Eagles Wrangled by Cowboys in Season Finale

On a special, hurricane-delayed Thursday night edition of high school football, the Springstead Eagles (8-2) hosted the Gaither Cowboys (6-4) for their regular season finale. The Cowboys came into Booster Stadium and wrangled the home team 34-19.

Head Coach Mike Garofano and the Eagles would respond throughout the night to keep the game within reach, but big plays and the Cowboys’ overwhelming talent won out in the end.

“When you play good teams, the margin for error is very slim,” Coach Garofano said. “Can’t turn the ball over, can’t give up the big play like we did tonight. So, we didn’t play our best game. A lot of it is what Gaither does. They got a division one defensive line, and they got a division one quarterback, skill guys. There was division one talent all over the field. So, against teams like that, you got to keep everything inside and in front and make them earn their way down the field.”

The first half started out as a defensive grudge match with both squads going three-and-out on their first pair of drives before the Red, White, and Blue picked up a little steam. They would manage a couple of first downs thanks to QB Gio Martinez’s legs but would be forced to punt it away soon after.

Springstead’s defense would hold the visitors to yet another three-and-out before disaster struck. On the first play of the second quarter, Martinez’s pass was tipped and then picked by Senior CB Serious Stinyard in Eagles territory.

After setting up shop at Springstead’s 39 yard line, a quick six play drive ensued thanks in large part to a 22-yard scramble on third down by Senior QB Ej Archield Jr. (318 passing yards, 24 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns). The Cowboys would punch it in on the next play from two yards out take the early lead.

The Eagles knew they needed a response and mustered up a lengthy 4-plus minute drive aided by a pair of Gaither personal foul penalties. Unfortunately for the home team, the drive would stall in the red zone and Raul Maldonado’s field goal attempt sailed wide of the uprights.

Later in the frame, Gaither would put together another quick four-play scoring drive. On 3^rd and 12, Archield’s deep pass down the middle of the field was hauled in by Senior WR Daivon Kindred who sprinted to the endzone for the 51-yard score with a minute left. They would miss the extra point, though, which would cause some intrigue later.

With only a minute left to respond, Senior RB Connor Mccazzio weaved down the left sideline for a big 20-yard run. Then, a would-be fumble turned first down when Gaither was called for roughing the passer. This gave Springstead an untimed down before half, and Maldonado’s second attempt was successful.

Then, coming out of half, disaster struck again for the home team. On the first play following the intermission, Archield launched another deep ball down the right sideline to a wide-open receiver for a 65-yard touchdown and the 20-3 lead.

“First play of the second half, I mean, boom,” said Coach Garofano. “Take the air out of the sail right there […] Defensively, we got to eliminate giving up the big plays. It was very uncharacteristic of us. We gave up two or three big plays, and that was the difference in the game really. It was back and forth. Our offense – we finally started making our adjustments and getting our groove. Really, they were getting tired.”

Then, Springstead began to respond. Later in the quarter, the home team put together a quick three-play drive capped off by a 63-yard touchdown pass to Senior WR Chadiell Echevarria. A pitch to Mccazzio on the two-point conversion cut the deficit to nine.

Gaither would ice the game on the very next drive, though, on a quick six-play possession. A well-placed low pass over the middle to WR Bryan Hamilton from nine yards out resulted in the game’s final points. Up 15, their suffocating defense clamped down yet again to salt the contest away. As Coach Garofano put it, they have “division one talent on the d-line” and that showed throughout the night.

Especially considering his squad is not heavily comprised of transfers like Wiregrass Ranch and Gaither, it can be challenging to compete year in and year out. “We’re not recruiting people,” said Coach Garofano. “We get who we get. We’re going to play it. We’re going to coach them hard and do the best we can.”

Add in a handful of big plays, and that ultimately did the home team in on Thursday. The Eagles’ coach felt his team had a good season with their only two losses coming in competitive matchups against two tough, talented programs. Moving forward, the Eagles will advance to postseason play and will travel as they begin the district tournament.