SPRING HILL – For the third time in six days, Springstead had some football to play. On Thursday night, the Eagles had a chance to cruise before they enter postseason play next week.
Hosting winless Weeki Wachee, Springstead built a huge lead early and received contributions from a variety offensive players in a 55-15 victory.
“We came out firing offensively. I thought we ran hard, we blocked well, we executed. There were no live bullets this week, either. It was all walk-throughs,” Springstead head coach Mike Garofano said. “We’re in Week 11, plus a couple weeks that we practiced before that. So, we’re 13 weeks in, so we pretty much know what’s going on by now.
“Defensively, I was hoping for a little more stout effort. But we’ll take it.”
Last Friday, the Eagles (6-2) trounced Pasco to lock up a spot in a three-way tiebreaker Monday for the two playoff spots out of Class 6A, District 6.
First Springstead defeated Sunlake, 7-0, behind a touchdown by Randy Morgan. Then it lost to Mitchell by the same score, having to settle for the runner-up spot and a trip to Ocala-Vanguard for a first-round playoff matchup.
“A two-year (postseason) absence,” Garofano said. “Two years ago, we had a three-way shootout and fell short. This year we had the shootout and we would have liked to win the district title, but we’ll take just getting in the dance and anything can happen.
“I was telling the kids, ‘Everyone is 0-0 in the playoffs.’ Don’t matter, you win you keep going. If you lose, you’re out. Nothing that you did before really matters come next week. So, we’re happy that the season’s extended. We’re ecstatic about it.”
Against the Hornets (0-10), the Eagles wasted little time with their offensive onslaught. On the fourth snap of the opening drive, Demetrius Barry went 37 yards to the end zone.
Weeki Wachee came back with a 21-yard field goal by Luis Guardiola, capping a possession that stalled after reaching the Springstead 1-yard line.
But a 6-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jordan Wright and a 92-yard burst down the middle of the field by Nathan Sims made it 20-3 Eagles by the end of the first quarter.
In the second, Wright tacked on a 1-yard scoring run, then connected with Sims on a 54-yard touchdown pass. Barry scored again on an 8-yard scamper and Morgan got in on the act with a 3-yard touchdown, making it 48-3 at the intermission.
Sims reached the end zone for the third time on a 32-yard rush late in the third quarter. The sophomore carried the ball just four times yet totaled 181 yards.
“We started off good. We came out fired up,” Sims said. “I felt pretty good about the touchdowns. I gave it all I got. I was just happy, excited.
“Blocking (was good). Everybody did their assignments. The quarterback making sure everybody was on track. Just everything. The play calls, coaching. All of it.”
He clearly wasn’t alone, as Springstead compiled 432 yards on the ground. Morgan had eight carries for 103 yards. Wright ran five times for 90 yards and Barry had 58 yards on just six rushes.
“It’s kind of the way our season’s been,” Garofano said. “Everyone contributes. Hopefully everybody’s happy. We want everyone to feel like they have some stock in the win. It’s not just a one-man show. It’s everyone contributing to the cause and I was happy with the performance.”
Senior Montae Bostick rushed 16 times for 106 yards for the Hornets. Another senior, quarterback Alec Cromie, threw two second-half touchdowns in his final prep contest, a 26-yarder to Eli Mendoza in the third and a 70-yard bomb to Shaun Young in the fourth.
“The kids, one thing, they never quit, they never gave up (this season). Obviously, it didn’t go the way we were wanting or the way we expected it to,” Weeki Wachee head coach Mark Lee said. “The kids, they gave it their all. That’s something to build on.
“We’ve got to have a very much-needed strong offseason. We’ve got to be able to get more kids out, we’ve got to get in the weight room, get a lot stronger. We’ve got to learn how to expect to win and not just compete.”
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.