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Spoto's season ends in disappointment

By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: November 7, 2009

RIVERVIEW - Spoto senior defensive lineman John Akins couldn't help but cry as he watched the clock tick to zero Friday night.

His team's 26-15 loss to Lakewood eliminated Spoto from the postseason, a goal the Spartans felt confident they would achieve.

After their season-opening win against Wharton, Coach Dale Caparaso told his players they were bound for Orlando, the site of this year's state finals.

Instead, Spoto's season ended at the doing of a stout Lakewood defense and untimely penalties. Lakewood (7-2) advances to the postseason as the Class 3A-District 8 runner-up.

Lakewood led 17-7 at the half and kept Spoto out of the end zone with consecutive goal-line stops and a blocked field goal try in the third.

With 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, an interception and 29-yard run by Rodney Williams set up a 7-yard TD pass from senior QB James Brown to Tyrone Baker. Brown kept it for himself on a QB sneak to make it 17-15.

Lakewood drove to Spoto's 4 on the next possession, but Spoto defensive back Khayri McCray saved a would-be Lakewood TD pass with an interception at the 1 to give his team another chance to score with 3:59 left in the game.

Three plays and 3 yards later, Spoto's season came down to fourth-and-long from its own 5. On the play, Spoto QB Nick Addison tried to scramble in the end zone, but was sacked for a safety.

Moments later, Lakewood running back Bernard Reedy scored his second touchdown of the night on a 36-yard run to seal the win.

"The difference in the ballgame was the blocked field goal and the goal-line stands," Caparaso said. "We're used to doing that to teams, not having it done to us."

Senior Jamar Burns led Spoto (7-3) with 52 yards rushing and one touchdown and 49 yards receiving.

Addison passed for 95 yards, Brown threw for 87 yards with a score, and Baker finished with 83 yards receiving and one touchdown.

Spoto ended the game with 80 yards in penalties.

"We didn't play our best tonight," Caparaso said. "They were a lot like us."

Reedy led Lakewood with 83 yards rushing with two touchdowns, while quarterback Alphonso Evans passed for 113 yards and one touchdown.