Rosewood pounds Spring Creek

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 23, 2007 3:07 PM

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One play might not have determined the overall outcome, but it certainly created a change in momentum for Rosewood's football team Monday evening.

Backed up in the shadow of their own end zone, the Eagles faced a fourth-and-4 situation. They lined up in punt formation and prepared to snap the ball. But before the kick knifed through the still air, whistles blew and a flag floated onto the field from the sideline.

Offsides -- Spring Creek.

Grateful of the Gators' critical mistake, Rosewood cashed in nearly 31/2 minutes later. Quarterback Sean Cornman threw a 13-yard scoring strike to Taylor Allen, which fueled a 30-6, homecoming victory at Branch Pope Field.

"Whether or not it would have had made a difference in the ballgame, it certainly changed everything from that point on," said Spring Creek coach Roy Whitfield of the pivotal fourth-down penalty.

Rosewood (3-6 overall) snapped a two-game skid in Class 1-A Carolina Conference play this season and moved within one win of becoming playoff eligible. The Gators (0-9 overall, 0-3 Carolina) are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time in the program's seven-year history.

Spring Creek took the opening kickoff and quickly moved 61 yards in five plays. Alex Dunmire capped the three-minute possession with a 44-yard touchdown run and finished with a game-high 143 yards on 24 totes.

"They came out and showed us something different we hadn't seen on film offensively," said RHS coach Robert Britt. "They were playing real hard and doing the things they needed to give their team good field position. That one mistake (offsides) helped us."

Trailing 7-6, the Eagles benefited from another break.

On first-and-19 from the Rosewood 48-yard line, Gator linebacker John Mozingo appeared to trip up Cornman for the sack. But the whistle never blew as Cornman escaped Mozingo's grasp and rambled for a short gain.

Spring Creek also drew a facemask penalty on the play, which put Rosewood on the 32-yard line.

"That was just a great individual effort by Sean," said Britt. "Our blocking kind of broke down on that play and they got some pressure. Sean didn't quit until the whistle blew, just kept going and got some positive yards.

"When you get one player making a play like that, the kids rally behind that play. We were able to get some momentum off that play."

Cornman's 13-yard completion to Holt Rains and a sack, however, kept the Eagles outside the Gators' red zone. Josh Holmes provided the next big play when he wiggled away from three Spring Creek tacklers to give Rosewood a first-and-goal at the 8-yard line.

Two plays later, Cornman called his own number for the touchdown.

"We had number 20 (Holmes) down one time, but you can't stop (playing) until the darn whistle blows," said Whitfield. "I admire those kids because they didn't stop ... kept right on going until the whistle blew. Despite that, I thought we played hard in the first half."

Rosewood put the game out of reach with two third-quarter touchdowns. Cornman completed a 19-yard pass to Stephen McIntyre and Eric Martel, who rushed for 72 yards, busted loose for a 21-yard scoring run.

Placekicker Cameron Lowe added a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Spring Creek 6 0 0 0 -- 6

Rosewood 0 14 13 3 -- 30

First quarter

SC -- Dunmire 44 run (pass failed), 9:12

Second quarter

RHS -- Allen 13 pass from Cornman (Lowe kick), 6:02

RHS -- Cornman 4 run (Lowe kick), 0:38.6

Third quarter

RHS -- McIntyre 19 pass from Cornman (kick failed), 4:52

RHS -- Martel 21 run (Lowe kick), 2:44

Fourth quarter

RHS -- Lowe 35 FG, 9:17

S. Creek RHS

First downs 9 18

Rushes-yds 38-171 41-280

Passing yds 41 84

Total yards 212 364

C-A-I 4-8-1 7-9-0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-1

Penalties-yds 11-75 13-115

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Spring Creek -- Alex Dunmire 24-143, TD; Jaelyn Lee 7-21; Trey Thornton 1-(-5); Montrell Carmichael 1-(-1); Nick Hatem 2-0; Adam Hinson 1-4. Rosewood -- Eric Martel 9-72, TD; Josh Holmes 14-86; Sean Cornman 10-21; Cody Richards 7-89; Chris Hare 2-11; Team 1-1.

PASSING -- Spring Creek -- Nick Hatem 2-4-0 30. Rosewood -- Sean Cornman 7-9-0 84, 2 TDs.

RECEIVING -- Spring Creek -- Derek Strickland 3-35; Alex Dunmire 1-6. Rosewood -- Martel 1-10; Chris Hare 2-15; Stephen McIntyre 1-19, TD; Holt Rains 1-13; Taylor Allen 2-27.