Darters dash DeLand Bulldogs

BEACON PHOTO/ROGER GILMORE
Breather! — DeLand Bulldog quarterback/running back Deante Saunders (2) takes a breather on the bench during the Spring Football Classic, as he led the ’Dogs against the Apopka Blue Darters, who posted a 49-21 victory.

By Roger Gilmore
BEACON SPORTS EDITOR

posted Jun 4, 2009 - 10:45:01am

By Roger Gilmore

info@beacononlinenews.com

You don’t get a “W” or a “1” for spring- or fall-exhibition games for football or whatever sport.

Some coaches take these games very seriously, while others have little interest in the outcome; however, the coaches are very interested in the progress their teams make during the brief training periods that are available. They learn what will need special work during the off-season in preparation for the next campaign.

The DeLand Bulldogs hosted the Apopka Blue Darters in Spec Martin Memorial Stadium recently, with the locals holding a 7-6 lead in the first period, before the visitors took over for a 49-21 triumph. Although the ’Dogs were missing several key players because of injuries, the chances are the coaches are already putting their plans in operation to work on the points that need a boost.

The ’Dogs will shortly get their summer-conditioning program working, as they begin taking aim at the 2009 season, which will begin Aug. 27 with the Fall Football Classic at St. Augustine Nease. Several years ago, these teams were to play (when the famed Tim Tebow was a senior there); however, he was away playing baseball, and DHS never faced him.

Against Apopka, the ’Dogs were forced to punt after their initial possession, and the Darters moved downfield for the score with 6:36 left in the first quarter.

DeLand quickly grabbed the lead on the following kickoff, when Deante Saunders gathered in the ball on his 9, and raced it back for the TD. Taylor Church’s PAT gave the locals a 7-6 lead.

Apopka tallied twice in a span of 14 seconds in the second stanza. Donald Scott, who took a 35-yard scoring pass from Keon Brooks for the first TD, scored his second from 38 yards out for a 12-7 lead.

On the following kickoff, Apopka’s Joe Dennis ended up with the ball in a mix-up of players, and bolted 61 yards to make it, 19-7. Back came the ’Dogs, with Saunders taking the kickoff on his 16, and returning it to the Apopka 49, where a 15-yard penalty was tacked on. It took six plays to move the needed 34 yards, with Saunders scoring from 2 yards out and Church converting for a 19-14 Blue Darter lead. Key play on the drive was a 25-yard pass from Earl Martinez to 6-6 Dramon Grady, who went high in the air for his first of three terrific grabs.

The busy quarter found Apopka scoring again, as Scott rambled the final 36 yards for a 26-14 lead. The ’Dogs came close to closing the gap, but came up inches short at the half. The locals used 11 plays from their 26 to inches from the end zone. Grady made another big catch of 23 yards, while Saunders broke loose for 37 yards to the 1, with three second left.

On the opening play of the second half, Sean Capobianco shook loose and dashed 65 yards for the 6-pointer, with Alex Catron converting. Again the ’Dogs came right back, with Eldrick Bright exploding on a 57-yard jaunt to the Apopka 19. Achim Johnson capped the effort by scoring from the 1, with Church making it, 33-21.

Late in the third period, Catron connected with a 26-yard field goal. As the third period ended, the visitors started another drive capped when Scott scored from the 3 with 8:21 to play. Following a DHS punt, Apopka closed out the scoring, as Scott went over from 23 yards out, and Catron finished things.

Saunders was the workhorse for the ’Dogs with 22 carries for 93 yards, plus his kickoff return and his passing yardage. A trio of Apopka backs accounted for more than 100 yards each. DHS picked up 118 yards through the air, with Grady’s three catches good for 76 of those. Apopka had 100 yards passing. The defense of the ’Dogs featured gang tackling, as they pursued the ball carriers en masse.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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