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Spartans gut Falcons

LAKEWOOD 42, DUNEDIN 7: Spartans score four times in second quarter to remain undefeated in 4A-9.

By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 18, 2002

When Dunedin coach Mark Everett was told last week that his next opponent, Lakewood, had lost, he wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

He is now.

"I'm thinking at the time, is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Everett said. "I guess it turned out to be a bad thing."

Bad enough for a 35-point loss. Lakewood beat Dunedin 42-7 Thursday night in the key Class 4A, District 9 contest, ending the Falcons surprising unbeaten run.

Dunedin never had a chance. The Spartans (5-2) were coming off a loss to Pinellas Park, playing in front of a large homecoming crowd with NFLers and former Lakewood stars Tim Carter and Cornell Green in attendance, and earnestly determined to prove the Falcons (6-1) were overrated.

With the win, the Spartans improved to 3-0 in the district and all but wrapped up a playoff spot. Dunedin dropped to 2-1 in the district.

The Falcons scored on their first drive of the game, going 66 yards in four plays and capped by Aaron Ford's 17-yard run. They were never the same after that.

Ford threw an interception on Dunedin's 10 on the third play of the second quarter, and the game quickly slipped away. The Falcons gave Lakewood possession on the 10, 36, 40 and 26 in the second. The Spartans scored every time as Martell Mott ran in two scores and quarterback Pat Carter found Maurice Robinson and Richardo Jones for touchdowns of 9 and 15 yards, respectively to give the Spartans a 27-7 lead.

"They got things rolling," Everett said.

Ford completed his first pass for 43 yards, but just one of his next 10. Dunedin managed 37 yards offense in the second but 41 in penalties. Meanwhile, Carter was 5 of 6 in the quarter for 90 and the two touchdowns.

Carter also dashed any hopes for a Dunedin comeback. After the Spartans defense held on the opening drive on the second half, Carter took off on Lakewood's first play and scored on a 44-yard run.

"I think we were counterpunching with them early, sparring like boxers," Lakewood coach Brian Bruch said. "Then we figured them out."

And knocked them out.

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