Sanderson football
Spartans can't get on track at Cary
Costly penalties and missed opportunities sum up the Sanderson football team's 32-7 loss at Cary Friday night.
And one late-game play best illustrates the Spartans' misfortunes in the non-conference match-up.
In the final quarter, Cary, punting from midfield, directed a short punt toward the visitor’s sidelines. As members of the Sanderson special teams' unit tried to back away from the football, the ball took a high bounce, hit a Spartans' helmet and was recovered by the Imps.
It might have been the nail in the coffin for Sanderson, but Cary was called for a penalty and forced to punt again.
On the second punt, Sanderson wide receiver Matt James caught the punt near the 20-yard line and zigzagged his way through most of the Cary team on his way to the end zone, leaving the Imps shaking their heads.
But James' return was also called back due to a Sanderson penalty, leaving the Spartans coaching staff and faithful dismayed.
For most of the contest, Cary used squib kicks and directional punts to keep the ball away from James, but he still managed to return two punts for touchdowns. Unfortunately for Sanderson, both plays were called back due to penalties.
James, one of the state's most dynamic players, showed off his skills Friday.
On one play in the third quarter, the senior took a handoff from quarterback Sam Bauckham and ran left behind the line of scrimmage almost to the sidelines, broke a tackle, changed direction and ran all the way back to the right side for a 21-yard gain.
Utilizing his size and speed, James broke tackles and made defenders miss nearly every time he touched the ball. The problem was, most of his big plays were negated by penalties or turnovers.
On the sidelines before the game, Sanderson Athletic Director Bob Catapano said he expected a close, hard-fought contest between the two evenly matched teams. And if not for the penalties and turnovers, the score would not have been so one-sided.
Sanderson head coach Tony Lewis explained he was disappointed his Spartans “shot themselves in the foot,” but praised the squad for its “tremendous effort.” He added, “We’re not going to change anything. We’ll stay the course.”
Playing against a potent Cary running attack — which rushed for more than 200 yards on the ground — the Sanderson defense held its own most of the contest. Kenya Brown anchored the defense, spending much of the night behind the line of scrimmage, tacking ball carriers and putting pressure on the Cary quarterback.
In fact, the Spartans trailed by just three points, 10-7, at intermission.
But like the offense and special teams' units, the Spartans' defense was its own worst enemy. On one series, the Spartans were called for three facemask penalties, leading to an Imps' touchdown.
On Sanderson’s lone scoring drive, the team started with excellent field position at Cary's 35-yard line in the second quarter.
Bauckham gained a few yards on first-down run, then hit James with a pass for seven yards on second. After JR Soto's 5-yard run up the middle, and then an incompletion, Bauckham hit wide receiver Chris Lampkins on a slant route for a 13-yard touchdown reception.
But it was the only time Sanderson reached the end zone Friday.
Looking toward next week's home match-up with Panther Creek, Lewis explained he wants his players to become “super disciplined” and “mentally strong."
Speaking to his gathered squad after the game, Lewis implored his players with a single message.
“Nobody can stop you, but you," he explained.
The Spartans (0-3) and Catamounts (1-2) are scheduled to square off Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m.
