The Seminole Ridge High School varsity football team suffered its first loss last week when the Hawks traveled to Park Vista High School on Thursday, Sept. 12, and narrowly lost 20-17 to the Cobras.
The win was sealed with a field-goal kick by Park Vista in the final seconds of a tied game.
Seminole Ridge rocketed out of the gate in the first minutes of the contest, but the Hawks threw a pass that was intercepted by Park Vista, stopping the momentum.
The Cobras took advantage of the opportunity and ran 88 yards to score. An extra-point kick made the score 7-0 only four minutes into the game.
Park Vista scored again late in the first quarter. The Cobras picked up a return punt from the Hawks and ran 77 yards for a touchdown. An extra-point kick made the score 14-0 going into the second quarter.
The Hawks struck back a few minutes into the quarter. A catch by Pernel Rattray Jr. put Seminole Ridge on the 27-yard line. Then, Mario Anselmo carried the ball to the goal line. With 7:16 left in the half, the Hawks finally got on the board. An extra-point kick by Jacob Curran made the score 14-7.
On their next possession, the Cobras drove the ball down the field over five minutes and put in a field goal to extend their lead 17-7.
With five seconds left in the half, E.J. Elien picked up the ball and ran in a touchdown to cut into the Cobra lead. Curran’s extra-point kick made the score 17-14 going into halftime.
Both teams struggled to put points on the board in the second half.
In the opening drive of the second half, Park Vista pushed through the Hawk defense, but on a third-down attempt, fumbled the ball. Seminole Ridge recovered and took over with 9:27 left in the third quarter.
But the Hawks received a chop-block penalty, which pushed them back 15 yards and caused a turnover.
On the next possession, chop-block and false-start penalties pushed them back, bringing up a second down with 27 yards to go.
Quarterback Zach DeCosta threw a pass to Marcus Singletary that brought up a first down as the third quarter ended. A run by Oreste Ruiz put the Hawks on the goal line, but an offensive holding penalty pushed them back 10 yards.
Though the Hawks attempted to score several times, DeCosta was tackled in the back field, bringing up fourth down with 24 yards to go.
The Hawks brought out Curran, who made a field-goal kick to tie the game at 17 with 7:34 left on the clock. The teams traded possessions for the remainder of the game.
Park Vista found itself in possession of the ball as the minutes turned to seconds, and the Cobras made a 42-yard field goal as the game ended to break the tie and win 20-17.
Seminole Ridge next travels to Palm Beach Central High School on Friday, Sept. 27 for a 7 p.m. game.
ABOVE: Quarterback Zach DeCosta looks to pass the ball.
