CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – A Friday night game between Coral Springs Charter and Coral Glades had little impact on the playoff picture in the Gold Coast Conference. But the Jaguars and Panthers were not fighting for playoff position – they were fighting for city pride. What began as a conference game between two lower end teams turned into an instant classic as Charter hung on for a narrow 24-22 victory.
With consecutive road games canceled due to inclement weather and Hurricane Matthew, Coral Glades had not hit the field since September 23 – an overtime loss to rival J.P. Taravella. However, they showed no signs of rust on the first play of the game. Quarterback Cameron Brooks pitched the snap to Donovan Samuels Jr. on an end-around route, but instead of taking off, the former quarterback delivered a 25-yard pass to Anthony Spoto on a comeback route. Later in the drive, in Panther territory, Brooks was intercepted by Tristan St. Fleur to eliminate the threat.
The rest of the first half was characterized by smash mouth football by both sides, with opposing running backs Dion Gonzalez-Laporte and Michael Carrion seeing much of the workload.
With just 17 seconds remaining in the first half, Charter broke the drought when quarterback Jordan Sepulveda connected with Shakur Williams in the end zone to take a 7-0 lead into halftime.
The Panthers picked up where they left off in the first half, taking the kickoff to the house. However, the play was called back due to a block in the back down the field. On the first play from scrimmage in the half, Carrion broke off a 61-yard run to set up the Panthers in the red zone. Sepulveda connected with Reynald Fleurival in the flat on a 5-yard out and the sophomore receiver found the end zone to extend the lead to 14 points in the third quarter.
The Jaguars found their footing on the following drive. Brooks found playmaker Samuel Oshodi in the slot who eluded two defenders on a 25-yard pickup, sparking the Coral Glades offense. Brooks went right back to Oshodi who again picked up a first down, and some, and continued to abuse defensive backs.
A quarterback keeper for a first down and a personal foul, one of many, against the Panthers defense, set the Jaguars up in the red zone and Jeffrey Clinton pounded it up the middle for his second rushing touchdown of the season, putting Coral Glades on the board with six. The point after attempt was blocked.
On the Panthers’ next drive the Jaguars defense could not make a much-needed stop. On a crucial third and long play, Sepulveda found Carrion on a screen pass to pick up a first down near midfield. After forcing another third and long situation, a personal foul against Coral Glades advanced the ball another 15 yards to go with an automatic first down. The Panthers topped off their drive when Shakur Williams caught a tipped pass and once again dove into the end zone to put Charter up 21-6 with the fourth quarter looming.
In the fourth quarter, the flags really started flying. Unsportsmanlike conduct, encroachment, and personal fouls began piling up.
Coral Glades looked to keep rolling on their next drive but it was cut short when Gonzalez-Laporte coughed up the ball on the five-yard line on a rushing attempt. Charter took over, pinned deep in their own territory. Jaguars’ defensive end Juan Rivera got to Sepulveda who fumbled on the hit and recovered the ball in the end zone for a safety, cutting the lead to 13 points.
On the ensuing drive, the Jaguars missed a huge opportunity to score when a seam route to Oshodi just missed on what would have been a touchdown. Oshodi limped to the sideline with severe cramps as the Jaguars punted the ball back to Charter.
The Jaguars defense once again got to the quarterback, this time recovering the fumble in Charter territory. Brooks aired out a pass to Anthony Spoto who hauled the ball in with one hand stumbling to the 2-yard line. Clinton punched the touchdown, in on the following play (his second of the night) to make it a one-possession game, 21-15.
After an injury to Charter’s Shakur Williams on the kickoff, Carrion went out with an injury when Clinton brought the boom on a rushing attempt that sent Carrion’s helmet flying and left him laying on the field before being assisted to the sideline.
Without their primary workhorse, Charter was forced to punt, unable to move the ball without Carrion.
Coral Glades took over with just over three minutes on the clock down six points. From the 35-yard line Brooks floated a pass to Spoto who would not be stopped, running into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season.
Tied up at 21 the Coral Glades sideline held their breath as Noah Barrata set up his extra point attempt. Just weeks earlier the Jaguars had a chance to bury Taravella, but a botched snap sent the game to overtime, an eventual loss.
The snap was perfect and the kick flew through the uprights, giving Coral Glades a 22-21 lead with just two minutes to go. After several attempts to go deep, Sepulveda found his man on the 20-yard line. The Panthers marched down to the 4-yard line and with under 10 seconds on the clock set up to kick the game-winning field goal. Three timeouts and two encroachment penalties later, Ryan Schemtob’s kick sailed through the uprights to seal the victory, 24-22.
The Jaguars were unable to pull off a miracle on the kick return and continued their four-game skid.
After the game, the teams exchanged words at midfield and security was required to separate the teams after a very scrappy game.
The Coral Springs Charter coaching staff was unavailable for a comment after the game due to the confrontation. The Panthers left the field without shaking hands at midfield after the situation was under control.
