The Seminole Ridge High School varsity football team saw its state championship dreams dashed Friday, Nov. 30 when the Hawks fell 31-14 to Cypress Bay High School at Callery-Judge Grove Stadium.
Though the Hawks dominated the first half of the game, the Lightning came together in the second half to score four touchdowns, effectively stopping the Hawks cold and taking the Class 8A regional championship.
The Hawks jumped out to an early lead when, midway through the first quarter, a long pass from Zach DeCosta found Silas Spearman, who ran into the end zone. An extra-point kick made the score 7-0 with six minutes left in the quarter.
Spearman kept up the momentum on the Hawks’ next possession, running 10 yards for a touchdown. An extra-point kick made the score 14-0 with several minutes left in the first quarter. But it was the last points Seminole Ridge would put on the board for the remainder of the game.
The Hawks held the Lightning to only 3 points in the first half, a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter. Though Cypress Bay neared the end zone late in the second quarter, a pass interception by Hawk safety Jalen Young shut down the play before the Lightning could put in a touchdown.
Going into halftime, Seminole Ridge was leading 14-3. But the momentum changed in the second half, and the Lightning were able to slip past the Hawks’ defensive line to score four touchdowns.
Though Seminole Ridge nearly stopped Cypress Bay several times, penalties and dropped balls hurt the team, causing the Hawks to lose yardage and miss opportunities.
But the Lightning pushed hard throughout the second half, effectively shutting out Seminole Ridge to finish the game 31-14.
Above: Â SRHS quarterback Zach DeCosta hands off the ball to Silas Spearman.
