One field goal is just enough

Dunedin clamps down on East Lake and the Falcons offense scores when given its best opportunity in a Class 5A, District 9 showdown.

By BOB PUTNAM
Published October 1, 2005

EAST LAKE - A good defense means never having to say you're sorry.

It also means Dunedin is in good position for a playoff berth after a 3-0 victory over East Lake on Friday night in a Class 5A, District 9 game.

Both offenses were flummoxed by stout defenses. The results showed with 219 yards and 11 punts combined. That meant the strategy was to be as conservative as possible to minimize mistakes and play a game of field position.

The Falcons won both battles.

In the second quarter, Dunedin linebacker Adam Lewis pounced on fumble at the Eagles' 12-yard line. After going nowhere on three plays, the Falcons settled for a 27-yard field goal from Evan McKeon.

From there, Dunedin kept East Lake pinned in its territory thanks to some booming punts from Johnereus Young.

Then things changed.

Facing fourth and 1 from the Eagles' 47-yard line with 4:47 left, Falcons coach Mark Everett opted to go for it rather than have Young punt.

Dunedin was stuffed.

Two plays later, East Lake completed a 28-yard pass on a flea-flicker.

Though the Falcons bent, they didn't break. Dunedin held and the Eagles tried a 43-yard goal that sailed wide left with 2:28 remaining.

"We sweated it out there, but I had confidence in my defense all game," Everett said. "Darrell (Roseman) had a monster performance and everybody else stepped when it counted."

It was the kind of victory that offers solid evidence that these are not the same Falcons who were plagued by inconsistency and a lack of focus last year, a 2-8 season that was undone by a defense that allowed 269 points.

Dunedin (4-1) has three other victories against teams with playoff potential.

"We've really played well and that's tribute to the improvement on defense and the special teams," Everett said. "The kids have worked hard on those two aspects all year."

[Last modified October 1, 2005, 01:46:16]