’Dogs pinch ’Crabs, 49-48

BEACON PHOTO/ROGER GILMORE
Slowed for a short time — Junior Pop Saunders (2) returns to the DeLand Bulldog sidelines Friday night following an apparent session with cramps in the game with the Daytona Beach Seabreeze SandCrabs. DHS trainer Troy McCormick said the offensive threat might miss the rest of the game. However, before DHS Head Coach Kevin Pettis knew it, Saunders was back on the field, tallied three late TDs, and made his usual defensive plays.

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posted Sep 24, 2009 - 11:52:57am

By Roger Gilmore

info@beacononlinenews.com

WOW! ! !

The DeLand Bulldogs (3-0) by ground and the Daytona Beach Seabreeze SandCrabs by air were the story Friday night in Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.

And what did you get? A 49-48 Bulldog triumph!

It was a nail-bitter that left the players, coaches, officials and fans breathless, with the outcome in doubt down to the final 30.4 seconds, and maybe later.

Pop Saunders was all over the field on both sides of the ball, scoring three touchdowns, running a 2-pointer, covering opposing receivers, running back kickoffs and punts, making tackles, and selling popcorn in the stands during timeouts (well, maybe not the latter). However, he did account for more than 400 all-purpose yards.

For the SandCrabs, quarterback Matt Thompson battled the DeLand defensive pressure to complete 13 of 24 passes for 256 yards for five touchdowns, and one interception.

(Editor’s note: Chances are anyone who kept the stats for this game won’t have the same ones as anyone else, whether you were sitting in the press box or doing them on the field. Of course, the key figures were the final score, 49-48.)

The game opened with a rash of early penalties that keyed the ’Crabs to a 7-0 lead, with just over two minutes gone. The ’Dogs came back with a march that was cut short at the Seabreeze 28. Saunders intercepted a pass on the next play, and DHS was back in business. The drive was capped with Shontrelle Johnson scoring from the 2, and it was 7-6, with 1:06 remaining in the period, after nearly 40 minutes of playing time.

The two teams exchanged fumbles, with the ’Crabs taking a 14-6 lead early in the second stanza. Later, the ball was exchanged by a fumble and a pass interception.

Finally, following a punt, the ’Dogs took a punt and worked it downfield for a score. One of the key plays was a 16-yard pass from Nick Ciciarelli to S. Johnson, a 12-yard run by the former, with a 6-pointer by S. Johnson from the 5. Ciciarelli ran the 2-pointer for a 14-14 tie, with 52 seconds left in the half.

After the DeLand High Schools Sports Hall of Fame inductions at halftime, things really heated up, with each team scoring three times in the third quarter.

A DeLand fumble opened the door for the ’Crabs, taking a 21-14 lead, and stretched it to 28-14, with 6:53 remaining in the period.

Suddenly, the ’Dogs exploded with a pair of TDs in 55 seconds. The first came when S. Johnson tallied his third TD of the night from the 3, with the PAT blocked. Two plays later, Paris Hayden picked off a Seabreeze aerial, and returned 17 yards for the score. Saunders ran the 2-pointer, and it was 28-28, with 4:48 left in the quarter, but the scoring wasn’t over.

The ’Crabs came back with a 75-yard scoring pass from Thompson, with still 3:43 on the clock before the fourth. With 31 seconds to go, Saunders rambled 63 yards for his first of three game-winning scores, with Hunter Haire’s PAT making it 35-35.

The two teams still had enough left for a pair of TDs each during the final 12 minutes of play. Quickly, the ’Crabs made it 42-35, with 11:26 remaining. Back came the ’Dogs, with Saunders from a yard out, but the PAT failed, and the locals trailed, 42-41, with 7:52 to play.

DeLand took the lead with 4:49 on the clock, when Saunders bolted 34 yards on the first play following a punt return. Ciciarelli ran the 2-pointer for a 49-42 DHS lead.

But back came the ’Crabs inching their way downfield. Finally, they scored with 30.4 seconds to play. Everyone felt they would go for 2, and they did, with only a great defensive effort keeping Thompson from the goal line when all his receivers were covered.

Still it wasn’t over, as everyone was waiting for the onside kick. The ’Crabs were offside on the first try, and were unable to cover the ball on their second attempt.

A special tip of the hat to the veteran offensive line of the ’Dogs who traditionally don’t get enough credit. Although the score wouldn’t indicate it, there were some outstanding defensive plays as well.

If you’re getting The Beacon early enough, remember, the ’Dogs are on the road tonight, Thursday, Sept. 24, to face the Spruce Creek Hawks in the district-opener at the New Smyrna Beach Airport Complex. Next week, DeLand will also be on the road for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Oct. 2 against Seminole High in Sanford.

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