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Spoto Stops Jesuit

By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: November 1, 2008

RIVERVIEW - Spoto had been in the situation before.

Last week against Class 3A-District 11 opponent Sarasota Booker, the Spartans made four consecutive goal-line stops late in the fourth quarter and ran out the clock to seal a victory and keep their playoffs chances alive.

Friday against district-rival Jesuit, Spoto's defense made another goal-line stop in the fourth quarter when sophomore linebacker Rodney Williams intercepted a pass with 1:46 left to help give his team a 21-14 victory.

Spoto improves to 2-1 in the district, and a win against Robinson next week would put the two-year program in the playoffs. Robinson pulled an upset over Sarasota Booker on Friday, giving the Knights a 1-2 district record. The loss to Spoto drops Jesuit to 1-3. In the head-to-head matchup, Robinson could make the playoffs with a win against Spoto.

Jesuit recovered a fumble on Spoto's 10-yard line with 3:05 left in the fourth quarter and was attempting to at least tie it. A short run, a penalty and an incomplete pass gave the Tigers third-and-long on the 15. Jesuit junior quarterback Bobby Eveld rolled to his right, looking for an open receiver in the end zone, but Williams was waiting for the interception.

"All I was thinking is 'we can't let them score,'" Williams said. "The playoffs are on the line. If we would have let them score, the game last week was for nothing. I know I had to make a big play, and it happened."

Williams finished with three sacks and punched in a 1-yard touchdown run in the first half.

Jesuit trailed 21-0 in the third quarter, but Eveld led the rally with a touchdown pass and a short touchdown run in the fourth quarter to close the deficit.

"When you let Jesuit beat Jesuit, and turn the ball over and make stupid penalties when you're going down to score, then you're going to come up on the short end of the stick," Jesuit coach Joe Ross said.

Eveld completed 13 of 21 passes for 183 yards, with one touchdown and an interception, and he rushed for another score. Senior receiver Erick McGriff had seven catches for 93 yards.

Spoto limited Jesuit to 54 total yards in the first half and had nine sacks and recovered two fumbles. One of the fumbles was returned for a touchdown by Keith Richmond.

Richmond also had two sacks, while senior lineman Sergio Robinson caused havoc for Eveld with four sacks and numerous hurries out of the pocket.

Junior running back Jamar Burns led Spoto's offense with nine carries for 145 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore running back Tim Randolph added 75 yards.

"The win is huge," Spoto coach Dale Caparaso said. "Jesuit is a good football team. They're well-coached and disciplined. I thought they had some difficulty with our speed."