Jarring turn of events sends Bogie to loss

Sherard Allen's fumble deep in Southeast territory proves pivotal in the Pirates' 27-14 loss.

By JOE SMITH
Published October 13, 2006

GULFPORT - The play, a tantalizing tease for Boca Ciega's football team, seemed ever so fitting.

Midway through the fourth quarter of the Pirates' 27-14 loss to Bradenton Southeast Thursday night, Boca Ciega quarterback Orhian Johnson lofted a beautiful deep ball to a streaking Sherard Allen.

Allen caught the pass in stride near the Southeast 20-yard line, but then ...

Smack.

A Seminoles' defender jarred the ball loose with his helmet, and Southeast's Hudson Presume returned the fumble 65 yards to Boca Ciega's 15.

Allen, the wind knocked out of him, remained on the ground for a minute. The Pirates (3-4, 1-2), losers of two straight games, never recovered.

"We're killing ourselves," Allen said. "Too many mental mistakes, too many penalties. If we cut those down, we'll be fine."

Boca Ciega fumbled the ball five times (losing three), and for the second consecutive game, the Pirates committed double-digit penalties (10 for 85 yards). Many of those flags were drive-killers.

Southeast was far from flawless itself (three lost fumbles, one interception). The Seminoles' first fumble led to Boca Ciega's first score, a 9-yard run by Cedric Williams.

Then came the Todd Speight show.

Southeast's slippery, 5-foot-7 senior receiver caught four balls for 119 yards and two touchdowns. His first, a 35-yard reception, tied the game at 7 with 1 minute, 50 seconds left in the half.

One minute later, following a Pirates' fumble inside their own 20, Southeast quarterback Chris Hart answered with a 10-yard touchdown scamper.

Southeast tailback Henry Sailes (16 carries, 103 yards) scored on a nifty 19-yard run to open the third quarter to extend the lead to 21-7.

For Boca Ciega, star senior tailback Josh Bellamy (23 carries, 140 yards, TD) "came up big," coach Stevie Thomas said, including an interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

But Speight's 57-yard touchdown with 9:07 left helped Southeast (3-3, 2-1) seal the deal and severely damage the Pirates' playoff hopes.

"I've yet to see real Pirate football," Thomas said. "These guys have heart, though. They'll fight back."

[Last modified October 13, 2006, 01:30:21]