Freedom rings up a close one

The Patriots use a halfback pass to upset Gaither 27-20.

By THOMAS SIMONETTI
Published September 24, 2005

TAMPA - Freedom High School has experienced both lopsided losses and victories this season. One week before they open their district schedule, the Patriots figured out how to win a close one.

Freedom squandered a 20-7 second-half lead but used a 76-yard halfback pass to upend Gaither 27-20 in front of a homecoming crowd at Freedom Field on Friday.

With the game tied at 20 in midway through the fourth quarter, it looked like Freedom would have to punt for a second straight possession and give the ball back to a Gaither offense that was on a roll.

On third down and 6 from the Patriots' 24-yard line, Coach Adam Stegeman and his staff caught the Cowboys off-guard with a pass from running back Calvin Smith.

Smith, who returned a kickoff 76-yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, found receiver Jaime Sparling wide open for the score and the Patriots defense held on for the win.

"Everybody had their fingers crossed that it was going to work," said Stegeman, who said he used Smith because he throws a better pass than does senior back Louis Bonnet. "Calvin is the one that kept giving us a consistent pass in practice. The play kept working on our (own) defense in practice so that's why we used it."

The Patriots (4-1) built a lead with Smith's kick return and rushing touchdowns from Bonnet and Sherrard Evans. Gaither (3-1) scored consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter to tie the game on touchdown passes by quarterback John Chestnut (12-for-16, 163 yards).

Cowboys running back Jonathan Davis gained 132 yards on 21 rushes. Freedom heads to Newsome next week for its Class 4A District 11 opener. The Cowboys will host Wesley Chapel.

[Last modified September 24, 2005, 01:01:06]