By Eugenio Torrens
Sunlake didn’t match its offensive output from week one, but the defense posted its second shutout of the season in as many games to beat Wiregrass Ranch 36-0.
The Seahawks (2-0) have outscored their opponents by a combined 84-0, a fact not lost on Sunlake coach Bill Browning.
“Defense did a good job,” Browning said. “It was a good effort by everybody.”
The Bulls (0-2) gave the Seahawks good field position throughout the contest. Sunlake started its first drive from its own 43-yard line. Senior quarterback Cameron Stoltz completed 4-of-5 passes on that drive, including a screen pass that senior Jamal Jones took 19 yards to get the Seahawks on the board.
Wiregrass Ranch fumbled the ball on its own 17 on the ensuing drive. Sunlake recovered, and Stoltz bulleted a pass to senior Rashaud Daniels to go up 13-0.
Jones then picked off Bulls quarterback Ricky Weisbrodt, who started in place of a concussed Jake Day, and ran it back 31 yards into the end zone.
On the next Bulls’ drive, sophomore athlete Tyre Creary came in for Weisbrodt, but it did little to solve their offensive woes as they were unable to get a first down. Weisbrodt was brought back later in the game.
The Wiregrass Ranch defense held Sunlake to its first three-and-out series, but a Bulls’ muffed punt resulted in more prime field position — 30 yards out — for the Seahawks. A 22-yard field goal from Thomas Koen made it 23-0. Senior Mike Lopez added another touchdown for the Seahawks before the half on a 26-yard run.
Despite the pair of touchdown passes, Stoltz only threw for 60 yards in the first half on 6-of-11 passing. He finished with 132 yards and three touchdowns.
The favorable field position for Sunlake continued in the second half, when the Seahawks recovered an attempted onside kick on the 50-yard line. Stoltz connected with Jones again for a 31-yard score — Jones’ third trip to the end zone.
The Sunlake ground attack was led by senior Jerome Sanmuels, who piled up 50 rushing yards in the first half.
“Our defense plays well at times, but we battled field position all night,” said Wiregrass Ranch coach Jeremy Shobe. “It’s tough when you’ve got a short field to work with.”
The Bulls sorely missed their starting quarterback, Day, and starting running back Jamie Berone, who also suffered a concussion the week before.
“That throws the rhythm off,” Shobe said. “We got a couple of kids we feel are ready, but it’s hard in three days to change the whole rhythm of an offense when you’ve got a guy like your QB that goes down.”
Wiregrass Ranch didn’t get a first down until 4:44 left in the third quarter, and the offense was only able to generate 41 yards.
Sunlake has a bye next week, and then travels to district rival Springstead on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The Bulls travel to Pasco on Friday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
