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Tarpon Springs D Clamps Down On East Lake

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A Tribune staff report

Published: September 15, 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.

Lee Diekemper

NORTHEAST 32, GIBBS 21: The Vikings jumped out to a 26-0 third-quarter lead and held off a 21-point effort by the Gladiators in the final quarter.

Northeast star Jeff Brinson ran for 143 yards on 24 carries and scored three touchdowns.

The highlight of the game came on a trick play by the Vikings. Beginning with a handoff then reverse to Brinson, Brinson then carried the ball a few yards before making an impressive pitch over a few Gladiator defenders. It landed in the arms of wide-open quarterback Armando Sanchez, who carried it into the end zone for a 16-yard score.

Matt Romary

LAKEWOOD 21, CLEARWATER 14: After the Tornadoes jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead, Lakewood answered with three scores in the second half for the win.

Bernard Reedy scored on a 51-yard run and added another long run - 61 yards - in the second half.

The last two Spartans touchdowns were in the fourth quarter by Lakewood quarterback Jacquez Jenkins. The last was an 82-yard run near the end of the quarter.

Clearwater scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. Quarterback Luke Loucks threw for 207 yards in the first half, giving Lakewood no time with the ball. But Loucks injured his knee in the second half.

Meagan Bemis

COUNTRYSIDE 23, ST. PETERSBURG 7: Cougars running back Dawson Roberts rushed 18 times for 70 yards and one TD as Countryside pulled away from the Green Devils.

The Cougar defense did not allow the Green Devils to score in the second half. Their defense also forced a safety, two fumbles and an interception.

Countryside's Jimbo Chmelik threw a TD pass to running back Richard Shockley in the second quarter. The Crusaders also scored a touchdown on a trick pass from Brandon Lockwood to senior Martavious Jones from the 10-yard line. After the safety, the final score of the game was a 2-yard run by Roberts.

Aaron Hanbury

CCC 24, LAKE HIGHLAND PREP 7: At Clearwater, it didn't look good for the host Marauders. Missing eight starters with injuries, CCC saw Orlando Lake Highland Prep intercept on the first play from scrimmage and score.

But the Marauders rallied with 24 unanswered points to remain undefeated.

'All week long our theme was overcoming adversity,' CCC coach Mike Jalazo said. 'I was really pleased that with all the injuries we were able to piece a win together. Our defense pitched a shutout. We rallied.'

Anthony Cochran scored on runs of 1 and 11 yards. Micah Poole added a 5-yard run.

PALM HARBOR 21, SEMINOLE 17: At Palm Harbor, Dajuan Bush scored on a 2-yard run late in the game to give the host Hurricanes the win against Seminole. It was Bush's second score of the game. In the first half he rambled in from 67 yards out for a 13-0 lead.

Seminole rallied and took the lead on touchdowns by Donzel Redding of 5 and 21 yards.

DUNEDIN 42, OSCEOLA 7: At Seminole, the visiting Falcons did a number on Osceola thanks largely to Mike Towns. The senior caught two touchdowns from quarterback A'Darrius Anderson of 51 and 28 yards. Anderson also connected with John Toston for a 13-yard score for the game's first touchdown.

BOCA CIEGA 21, DIXIE HOLLINS 14, OT: At Gulfport, Boca Ciega quarterback Orhian Johnson hit Ja-Vonta Trotter with a 10-yard pass in overtime to beat Dixie Hollins. Johnson saved the day for Boca Ciega when he hit Sherrod Clinton in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 14 and send the contest into overtime. Josh Brown scored the Pirates' first two touchdowns on runs of 2 and 59 yards.

KESWICK CHRISTIAN 37, SHORECREST PREP 6: At St. Petersburg, Jared DiMaggio and Curtis Fisher each scored a pair of touchdowns leading the Crusaders to a win against their crosstown rivals Shorecrest to remain undefeated. DiMaggio scored on runs of 14 and 15 yards and Fisher had TD runs of 6 and 43 yards.

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