Story
No. 10 Seminole Ridge 31, No. 4 Palm Beach Gardens 21: Silas Spearman's big plays lift Hawks
Friday, October 19, 2012
by
Jeff Greer
Seminole Ridge's Silas Spearman races past Palm Beach Gardens' defense for a long gain during the Hawks' 31-21 victory Friday night. (Allen Eyestone/The Palm Beach Post)
Seminole Ridge spent the first official week of the 2012 high school football season flooded. There was no school and no football.
That slow start paralyzed a Ridge team with state playoff aspirations, setting the Hawks a week behind many of their counterparts in Palm Beach County. They lost their first two games, and took another three weeks or so to look like the team everyone thought they'd be.
Irony wore no disguise Friday night as Seminole Ridge bullied its way a rain-drenched, lightning-delayed 31-21 win over bitter District 9-8A rival Palm Beach Gardens. The victory, a dramatic development in the statewide landscape in Class 8A, erased almost all the bad feelings that came from the slow start.
"The first half, we made no mistakes," Seminole Ridge coach Matt Dickmann said. "I'm proud of the way we've come back as a team, but we're still not there."
In the game's opening 24 minutes, 10th-ranked Ridge (4-2) ran out to a 17-6 lead, thanks to senior running back Silas Spearman's breakaway speed. The shifty back broke his fourth carry of the game 34 yards for a touchdown after bouncing off several would-be tacklers.
His 60-yard run down the right side of the field set up Elie Turene's 3-yard scoring run. But it was his kick-returning ability that made the most difference.
At the start of the third quarter, Spearman weaved his way 98 yards for a score on the opening kickoff. That touchdown made it 24-6, and it ended up being the game-winner.
After Ridge fullback E.J. Elien scored on a 49-yard run to expand Ridge's lead to 31-6, fourth-ranked Gardens (5-2) staged a furious comeback.
Gardens quarterback J.P. Caruso hit senior receiver Frank Brown, a blazing-fast Division I prospect, on a short hitch pass to the right flank. Brown took a step forward, shimmied and lost every Ridge defender on the field, running 65 yards for a touchdown.
After recovering a fumble off the ensuing squib kickoff, Caruso eventually pushed his way in for a 1-yard score, cutting Ridge's lead to 31-21.
From that point on, Ridge sweat out the win.
"They just manhandled us up front (early in the game)," Gardens coach Rob Freeman said. "It just got a little bit out of hand there."
Spearman (115 yards) combined with Elien (123) and Turene (71) to produce a potent rushing attack for Ridge, which now owns the inside track to the district title. Isaac Esson had two interceptions, one that gave Ridge momentum early and another that all but sealed the win for the Hawks, who held the area's leading big-schools rusher, Jermaine Carn, to 82 yards, a quiet night by his standards.
"We told the team before, 'If you ever decide you want to play Hawk football for four quarters, good things can happen,' " Dickmann said. "We'll take the victory, but there's still a long way toward improvement to go."
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User Comments:
what ever commented on October 19, 2012 at 11:04 p.m.: report abuse
Did you see how dominant that offensive line was tonight. I told you Ridge was to big for PBG to handle.
O-LINE BABY!!! commented on October 19, 2012 at 11:13 p.m.: report abuse
It's how ya finish, 8a is up for grabs all the way to State final.
HAWK commented on October 19, 2012 at 11:35 p.m.: report abuse
lets go ridge !
Fermin commented on October 19, 2012 at 11:51 p.m.: report abuse
Good Job Hawks... and special thanks to Tim Burke- Palm Beach Post
hawk fan commented on October 20, 2012 at 12:01 a.m.: report abuse
lets go hawks
what ever commented on October 20, 2012 at 12:23 a.m.: report abuse
I don't understand why Dickmann, always talk about his running backs and never mentions his offensive line. Without them they can't run the ball the way they do??
Julie Lucas commented on October 20, 2012 at 9:10 a.m.: report abuse
Great job HAWKS !!!!!
Running game good, offensive line-- yes with out them running is nothing, how about that defense too.
Also what a kicking game HAWKS have -- 3 deep Kick offs, a punt inside the 5yd line, a 35 yd FG, perfect 4 for 4 point afters.
Its an all around job, NOT JUST THE GLORY RUNNERS !!!!!!!
O Line commented on October 20, 2012 at 10:20 a.m.: report abuse
Good job o line opening up running pains for your backs.ridge's center is a beast out their keep up the hard work boys.still might need a passing game mixed in with the run to go deep in the playoffs to win states
what ever commented on October 20, 2012 at 11:24 a.m.: report abuse
Great win Hawks!!!!!!!!!!!! Now lets get ready to dominate the rest of the year. Get focus and make a run for the state title. It's a Team effort.
lakes will be back commented on October 20, 2012 at 1:34 p.m.: report abuse
Even when we loaded the box with 9 and 10 men. #53 and #76 were punshing our two tackles 4 and 5 yrds in our back field. No one has done that to #98 and #95. You have a good running game. Your still gonna have to pass it to win big.
Ben D over commented on October 21, 2012 at 9:56 a.m.: report abuse
O line ,are there any scholarship offers ? Let me guess the standard dickman routine .
true^ commented on October 21, 2012 at 1:40 p.m.: report abuse
How come ridge's offense isnt getting any offers ?
tracey commented on October 21, 2012 at 2:04 p.m.: report abuse
They have to have the best oline in palm beach county:
Lt: roman fernandez
Lg: antonio woods
C: troy artiles
Rg: matt dougherty
Rt: ben herron
The only negative is that they are all seniors. The for sure are the best oline the ridge has fielded. Run it all the way to a state title. Go Ridge...
Not impressed commented on October 21, 2012 at 4:51 p.m.: report abuse
PBG got exposed for who they are a bunch of soft batch cookies that can't stop the run. Your toughest game will be your last of the season. You heard it here first. Good luck until then.
Hawkman commented on October 21, 2012 at 6:11 p.m.: report abuse
No way man. Palm Beach Gardens is a good team. We were fortunate to beat them. We will see RPB...
@Tracey commented on October 21, 2012 at 7:05 p.m.: report abuse
These boy's are a talented bunch, real strong and athletic, but, it's not the best the Hawk's ever fielded. That honor belongs to the 09 line, 3 state weightlifting champs. This group gonna have to help take Ridge DEEP into the playoffs to beat 09.
Weberta commented on October 21, 2012 at 8:20 p.m.: report abuse
Hawk fan. Good job!!!
@theabovegenius^^^ commented on October 22, 2012 at 9:38 a.m.: report abuse
Gee, you think strength plays a huge part in o-line play at all levels of the game, ESPECIALLY at the HS level. The "size" factor, and "up side and potential" mean little to a great HS O-line. Yes, the biggest get offers, but not the best yet, if ever.
@Post Staff commented on October 22, 2012 at 10:04 a.m.: report abuse
How is it that people can directly and indirectly accuse minors of illegal drug use, but sooo many lessor indiscretions are removed.
Your arbitrary removal is heedless and subjective.
Either leave all but the worst, or remove any negative post.
Oline commented on October 23, 2012 at 6:15 a.m.: report abuse
Center Troy Artiles is only a junior,Should get alot of offers next year.Let's help out your players Dickmann get big time D1 Offers.
Ben d over commented on October 23, 2012 at 9:26 a.m.: report abuse
@post staff,sorry it's not the players,it's the coaches that should protect the kids.RE. weight lifting titles,O LINE
Please commented on October 23, 2012 at 9:29 a.m.: report abuse
First you act like it is Dickmann is the one that is stopping big time offers!! That maybe the dumbest comment ever on the post blog. I don't care what the player plays like! It a player is not a certain size. Ie height and weight they will never be a recruited by a D1 program. 6 3 min for interior linemen and 6 5 min for tackles. If you don't have those I don't care how great a high school linemen you are you WILL not get a D1 offer as a linemen.
harold commented on October 23, 2012 at 12:44 p.m.: report abuse
Joe Thomas LT - Cleveland Browns. 6'3", Dwight Stevephenson Center 6'1".
austin commented on November 11, 2012 at 12:37 p.m.: report abuse
fuk u gardens
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