Sept. 7, 2009

Spring Garden pounds Panthers, 33-14

By Roy Mitchell

PANTHER STADIUM — Spring Garden has celebrated only three winning seasons since its inaugural campaign in 1969. But in the words of singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, “The times they are a-changin'.”
Last year, the Panthers rumbled to a 9-3 record that included the school's first-ever playoff win. Despite losing last week, Spring Garden continued the school's football reversal with a resounding 33-14 region victory over Collinsville Friday night.

Spring Garden first had to withstand an opening drive scoring threat; on the second play from scrimmage it took a touchdown-saving tackle to keep Collinsville out of the end zone.

Coach Jason Howard said his team's fortunes took a turn for the better then and there.
“The big play to me was when Jake Scott came from the opposite side of the field and saved the touchdown,” Howard said after the game. “That was the one play that was huge.”

Spring Garden held Collinsville out of the end zone for four downs, then opened the floodgates two drives later amidst the aroma of steaks and hamburgers simmering on grills near the goal line.

After lulling Collinsville to sleep with the ground game, quarterback Reece Johnson surprised Collinsville's secondary with quick sideline pass to Scott for a 66-yard TD.

The play capped a four-play, 77-yard drive and epitomized Collinsville coach Alan Beckett's frustrations.

“I think our front seven is doing a good job,” he said. “Secondary-wise, we have to get people in the right place.”

Spring Garden only attempted 10 passes, but averaged 24 yards a catch on seven completions.

On Spring Garden's next possession Scott (113 rushing yards) provided a pivotal first down to the Collinsville 2-yard line with a 31-yard catch. Two plays later, all-time leading rusher, senior Trey Littlefield, who rushed for 99 yards, scored his first of two touchdowns, much to the delight of a dozen or more fans wearing Littlefield's name and number on their shirts. Scott tacked on his second PAT of the night to build the lead to 14-0.
Littlefield scored his second TD on Spring Garden's next possession, from 55 yards out. After a botched PAT attempt, the score was 20-0.

Sophomore quarterback Tray Reed brought Collinsville right back, completing a 90-yard drive with a 36-yard pass to senior wideout Dustin Johnson. The score was 20-6 after a missed PAT.
Spring Garden added a 37-yard field goal on their next possession to raise the score to 23-6. During the drive, Johnson left the game with a knee injury and was replaced by Tyler Smart.

Collinsville fumbled the ball away on their next two possessions; both resulted in Spring Garden scores. Scott added another 36-yard field goal and Smart scrambled in from 15 yards to complete the scoring for the home-standing Panthers.

“Something we battle is imploding,” Beckett said. “We should be going forward, rather than going backwards. We're going to find an answer.”

Collinsville (0-2) pieced together a five-play drive and two-point conversion late in the game. Dustin Johnson caught the 23-yard TD and 2-point conversion passes from Reed.