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Gators Experience New Kind of Playoff Frustration

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By BART O’CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 23, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Four years of resounding, less-than-exciting first-round playoff exits marred by injuries and suspensions to his top players created one kind of frustration for Land O' Lakes coach John Benedetto.

But Friday's 23-20 loss to Daytona Beach Seabreeze in the Class 4A playoffs was something entirely different. It was the worst kind of frustration for a coach - dealing with a win that got away.

Leading 20-10 with 5:12 remaining, the Gators gave up two late touchdowns, including the game-winner with 22.8 seconds left.

The Sandcrabs' comeback spoiled a career effort by senior two-way starter Ben Hipps, and a more-than-adequate performance by sophomore quarterback Tanner Stocker, making his second career start in place of the injured Stephen Weatherford.

Hipps had 79 yards rushing and a touchdown, and defensively had two interceptions and a fumble recovery which led to 10 Gators' points. Stocker was 5-of-10 for 46 yards and a touchdown (to Collin Robinson for the game's first points), was sacked only once and picked up multiple first downs rushing out of the option.

Kicker Alex Spock, in his final prep game, was perfect on a pair of field goal (30, 32 yards) and extra point attempts, but the Gators could not get into his 55-yard range on their final drive with limited time to work.

"My kids played their hearts out," Benedetto said before leaving the field, still fuming over the outcome.

Benedetto's post-game speech to his players, which lasted maybe 20 seconds, was delayed by his insistence on yelling at the officials. After team handshakes, Benedetto waited for the officiating crew to pass the Land O' Lakes bench so he could say his piece.

They refused to look at him or acknowledge his shouting, walking off the field with their hands in their pockets on the cold night.

Though Benedetto did not discuss the officiating with reporters as he headed for the locker room, penalties – some called and some not called – affected Land O' Lakes' ability to run out the clock and preserve what would have been their first postseason victory since 2003.

Among the plays and situations that drew most of Benedetto's ire during the second half were:

1. Officials allowing Seabreeze players in the game to gather near their sideline and be coached during an injury timeout;

2. Perceived delay-of-game penalties which Benedetto felt should have been called on the Sandcrabs' offense, but weren't; and

3. a 15-yard personal foul penalty on the Gators' offense that led to a stalled fourth-quarter drive, after a play in which players on both teams were pushing and shoving each other. Seabreeze scored the go-ahead touchdown after the drive.

Some officials' calls did go in Land O' Lakes' favor, including a Seabreeze holding penalty on their final drive. But Sandcrabs quarterback Dominique Roberts completed a 21-yard pass on second-and-19, and rushed for 16 yards on a third-and-14 during the 12-play, 66-yard drive.

The Gators' sideline also complained about what they felt was a pass interference penalty not called on Seabreeze on the game's final play. But the pass attempt was clearly tipped at the line of scrimmage, and the referees were correct in not calling a penalty and allowing the game to end on that play.

"You can't say anything about it. There were a couple critical personal foul calls but they can go either way," said Land O' Lakes' longtime defensive coordinator, Al Claggett. "[The coaching during injury timeouts] annoyed us pretty much. You're not supposed to do that. But they have wonderful athletes at Daytona Beach Seabreeze."

Junior receiver Alex Robinson was not thinking about the officiating after the game.

"I'm thinking about the seniors," he said. "All of us underclassmen wish we could have done more for them to get a win."

Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at tampasport@gmail.com.

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