Crystal River 18, Nature Coast 15

By DEREK J. LaRIVIERE, Times Correspondent
Published September 22, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - Nature Coast's district-opener as defending champions was supposed to be a cakewalk. Someone forgot to inform Crystal River.

Playing at home, the Sharks lost an 18-15 dogfight with Crystal River (2-2) thanks to a last-second field goal by Austin Atkins.

With the score tied at 15, Atkins entered the game with :07 seconds left for the desperation 42-yard attempt. Most considered overtime inevitable, but Nature Coast coach Jamie Joyner wasn't one of them.

"He had hooked an earlier try from 43 yards, but the leg was there," Joyner said. "I knew it had a chance."

Nature Coast (2-1) entered play undefeated and coming off a bye week. While their option-style offense was explosive at times with two 58-yard touchdown runs from quarterback Stephen Palaez, turnovers and penalties made the team look like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Palaez finished with 179 yards on the ground, and tailback Tevin Drake had 19 carries for 101 yards, adding a two-point conversion on the quarterback's second score. In the end, Palaez's five turnovers (two interceptions, three fumbles lost) were too much to overcome.

"We shot ourselves in the foot tonight," Joyner said. "With all due credit to Crystal River, we really beat ourselves in this one."

On the other side, second-year coach Anthony Paradiso has his Pirates at a .500 winning percentage this late in the season for the first time since 2003. Quarterback Shay Newcomer was a field general in every sense, passing for 178 yards and rushing for 56 yards and a touchdown.

[Last modified September 21, 2007, 23:44:00]