Marcus Benjamin @_Benjaminmoney
Miami, FL – The Spartans were on the brink of losing a crucial district game to rival Miami Palmetto Friday night. The Panthers were looking to chew up some clock as they nursed a 16-14 lead late into the fourth quarter.
Then the rain began to fall.
Suddenly the energy shifted to Southridge’s favor on one play. The ball popped loose and junior Naquon Fagan gathered and galloped for 84 yards for the scoop and score.
Naquon Fagan of @RidgeSpartansFB scoops up the loose football and takes it 84 yards for the TD (2-point conversion failed). On Palmetto’s next possession, Emmanuel Belgrave recovers the fumble and scores. Score now 27-16 with under 2 minutes to go. #defense @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/87nGTjoTDy
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) September 29, 2018
“We said when the rain came that it might be a blessing in disguise,” said Coach Sedrick Irvin. “Once we got that scoop and score it was a done deal.”
On the following possession, the ball was jarred loose again and this time junior Emmanuel Belgrave pounced on the football for the Spartans’ second score on back to back defensive possessions.
Now with less than two minutes to go with the score 27-16, Palmetto’s hopes at a victory would rely on the arm of their backup quarterback Vernon Kelson. Kelson was inserted into the game after starting quarterback Cairiq Racksley was knocked out by Belgrave in the second half. Also exiting the game because of injury, was Syracuse commit Cornelius Nunn. The two-way athlete appeared to suffer a head injury on a screen pass and did not return.
Kelson would lead his team to a field goal try but unfortunately for the Palmetto fans at Tropical Park, the kick was blocked and returned for a touchdown by arguably the best recruit in the state of Florida, four star senior Tyrique Stevenson. The return would be called back due to an illegal block, but the Spartans did assume possession and proceeded to victory formation. The highly recruited Stevenson said he has his school choices down to Georgia and Miami with the Bulldogs leading in the two-school race.
Teammate and Miami Hurricanes commit Marcus Fleming started the scoring for the Spartans with a 93-yard touchdown reception where he adjusted in the air for the ball and did the rest with his legs.
.@CanesFootball commit Marcus Fleming makes adjustment in the air for a 93-yard TD reception. Two-point conversion failed. Score 7-6 with 9:11 to play in 2nd. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/nPAZJKHzr2
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) September 29, 2018
UNLV commit Courtney Reese nudged his way for a three yard touchdown to give his team the lead.
Southridge would convert on the two-point conversion when junior quarterback Jaylin Willis found senior fullback Willie Spivey to extend the Spartan lead 14-10.
Freshman Mike Jackson took the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for the touchdown electrifying the crowd of about 2,000. The Panther offense struggled mightily in the second half as Belgrave, senior Diamante Howard, senior Marvin Strong and sophomore Leonard Taylor were constantly in the back field creating havoc.
“They give us a chance every game,” said Coach Irvin. “They are the strength and they are on the majority of special teams as well. We have a lot of work to do on offense though.”
The win brings Southridge to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the district. Southridge gets the number one team in the state in Miami Carol City next week out of district. Spartans get a bye after Carol City and follow up with their final two district games in back to back weeks against Homestead (4-1), (0-1) and South Dade (Homestead) (5-0), (1-0).
“Any time you can get a district win it’s big. We were actually snatched victory from them, we were beat until the last three to four minutes of the game.”
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