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Much Improved Eagles Collect Rare Victory Against Gators

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2008

LAND O’ LAKES - LAND O' LAKES This week, Land O' Lakes football coach John Benedetto admitted the Springstead team his group was to face Friday night was likely the best Eagles team they've seen.
That's saying a lot for a program that hasn't beaten Land O' Lakes since 1996. In fact, entering the contest, Land O' Lakes held a 14-9 series lead.
Benedetto's words rang true as Springstead collected a 21-17 victory in the teams' Class 4A-District 8 opener at Gator Stadium.
"It's a great feeling to start off with a win against last year's district champs," linebacker Nate Schafer said. "They're top of the class almost every single year, so it's great to get a win against them."
Schafer had a key hand, literally, in Springstead's victory.
Springstead (3-1, 1-0 4A-8) took a 14-10 lead into halftime, but when Land O' Lakes (2-2, 0-1) opened the third quarter, their drive appeared promising.
The Gators started with the ball on their 38 due to a second failed onside kick by the Eagles. In eight plays, Land O' Lakes reached the Springstead 13 and had a fresh set of downs.
Three plays later, Land O' Lakes quarterback Stephen Weatherford scrambled to the Springstead 3, but a holding call pushed the ball back. On the ensuing play, Schafer read a screen play, jumped and made a one-handed interception, killing the Gators' drive.
Weatherford ended the night 11 of 20 for 106 yards and an interception.
"We made some critical mistakes that cost us the ballgame," Benedetto said. "Driving the ball on the first possession in the third quarter, we get the ball down to the 3-yard line and we get called for holding. That puts us back and puts us in a situation we don't want to be in and we end up throwing an interception because of a miscue."
The Springstead offense took five plays and just less than three minutes to take advantage of the turnover. Eagles quarterback James Mahla hit Mike Greco on a short screen pass, which Greco took 37 yards for the touchdown, stretching the Springstead advantage to 21-10.
"We've been going over it all week," Schafer said of the play, which led to the interception. "They run a certain formation and they run a screen out of that formation, so I knew it was coming the whole time. I ran up, waited for it and he tried to throw it over my head and I just jumped, probably higher than I ever jumped, and luckily I got it."
Luck, fortune or just plain opportunity seemed to be readily available on at least two other big plays for the Eagles.
The squad's first score of the night came on its second possession of the game. On the fourth-and-2 play from the Land O' Lakes 11, Springstead attempted to draw Land O' Lakes offside. After calling a timeout, the Eagles gave the ball to Greco, who ran into the end zone, barely touched.
After Land O' Lakes went ahead 10-7 on a Ben Hipps running score, Springstead needed to convert another fourth down. On this occasion, it was Land O' Lakes which called a timeout when Springstead's punt team featured their quarterback as the punter.
Springstead sent its offense back on the field and on that fourth-and-3 play, Mahla play-faked to the running back and hit Ben Noury across the middle for the score. Mahla ended the night 15 of 22 for 209 yards and two scores, while Noury caught nine passes for 123 yards and one TD.
"When we take the punt team off the field and then you put [the offense] back out there, absolutely [that's a big play]," Springstead coach Bill Vonada said.
Speaking of Vonada, it was the first time in his 11 seasons he's led the Eagles to a victory against Land O' Lakes. He was quick to point out he had nothing to brag about.
"It's my first victory in the series, but it's not my victory," he said. "It's our team's victory. It's not me. I'm just the guy who gets to wear the headphones."
And high-five everyone in red helmets, white jerseys and red pants.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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