 5-minus 7. Totals: 31-133.
PASSING–Benjamin: Smith 6-10-1-110. Seminole Ridge: 9-19-1-129.
RECEIVING–Benjamin: Luiz 2-78, Gilles 2-26, Faniel 1-4, Ivy-Akins 1-2. Seminole Ridge: Howard 3-47, Lamar 2-50, Abbaddo 2-13, Albert 1-14, Smith 1-5.
TOTAL TEAM YARDS–Benjamin 288, Seminole Ridge 262.
Discount for NFHS Network through USA Today
USA TODAY Network-Florida readers can get a 25% discount on a yearly NFHS pass in 2025. Use promo code USATODAY25 when you go through our NFHS Network link before Sept. 7 to see top high school football action.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Terrion Ivy-Akins is Benjamin's little big man at running back
Category: General Sports
