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Mistakes doom Sickles in loss to Largo

By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2009

TAMPA - Pat O'Brien wasn't looking for a moral victory Friday night.

Most people probably didn't give his Sickles Gryphons a chance for much more in their Class 4A-District 10 showdown with Largo, one of Pinellas County's top teams. But that didn't matter to Sickles' coach.

That's why Sickles' 20-14 loss to the Packers wasn't any easier to swallow for O'Brien, especially considering the Gryphons had plenty of chances to come out on the winning end.

Big games from running backs Cary White (18 carries, 156 yards, one touchdown) and Brieann Dollard (10 carries, 126 yards) were negated by five Gryphons turnovers, four of which came in the Packers' red zone. In the end, Largo got just enough from running back D.J. Key (23 carries, 128 yards, two touchdowns) and a big stop from its defense in the final minutes to hold on for a victory in a battle of unbeaten teams.

"These kids wanted to win, this coaching staff wanted to win," O'Brien said, "and that's what we're out here to do, to win football games."

After each team had one possession Friday, it didn't look like the Gryphons (3-1) would stand much of a chance to do that. Sickles got the ball first and went three-and-out, while Largo marched down the field with ease and took a 7-0 lead on the first of Key's 8-yard touchdown runs.

Following Sickles' first turnover - an interception at the Largo 5 - the Gryphons defense made a stand and a botched punt set the offense back up at the Packers' 20. Four plays later, White plunged through the line from 1 yard out to tie it with 9:55 left in the second quarter.

Sickles' second turnover came midway through the second quarter, and it set Largo up with a short field at the Gryphons' 27. Four plays later, Key made it a 14-7 game with his second touchdown run. Sickles' ensuing drive ended with a fumble in the Packers' red zone, and Largo was able to tack on a short field goal to take a 17-7 lead at the half.

Sickles' defense forced a turnover on Largo's opening possession of the second half, and the Gryphons offense responded with a seven-play, 54-yard drive that was capped by A.J. Ramaglia's 8-yard touchdown run to pull within 17-14. However, the next two Sickles possessions ended with fumbles inside the Packers' red zone.