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Tarpon Springs 23, East Lake 6

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Lee Diekemper/The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - The visiting Spongers intercepted East Lake quarterback Blake Robles three times in the fourth quarter Friday, squashing any comeback bid by the host Eagles for a 23-6 win before an estimated crowd of 4,800 fans.

Tarpon Springs' defense may not have lived up to Coach George Kotis' exacting standards, but it was strong in the first half and resilient in the second, particularly in the fourth quarter after East Lake scored its lone touchdown.

The Spongers (2-0) held the Eagles (1-2) to a total of 77 yards rushing, 26 coming from Micah Powell, who has verbally committed to Vanderbilt.

"Our secondary came up big," said Tarpon Springs defensive end Donnel Ingram, who is being wooed by Florida State, Ole Miss and Wake Forest. "East Lake was starting to take it to us but our secondary locked up the flats and came up with some big plays."

East Lake, which struggled in the first half offensively, looked like a different team in the second half, marching down the field on its first possession before Erin Murray plunged in from 3 yards out to pull the Eagles within two scores at 17-6.

Said East Lake coach Bob Hudson, "Right when it appeared we had something going we got excited and then …"

East Lake was driving deep into Tarpon Springs territory. Early in the fourth quarter, Robles had a pass bounce off the hands of receiver Richie Bailey and into the arms of Tarpon Springs defender Josiah Fisk. The Eagles never got any closer to scoring.

Tarpon Springs took command of the game by jumping out to a 17-0 lead with a 1-yard plunge by Ingram and later Beau Taylor hauled in a 66-yard pass from Danny Reyes midway through the second.

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