Sanderson football
Sanderson running back JR Soto fights through a tackle during the Spartans' Sept. 11 game against Panther Creek. The Catamounts took advantage of seven Spartan turnovers to win 37-7.
Turnover-proven Spartans
fall to Panther Creek
As crushing as Josh Tann's second-quarter, 65-yard INT return for a touchdown was in Panther Creek's 37-7 victory over Sanderson Friday, Spartan head coach Tony Lewis reasoned it wasn't the game's knockout punch.
"It was a 14-point swing," he shrugged. "And it hurt. But to be honest with you, once we got to halftime, I thought we could recover from that."
Trailing 21-7 at the break, Sanderson needed a productive third-quarter drive to claw back into contention.
But unfortunately for the Spartans, instead of finding momentum, they committed a string of self-inflicted miscues. In fact, Sanderson turned the ball over on all six of its second-half possessions, going fumble, safety, fumble, INT, INT and fumble.
The turnovers stifled any chance of a comeback.
To start the third quarter, the Spartans appeared headed in the right direction as QB Sam Bauckham connected with Matt James on a 28-yard gain.
But three plays later, Sanderson coughed up the ball.
On Panther Creek's next possession, QB Kameron Bryant, after scrambling to keep the third-down play alive, connected with Jay Townsend on a 42-yard TD reception. The Catamounts pulled ahead 28-7.
After miscommunication on the ensuing kickoff left Sanderson at its own 2-yard line, the Catamounts busted into the Spartans' backfield, recording a safety.
Less than four minutes into the final half, Panther Creek deflated any hopes of a Sanderson comeback with two turnovers and a touchdown.
While the Spartans struggled to control the ball on offense, the squad's defense played inspired ball throughout the contest. Following the safety, the Spartans forced three consecutive turnovers-on-downs, and twice the Panther Creek possessions ended on sacks — one by senior Wilson Williams, and another a joint effort by Brandon McClain and Devonte' Watkins.
The Catamounts tacked on a late touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but the game had already been decided.
Lewis lauded his defensive unit's pride and passion, never backing down despite the Spartans' deficit.
"Our defense had some tremendous stops tonight, but the sad thing is, the score doesn't reflect it," he said. "With all the turnovers we had, we put them on the field too long."
While Sanderson struggled mightily to maintain possession in the second half, the Spartans' first half looked decidedly better. On several drives, Lewis' squad showed an ability to move the ball, starting with the Spartans' opening play, a 27-yard QB scamper by Bauckham. But the possession ended on a failed fourth-down run inside the Panther Creek 35-yard line.
After trading possessions twice, the Catamounts' third drive reached the end zone as Bryant hit Townsend on a short route, and the receiver raced 66 yards for a touchdown.
With the pass play, and following PAT, Panther Creek garnered a 7-0 lead, with 5:27 left in the first quarter.
But the Spartans answered right back, with help from a short Panther Creek kickoff. (The Catamounts seemingly kicked away from James every opportunity they had, choosing to give up field possession instead of chancing a big return by the Wake Forest commit.)
The Spartans needed just six plays to reach the end zone as Bauckham connected with Chris Lampkins in the corner of the end zone from 25 yards out. The junior receiver did a masterful job of sliding to maintain possession and get his feet in.
"That was a great catch," Lewis explained. "I think Chris had a great week of practice, and he got himself refocused.
"He has a lot of potential, and we have to continue to get him the ball."
The squads traded punts, but the Catamounts later compiled a nine-play, 70-yard drive, capped by Bryant's 8-yard TD pass to Graham Love.
It appeared the Spartans might responded right back — as they did in the first quarter — driving down to the Panther Creek 28-yard line. But on the next snap Catamounts' linebacker Elie Mayaka came untouched, drilling Bauckham as he released the ball, and Tann made the interception. He then barreled the other way for the touchdown, taking the Spartans' momentum with him.
While there was more than enough time to overcome the turnover, the interception return clearly deflated the Spartans.
QB Sam Bauckham (9) threw for nearly 200 yards in Friday's loss to Panther Creek.
Bauckham — when given time — made several accurate throws Friday, finishing 15 for 33 for 199 yards.
James was Bauckham's main target against the Catamounts, hauling in nine passes for 131 yards. Lampkins recorded two catches for 26 yards, and Kevin Ott added two catches for 15 yards.
J.R. Taylor led Sanderson in rushing, gaining 27 yards on three carries.
Following the game, which dropped Sanderson to 0-4 heading into Friday's home contest against New Bern, Lewis explained the Spartans' biggest obstacle isn't talent — they have plenty — it's their mental approach.
"They just need to get confidence in themselves," he said of his squad. "It's just a matter of being confident and doing what they do well.
"We just have to continue to believe in ourselves, believe in our system and believe good things are going to happen."
The first-year head coach hammered that message into his troops during an impassioned talk following the game.
"This is not your season. This is a battle of the war. The main war hasn't even started yet," Lewis said, alluding to the conference play, which begins Sept. 25 at Wakefield. "You still have every possible goal in front of you."
