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Spoto Stays On Roll, Routs Lennard To Improve To 3-0

By ADAM ADKINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2008

Updated: 09/20/2008 12:53 am

RIVERVIEW - As Spoto moved in for a touchdown late in Friday night's game against visiting Lennard, Rodney Williams stood steadfast, hoping the Spartans coaches would call his number to give him another chance at reaching the end zone.

But it wasn't long before the Spoto sophomore running back/linebacker backed away.

"I didn't want to be selfish," Williams said with a smile.

Williams didn't need another trip to the end zone to solidify his standout performance. He accounted for three touchdowns, two turnovers, a sack and a two-point conversion run to help the Spartans blow past the Longhorns, 46-16.

The win moved Spoto to 3-0 under first-year coach Dale Caparaso, tying the total number of wins the Spartans had in their inaugural varsity season in 2007. The win also gave another jolt to the confidence level of the team, which has been one of Hillsborough County's surprises through the first three weeks of this season.

"This feels good. A lot of stuff around here is changing," Williams said. "We're going to surprise a lot of people. We're just taking it week by week. We're just waiting on the next team Friday night, and we're going to go out there and get after them."

Spoto certainly got after Lennard (1-2) quickly Friday, racing out to an early 20-0 lead thanks to touchdown runs from Williams, J.B. Burgess and Jamar Burns.

But, in the end, it was the Spartans defense that helped seal this victory.

Lennard marched down the field on its opening possession of the second half and scored its first touchdown, a 2-yard run by quarterback Andrew Burdick, to cut its deficit to 20-9.

The Longhorns looked to keep that momentum after forcing Spoto to punt on the ensuing possession. However, the Spartans defense clamped down and forced turnovers on Lennard's next three possessions.

Each miscue was converted into a Spartans touchdown, the last coming from Williams, who scooped up a fumble at the Lennard 1 and dove across the goal line, which gave Spoto a 40-9 lead with 10:28 remaining in the game.

"Our goal was to beat teams on our schedule that we thought we could beat. The biggest test on our schedule is going to come next week against Palmetto. It certainly doesn't get any easier," Caparaso said. "But we're 3-0, and there's nothing better than 3-0, so I'm real pleased with that."