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Spongers Prevail After Game Winning Kick

46-Yard Boot Finishes Comback

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: October 13, 2007

Dunedin, FL - Dunedin, FL - It is every kicker's glorious dream or most dreadful nightmare.

The team's down two, it's late in the game and fourth down looms.

This exact stage was set for Tarpon Springs' Josh Sharpie Friday night in Dunedin, staring down the hashes at a 46-yard attempt with his team down 21-19.

To the Falcons' dismay, Sharpie was not phased. In fact, he nailed it.

Dunedin's once solid 15-point third quarter advantage had evaporated for good.

It proved to be the game winning field goal as Tarpon managed to fend off Dunedin's final surge, ending it on the last of Falcon quarterback A'Darrius Anderson's three interceptions.

Tarpon Springs 22, Dunedin 21.

"Yeah, that was the biggest field goal I've ever had, by far," an all-smiles Sharpie said after the victory. "It (the pressure) wasn't that bad. I felt pretty confident in my leg."

He also was good from 32 and 28 yards out, going 3-for-3 on the night.

In such a nerve-wracking situation, Sharpie was able to take solace in the confidence his coach had in him as well.

Head coach George Kotis said he had no apprehension at all in sending his young kicker onto the field for the attempt.

"I know he can thump it," Kotis said. "It's just him out there, he's just clearing his mind. He's not used to this stage, but he learned a lot tonight."

"Once you can experience that, you can do it over and over."

The game was a roller coaster experience overall for the Spongers from the get-go.

Kotis caught Dunedin off guard immediately with a successful onsides kick to open the game.

But the mood quickly soured just three plays later when quarterback Danny Reyes fumbled and Dunedin safety Eric Kreuter recovered, taking it 60-plus yards for a 7-0 Falcon lead.

It appeared to be the beginning of what might be a long night for Reyes, who proceeded to throw the first of his two interceptions on the very next Tarpon possession.

On an evening where both defenses were flexing their muscles and stymieing any thoughts of a ground attack, Kotis stuck with his junior signal caller until the end.

Despite the two picks and lost fumble, Reyes managed to piece together an 18-for-34 passing night with 288 yards and one score.

"He's a leader and doesn't get down when he throws picks," Kotis said of Reyes. "It's a valuable learning tool. He's only a junior and we're going to ride him as far as we can."

Reyes' lone touchdown toss came at the end of the third quarter when he made a 25-yard connection over the middle with one of the stars of the game, receiver Josiah Fisk.

That first Sponger touchdown of the night cut the Dunedin lead to 21-13 and may have been the comeback catalyst Tarpon was seeking.

The Spongers rolled down the field on their very next series.

After hitting tight end Brian Bowie for a 20-yard reception that converted a fourth down attempt, Reyes handed off to junior running back Marcus Nemeth and watched him bolt 25 yards straight to the house.

Tarpon failed on their 2-point conversion try for the tie, leaving the score 21-19 in favor of Dunedin.

On the ensuring Dunedin possession, the Falcons' faced a third-and-long situation at their own 35. With pressure all around, Anderson rushed a throw off his back foot.

Enter Josiah Fisk. Again.

He stepped in front of the errant pass for an enormous interception in Falcon territory that eventually set up Sharpie's game winner.

"It was a pretty big game," said Fisk, who ended the evening with seven receptions for 127 yards, a touchdown, and the interception. "I came out and just let the game come to me like coach told me to do. I didn't try to do anything and just played."

Along with the Fisk and Sharpie performances and Reyes' resiliency, the Sponger overall defense shined bright.

Facing one of Pinellas' best running backs in Dunedin's Adaris Bellamy, Tarpon held the speedster to 70 yards on 19 carries, with a long of only 16.

Tarpon out-gained the Falcons 390-214 in overall offense for the game.

"It's a big win for the program," Kotis said. "We've been fighting and struggling the last couple weeks."

"This puts us in the right frame of mind for our district game this Thursday."

Tarpon Springs will play host to Pasco County powerhouse Ridgewood for a Thursday night affair next week.

Dunedin will go on the road to battle the resurgent East Lake Eagles.

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