Jeff Odom – Big County Preps
LUTZ – Playing for their district and postseason lives, Steinbrenner gave it all they could against Tampa Bay Tech (4-3, 3-0), but fell just short 35-25.
In the first quarter, Steinbrenner (4-3, 1-2) kept the defense guessing as the rushing attack worked to perfection. After junior running back Kendall Pearcey found a hole up the middle and ran for about 30 yards, the Warriors were in business. But the turnover bug would bite senior Brian Gainer as the fumble was picked up by Tampa Bay Tech junior Clifton Dilworth. Dilworth would outrun the Warriors offense en route to an 80 yard return for a touchdown, giving the Titans the early lead 7-0.
The Warriors would keep the pressure up though on their next drive as sophomore Shaheem Barthel gained 30 yards on an outside handoff, setting up another scoring opportunity. But again, the ball would be put on the ground giving the Titans the ball back.
Tampa Bay Tech’s offense would begin to stall out early, as only two plays into their drive sophomore Deon Thompson would fumble the ball which was recovered by the Warriors.
On their next drive, the Warriors would finally complete a long drive. After Barthel and Pearcey continued moving the ball with long runs, Pearcey took it outside and found the pylon which tied the game at seven.
In the second quarter, the Titans offense continued to fold after a bad snap forced senior quarterback Aaron Midthus backwards and forcing a punt. On the Warriors’ first play of the next possession, Barthel found a hole and went untouched for a 58 yard touchdown giving Steinbrenner a 13-7 lead after a missed extra point.
The Titans would answer back though, as senior running back Claude Lacount carried the offense on his shoulders with a constant dose of running. Midthus would cap off the drive from two yards out by using the quarterback sneak to get Tech another touchdown and a one point lead.
With time winding down in the first half, the Warriors had to act quickly to get the ball downfield. Starting at their own 30 yard line, Pearcey found a huge gap and took advantage. Untouched until the very end, Pearcey rocketed down field for a 70 yard run falling just short of the end zone by a yard. After three missed chances, senior AJ Brown took it in for the score on 4th and goal. But the Warriors couldn’t complete the 2-point conversion attempt and took a 19-14 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Tampa Bay Tech made key adjustments on defense which stalled the Warriors running game for the rest of the night.
After the teams traded three and outs, Tech’s Midthus showed off his arm in a 37 yard touchdown pass to Lacount giving the Titans a 21-19 lead, one they would not give back.
In the fourth quarter, the Warriors defense was tiring. After senior Lamarq Caldwell took set up a scoring opportunity for the Titans, Midthus called his own number again, extending the Tech lead to two touchdowns.
The lone bright moment in the second half for Steinbrenner was on the ensuing kick-off after the Tech touchdown. Pearcey received the ball at the 15 yard line and eluded multiple defenders on his way to an 85 yard kick return for a touchdown, getting the Warriors within three points.
But Tech proved too much on their next drive, as the momentum remained on their side when the Warriors were flagged for a late hit out of bounds on third and long giving the Titans another scoring opportunity. They would capitalize as Caldwell found a lane for his first touchdown of the night, giving the Titans a 35-25 lead and the win.
After the game, Barthel was at a loss for words to describe the loss which ended Steinbrenner’s playoff chances. “We tried our best to do what we could,” said Barthel. “As you can see, we came up a little bit short.”
Next week, Tech will travel to Freedom (1-7) for a district tune-up before the Class 7A District 7 decider against Gaither. Steinbrenner will travel to Wiregrass Ranch (0-7). Barthel says the team will give it all they have in the final three weeks of the season. “We’re going to play every game like it’s our last, so we’ll see what happens.”