Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Jeff Odom

The Wharton football team will find itself in familiar territory when it travels to Orlando Dr. Phillips for the Class 8A regional quarterfinals.

The Wildcats (8-2) will meet the same team that ended their postseason run a year ago with a 35-7 defeat on the same field.

“We just got to come out hot, playing the best ball we can like we normally do,” said junior running back Jeff Keil. “This last half of the season, we just turned it up after the loss to Plant. We didn’t like how that felt, and we’re not going to let that happen again.”

Wharton lost 27-7 to Plant in Week 5, which gave the Panthers the 8A-District 6 title, but the Wildcats won five straight to end the regular season.

Even though Wharton has three more wins than it did last year, Dr. Phillips, a state finalist in 2010 before being forced to forfeit the entire season for recruiting violations, is undefeated and hungry for another trip to the Citrus Bowl.

The Wildcats are hungry too — for an upset.

“They’re undefeated?” joked junior quarterback Chase Litton. “Their defense is No. 1 in the state, hands down with players all over the field. Our receivers are going to have to step up and make plays. Our (offensive) line is going to have to click on all cylinders and everyone’s got to step up.”

Wharton has come to rely more on its passing attack this year after losing halfback Darius Page and his 1,385 yards and 13 touchdowns to graduation after last season.

Litton (2,079 yards, 18 touchdowns*) has found his main targets down field in seniors wide receivers Keith Hopkins (729 yards, six touchdowns) and Deon Sampson (417 yards, seven touchdowns) to make up for the loss. That, coupled with the late season rise of the explosive rushing ability of Keil (618 yards, seven touchdowns) and senior athlete Vernon Hargreaves (three touchdowns) in the wildcat offensive formation makes for one hard-to-contain threat.

“Whatever coach has us doing, we’re going to do it and come out and give 110 percent,” Hargreaves said. “(The wildcat) isn’t really our game plan. Our coaches don’t really like anything crazy, but we just have to try and come out and bust them in the mouth.”

Wildcats coach David Mitchell knows they’ll have to do more if they want to move on to the next round, and it starts with staying consistent.

“We really got to step up, execute and put some points on the board,” Mitchell said. “It’s the playoffs. Everybody is 0-0. … We’ve got the weapons. We’ve just got to be able to pull the trigger.”

Wharton’s regional quarterfinal at Dr. Phillips is Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

–Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JOdomLaker

*All stats through nine games

By Kyle LoJacono

The only thing bigger than the expectations around the Gaither football team this season is the transformations to offense and defense.

After making the 2011 Class 7A regional finals with a 9-4 record, the Cowboys lost 24 seniors, including seven key members of its defense, its leading receiver and four starting offense linemen.

Adding to the changes, Gaither shifted its offense twice since the end of last year.

The result is an 8-2 record, consecutive playoff berths and the program’s first district championship since 2007.

“I go into every season knowing there’s going to be change, so I just take it and roll with it,” said second-year Cowboys coach Jason Stokes. “There’s going to be goods and bads, ups and downs, injuries and nice surprises. You just try to stay even keel and portray that to your kids so they find a way to win no matter what.”

The plan during the spring was to become a triple option offense.

“After I saw our personnel when we got it live on grass it just wasn’t working out,” Stokes said. “I did what any coach would do, which was fit our offense to our personnel. … Basically it’s a wing-T base out of a spread look.”

Junior quarterback Alex McGough has thrived in the system. He has completed 99-of-171* passes for 1,541 yards and 20 touchdowns to just four interceptions.

McGough said his stats have come because he has plenty of playmakers to throw the ball to, like wide receiver Marcus Brown (372 yards, five scores) and running backs Shug Oyegunle (468 yards, seven scores), Vu Le (435 yards, six scores) and Josh Bell (115 yards, one score).

“Any of those guys can take it for a touchdown any play,” McGough said. “I just have to get them the ball.”

Add in the power running of 6-foot, 200-pound Jamri Cord (156 yards, one touchdown), and the Cowboys have several ways to attack the opposition.

On defense, Gaither’s new starters have responded by limiting opponents to 15.7 points per game while forcing 21 turnovers and recording 32 sacks.

One of the biggest disruptions for other teams has been senior defensive end Ernest Suttles. The University of Iowa commit has 12 sacks while adding 88 tackles and four forced fumbles.

“The beginning was going to be rough after losing some key players on the line, at linebacker and defensive backs,” Suttles said. “Jeshua Williams (three sacks) has stepped up at defensive end and made a lot of big players. Logan Marshall (80 tackles, five sacks), Jamari Cord (73 tackles, five sacks) and Matt Williams (106 tackles) have been big as returning players at linebacker. We just needed to mesh. Bumpy beginning, but with practice and talking we’ve come to a mutual understanding of what we need to do.”

The defense got some reinforcement to its linebacking core in the form of Dom Neglio. The senior played running back the last two years, but has filled a need at the weakside spot to the tune of 85 tackles.

The secondary returned two starters in juniors Amani Oruwariye (three interceptions) and D.J. King (69 tackles). The unit added in junior Javon Hammond (three interceptions) and senior Danny Bonham (53 tackles) to complete the defense.

The only thing that’s been unchanged from last year is Gaither’s kicking game.

The Cowboys return kicker Dalton Gilson and punter Jared Gremley.

Gilson is Gaither’s all-time scoring leader with 171 points. He has hit four field goals and converted 31 extra points while turning 42 kickoffs into 36 touchbacks.

Gremley is averaging 44 yards per punt with a long of 61 and dropping 11 of his 28 kicks inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

The changes in players and schemes have come with growing pains, but another difference with this year’s squad is welcomed by Stokes.

“These kids believe in themselves,” Stokes said. “They believe they can get it done, and that’s from last year. They saw what they were capable of if they listened to their coaches, show effort and execute. Seeing that Gaither can win, I think that confidence made the difference this year.”

The confidence of winning the Class 7A-District 7 title is also a boost.

“We’re going to take this district championship and let it vault us into the playoffs,” Stokes said. “We now know what it takes to get to the third round, so now the goal is to get that regional championship. … I want these kids to know that these coaches believe in them. I know we can go far.”

The Cowboys host Newsome Nov. 16 for the Class 7A regional quarterfinals. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

*All stats through nine games

By Kyle LoJacono

The Freedom girls basketball team went 6-15 five seasons ago, the fewest win total in the school’s 10-year history.

Coach Laurie Pacholke was brought in the next year to help restore the winning ways of a program that had made the postseason five times in its first six campaigns.

The Patriots missed the playoffs during her first season at the helm, but improved their record to 19-6. They have made the postseason the last two years, but just making it beyond districts won’t satisfy anyone at Freedom in 2012-13.

The Patriots are focused on the Class 7A final four in Lakeland.

“There’s no secret our expectations are to get to Lakeland,” Laurie said. “As much as you say it in the past as a goal, this year, really because of the talent and commitment that we have, it’s a realistic goal. They know if we don’t reach it, then it’s a letdown. That’s our only acceptable outcome, but I’ve got the kind of kids who will step up to that challenge.”

Part of that mentality comes from the fact that Freedom loses only one starter, Shadé Williams, from last year while bringing back a trio of seniors who were freshmen during Laurie’s first year in guard Neena Pacholke (7.5 points) and forwards Lauren Repp (3.9 points, 2.6 rebounds) and Ashle Thompson (3.1 points, 2.7 rebounds).

The group is used to their coach’s ways and is ready to take the program to a level beyond the regional quarterfinals, where their season has ended the last two seasons.

“We weren’t really happy with what we accomplished last year, so we want to have a better year this year,” Repp said. “We’ve tried to outdo what we did the year before and set higher and higher goals. We won districts my sophomore year, but it hasn’t been enough for any of us.”

The Patriots also return sophomore Taylor Emery, who led the team with 18.3 points and 3.1 steals while adding 3.2 rebounds as a freshman. The 5-foot-9 guard said she still feels like she must show she belongs.

“I feel like I have to prove myself every day,” Emery said. “There’s still competition for playing time. … I have a little bit more confidence, but we’re a new team, so I know I have to step up my game even more to get to our goals — states.”

Freedom is also bolstered by a pair of senior transfers from Riverview in point guard Monet Williams (9.3 points, 5.4 assists, 3.5 steals, 2.5 rebounds) and 6-foot-2 forward Faith Woodard (21.4 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, 3.1 blocks, three assists).

“There’s a little pressure, but nothing we can’t handle,” said Woodard, a Georgetown University commit. “Yes, we have a target on our back, but can definitely get it done.”

Woodard said that confidence comes from seeing her teammates’ efforts.

“Just practice has been amazing,” Woodard said. “Coming from Riverview, this is just a totally new team. Everyone goes hard. It’s just wonderful.”

Neena, Laurie’s daughter, said she already has chemistry with Woodard and Williams because they played on a travel club team as freshmen and believes they will fit right in.

“It’s kind of overwhelming just thinking about getting them this year,” Neena said. She added, “It’s kind of weird to think how long we’ve known each other, but now we’re all on the same high school team.”

Point guard was a position the Patriots was looking for answers at last year. They lost two-year starter in Laurie’s daughter Kaitlynn, who led the squad with 15.3 points, 8.8 assists and 5.3 steals during their district championship run two seasons ago.

Williams is still working back from her second ACL tear in less than a year, the latest happening in June during rehab. Laurie said they are working her back slowly, but is excited about adding her to the mix with junior Bella Gibson (3.3 points, 1.7 assists).

“Getting Monet is huge,” Laurie said. “Once she gets healthy, she’s kind of like Kaitlynn. She’s a hard-nosed kid who’s a great floor general. I don’t think she ever got the credit at Riverview, but I think she can come into this team and do what we need. Also, Bella did a great job coming along. I’d have to say we’re much more confident in our ball-handling skills this year.”

Laurie is also psyched about what Woodard adds at both ends of the court.

“Faith is one of those kids who is just so versatile,” Laurie said. “Yes, she’s a post, but she can also go out on the wing. Defensively, she can guard anybody, so she allows you to do so many things. Offensively, she’s just a matchup nightmare. … Having her alongside Taylor really helps because it’s more balanced. To have all that on (Emery’s) shoulders as a freshman was tough. In our fall league with her and Faith I could tell it’s going to be fun.”

Laurie said she is as excited to tip off the season as her players are.

“I’m chomping at the bit,” Laurie said. “Even having to go through tryouts was tough because you can’t do the teaching in tryouts that I want to jump right into. We’re going to use that excitement to build on. I’m telling them they’ve got to get out of their comfort zone. I’m excited about challenging this team, because I don’t have to worry about our 13th or 14th kid slowing things down because everybody is at that high level.”

Freedom hosts the 7A-9 district tournament Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, with the final Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. The Patriots open the regular season at Alonso Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

By Kyle LoJacono

One of the biggest additions, figuratively and literally, to any Hillsborough County school’s athletic program came when Faith Woodard transferred from Riverview to Freedom last summer.

The 6-foot-2 senior, who has committed to play basketball at Georgetown University, said the move was to take advantage of the better scholastics at the New Tampa school.

“Academically, this is a better school then I was used to,” Woodard said. “I knew I wanted to be ready to go to college, so I thought this would better prepare me to go to Georgetown. This school will get me academically fit.”

Her addition is welcomed by members of the Patriots basketball team, who see the forward as a key piece to a run at states. Woodard put up 21.4 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, 3.1 blocks and three assists per game at Riverview last year.

“She’s really amazing,” said senior guard Neena Pacholke, who played with Woodard on a travel team as freshmen. She added, “She’s so smooth in the post and can score from almost anywhere.”

Woodard’s first experience with Freedom’s program came as a freshman, when the Patriots defeated Riverview 65-46. She liked what she saw.

“They always play aggressive and hard, and that’s what I really loved about the team,” Woodard said. “Most people often confuse it with being a mean team, but they play hard and aggressive, and it’s great to be with a team like that. … I’m so ready because everyone is always hyped and ready to play. That’s the mindset we need to take it over the top.”

Woodard said she has also adjusted to school life at Freedom.

“It gets better and better every single day,” Woodard said. “Being the new kid on the block the first couple days was kind of hard, but after about three days I felt like I was at home, like I’ve been here all my life.”

Woodard was also a standout track athlete at Riverview. She reached the Class 4A final in four events, where she captured the high jump title (5-feet 8-inches) and placed sixth in the 400-meter (56.74 seconds).

“I’m about 90 percent sure that I might want to do track again this year,” Woodard said. “I’m almost there.”

Track can wait for the spring. Right now, Woodard is anxious for the opening tip of her senior year on the hard court.

“I have a countdown on my iPhone right now for our first game,” Woodard said. “I’m so ready to play with my team and deliver. Beat everyone’s expectations and then some.”

Freedom’s first regular season game is Nov. 13 at Alonso at 7 p.m. Her first home game is Dec. 3 against Hillsborough at 8 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

Bulls boys take third

By Kyle LoJacono

The Wiregrass Ranch girls cross country team had little trouble claiming their third regional championship in four years Nov. 10 at Lecanto High.

The Bulls totaled 71 points, 36 better than second-place Sarasota. The seventh-year program earned the crown without freshman Madison Conway, one of its top four, because of bronchitis.

Wiregrass Ranch was paced by senior Nikita Shah. The Harvard University commit won her first individual regional title by completing the 5-kilomter course in 18 minutes 32 seconds.

“Not a half-bad time,” Shah said. She added, “There’re some steep hills on this course, and those do take a lot out of you and you have to recover after the hills. It’s all about who can recover first and continue at a race pace. I won’t say it’s the toughest course in the world, but it’s a pretty tough course; one of the harder in Florida I’d say.”

Shah will be one of a handful of girls with a legitimate shot at hoisting the Class 3A state title Nov. 17 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. Her best time this year is a 17:48, which is her personal record (PR) and the second-fastest performance in the classification this season.

“Today I just wanted to set the pace and not worry about the time,” Shah said. “Next week at states I’ll be going for maybe a PR and hopefully beating all the other girls there. … I have a positive attitude going into that race. I’m going to go into that race just being confident knowing I’m going to put my hardest race in (and) see where that gets me. I’m going to go for a state championship hopefully.”

Fellow Bulls senior Berlin Waters took sixth at the meet by running a 19:41. Waters was 28th at the same meet last season.

“I was hoping for top 10 at least,” Waters said. “Knowing that I got sixth, I’m just so proud of myself.”

Waters started running with the program last season and said she had little expectations other than it improving her cardiovascular performance for soccer, her primary sport.

“I didn’t think I’d come close to being top 10 at regionals, especially after last year,” Waters said. “When I was third at conference I saw that I could really step it up. Now that I’m getting sub 20s I’m really confident.”

Waters played a soccer game the night before regionals and still managed the sixth-place showing.

“This was the first meet she hasn’t had to leave right after to go to a soccer game too,” said seventh-year Wiregrass Ranch coach Don Howard. “She played last night, came here this morning and finished sixth place in the cross country regional running a sub 20. That’s not any easy thing to do.”

Besides Shah and Waters, Howard said the 23rd and 30th finishes by sophomore Addie Cornwell (20:39) and senior Chelsea Davis (20:49), respectively,  helped carry them to victory.

Howard said the goal is a top-five performance at states, which would be the best finish in program history.

“I have really high hopes for Wiregrass this year,” Shah said.

As for the boys, the Bulls finished third with 113 points, 72 behind the championship pace of Sarasota.

Wiregrass Ranch ends a string of three straight regional titles, but the squad lost two of its top runners Ermias Bireda and Patrick Hill for most of the first half of the year with shin inflammation. Ben Hall also missed the Sunshine State Conference meet in October after undergoing surgery.

“It was the first time we had everybody run in their correct slots with Ermias one, Ben (Hall) two, Thor (Alastre), Patrick (Hill) and Andy (Hippely),” said sixth-year Bulls coach Chris Loth. “It’s taken us awhile to get there. … We’re as healthy as we’ve ever been, and it’s at the right time. Everybody worked hard enough during the summer to where we missed some time during the year and we’re fit at the end.”

Bireda, the squad’s top runner, finished seventh with a 16:19. The senior pulled a muscle in his back at districts the week before.

“That back still isn’t healed,” Bireda said. “The last mile it started acting up on me.”

Bireda finished 15th at states last year when he set his PR of 16:09.

“This season is not where I wanted it to be, but it’s not bad,” Bireda said. “I still have one more meet to make up for everything. I want to go out big. It’s my last race of high school. Cardio is great and my legs feel strong. As long as my shins and back hold up I should have a good run. … We have a physical trainer at our school Ms. Jen (Stollery), and I’ll be seeing her every day this week.”

Loth said Bireda’s ability to return after a tough season shows the kind of talent he has.

“To miss so much time and still be seventh at a very tough region shows he’s an elite athlete,” Loth said. “He’s the highest caliber kid I’ve ever coached, aerobically.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

By Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner boys cross country team finished as a regional runner-up for the first time in the program’s four-year history Nov. 10 at Lecanto High.

The Warriors took three of the top-10 spots to total 55 points, 14 behind Sarasota.

“We really wanted to beat Sarasota,” said Tyler Lima. “We wanted to try and get between their top two guys. Matt (Magee) had a good chance to win it because he was out front late, but he fell back with about a half mile left. When I saw that I started to push and moved from eighth to fourth. I wasn’t going to let that second Sarasota guy beat me.”

Tyler took fourth by completing the 5-kilometer course in 16 minutes 11 seconds. It is the best personal performance at regionals for the senior, who placed eighth at the same event last year with a 16:44.

“That shows you how much this region has progressed,” Tyler said. “Chris Cerreta, who was our fourth guy today, he ran about what I did last year and was out of the top 15. That shows you how tough this region is, which is good because you want competition. There are some really good teams here like Sarasota, Wiregrass and Land O’ Lakes.”

Magee (16:15) finished sixth, Tanner Biles (16:31) was 10th, Cerreta (16:51) placed 17th and Zach Lima (16:59) took 20th.

The runner-up honor is the best performance at regionals for the program, which finished fourth the last two years.

“Region has never been our meet,” Tyler said. “Sarasota is a good team. It’s not like it was an upset that we didn’t win, but we really wanted to win. Now we’re going to states with confidence. … There have been teams, like us two years ago, who finish fourth at regionals and step it up a lot at states. We were state runner up two years ago, and we’re going to go all out.”

It will be the last meet for Steinbrenner’s top five, who are all seniors. Except for Biles, who transferred from Freedom last year, the group helped start the program in 2009.

“You don’t want to get too emotional,” Tyler said. “These guys are like my brothers and we want to win for each other. If you think about it being our last race too much you won’t run your race. Plus, we’ve still got track.”

The Class 3A state meet is Nov. 17 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

PHOTO: Travis Nichols

Land O’ Lakes junior Travis Nichols took third at regionals with a 16:09. He and his teammates are wearing a patch in support of their teammate Steven Barnabei.

//Land O’ Lakes runs for Steven Barnabei

The Land O’ Lakes boys cross country team made states for the seventh time in eight seasons, and did so without No. 5 runner Steven Barnabei.

Barnabei, a junior and team captain, had surgery to remove a brain tumor the week before regionals, which was Nov. 10 at Lecanto High.

“We’re pretty shook up after what happened to Steven,” said junior Travis Nichols. “We’re trying to bounce back from that, not just with people moving up a spot, but mentally too. Hopefully we can do well at states for him.”

Nichols said the team learned of Barnabei’s diagnose Nov. 2, the day of districts. They are wearing a patch with his initials on their jersey.

“We’re running for him the rest of the year,” Nichols said. “He’s doing better now. He’s starting to walk. He’s having trouble gripping things and with slurred speech, but he’s a lot better.”

The Gators took fifth place at regionals by totaling 146 points. Nichols finished third in 16:09 behind Sarasota’s Zackery Summerall (15:54) and Sickles’ Abdin Fator (16:00).

“I’m happy with 16:09,” Nichols said. “My place, I wish I could have competed better with those top two. Wish I was there to try and outkick them at the end.”

Land O’ Lakes junior Tyler Stahl (16:35) and senior Jake Poore (16:37) placed 11th and 12th, respectively.

Nichols also gave credit to freshman Austin Dotson, who ran an 18:27 to finish 70th.

“Austin is really coming on at the end of the year,” Nichols said. “He’s running his best races right now.”

//Tedesco advances to states

Freedom girls cross country runner Annie Tedesco placed 12th at regionals Nov. 10 at McIntosh Middle in Sarasota by completing the 5-kilometer course in 20:47. The performance earned the junior a spot at the Class 4A state meet.

The Patriots girls totaled 181 points to place seventh, one spot and nine points away from advancing to states. Freedom’s boys and the Wharton girls were also unable to get beyond regionals.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

By Jeff Odom

The Steinbrenner volleyball team was swept at home for the first time in two years, but that didn’t stop first-year coach Laura Stegenga from smiling.

The Warriors (19-9) fell 25-12, 25-11, 25-16 against Venice in the Class 7A regional finals Nov. 10, ending their season one match shy of the state tournament.

It was Steinbrenner’s first trip to the regional finals in the program’s four-year history after being knocked off in the semis the previous two seasons.

“I’m just extremely proud of them, and that’s what I told them in the huddle,” Stegenga said. “I said to them, ‘You have never gotten this far and it’s going to take more than one time getting here to just be able to pull it out like that.”

The Indians (26-3) dominated the first set without trailing. Steinbrenner was no match for their offense, giving up 19 points before taking back-to-back points.

The Warriors kept it closer early in the second thanks to senior outside hitter Madison Seuzeneau (12 kills) before Venice pulled away with 11 of the final 12 points.

Stegenga said there was some nervousness, especially facing a team like Venice.

“There were those first-game jitters, absolutely,” Stegenga said. “In the second game, they started pulling it together.”

The Warriors’ best shot at winning a set came in the third. They got off to a 6-4 lead, but Venice crept back in with three straight points.

Another five-point streak put Steinbrenner into a deep hole and the Indians closed it out by scoring eight of 10 to advance to states.

“The third game was the team that we’ve been working in practice,” Stegenga said. “I’ve got a young team. … We can only go up from here. They did a great job. I know there’s some tears out there, but I want them to be proud of themselves.”

To earn a berth in the regional finals, Steinbrenner won at Clearwater 27-25, 25-11, 25-14 Nov. 6, but it was not without drama.

The Tornadoes (21-8) pounced early in the first set against the Warriors, forcing Stegenga to call two key timeouts.

Stegenga said she promised her team doughnuts if it could find a way to win.

“I swear they’re just like kids, still,” Stegenga said. “Even at the competitive level they play, they still get excited about doughnuts.”

The small bribe paid off as Rachel Mathison (10 kills) and Seuzeneau (17 kills) led Steinbrenner to a come-from-behind victory, scoring seven of eight points and then the final two for the opening set.

“Our rotation was a little messed up in the beginning,” Mathison said. “We were like, ‘Oh no,’ but we just did what we know how to do and we just clicked and we were focused on finishing.”

That’s exactly what the Warriors did.

Steinbrenner dominate the second set and didn’t let up in the third.

The Warriors had scoring streaks of six, five and five points to finish off the Tornadoes, who ended Steinbrenner’s playoff run in 2011 with a five-set win in regional semis.

Seuzeneau, the only four-year varsity player on the squad, said it was remarkable to reach a goal four years in the making.

“It’s honestly incredible,” Seuzeneau said. “I’ve stepped back and watched us lose this game (before), and it was absolutely amazing to finally win.”

By Jeff Odom

Blank stares and silence told the story of the night for the Academy at the Lakes seven-man football team as the clock ticked down Nov. 8.

Despite a seven-point halftime lead at home, the Wildcats (7-1) gave up six touchdowns after the break en route to a 60-26 loss to Kissimmee City of Life Christian Academy in the state quarterfinals.

Academy coach John Castelamare told his players to be proud of what they accomplished this season, especially after facing adversity before it started with multiple opponents cancelling games.

“We met our match,” Castelamare said. “It wasn’t about who’s the better team here. It was about who wanted it more, and I think (City of Life) wanted it a little bit more. … I’m proud of them. I just wish we were practicing on Monday though.”

After fumbling on first down to open the game, the Wildcats hit their stride as quarterback Max Stepanents used his legs to move the ball.

Following consecutive runs of 16 and 13 yards, Stepanents found wide receiver DeAndre Williams for an 18-yard gain to set up Ahkil McGill’s rush from 18 yards out to get the academy on the scoreboard first.

Then, after the Warriors (10-3) tied the game at six apiece, Stepanents hit Jack Fishman for a 48-yard touchdown streak to regain the lead.

Stepanents (3-for-10, 75 yards, two touchdowns) would come through again with a 37-yard run in the second quarter to set up a 9-yard scoring strike to Williams to extend the lead to 13.

City of Life answered with another touchdown in the second quarter, before the Wildcats defense sacked quarterback Kolin Funk in his own end zone for a safety.

Castelamare said everything seemed to be clicking going into halftime.

“We had them for a while; we had a good first half,” Castelamare said. “I think the kids played hard enough, but then they started to play a little harder than we did.”

The Warriors turned momentum — and the lead — to their side by scoring on every possession after halftime.

The City of Life defense forced the academy to punt on its first two drives of the third quarter, while its offense racked up points with touchdowns of 65 and 75 yards for running back Michael Santiago to take its first lead of the game.

The lone score for the Wildcats after halftime came off of a 3-yard run from Fishman to draw his squad within six, but that’s as close as it got.

The Warriors scored four more times in the fourth quarter, all on long runs, to pull away with the victory.

“We definitely had a great trip, a great season,” said Stepanents, who finished with 66 rushing yards on nine carries. “This was pretty tough for everyone. We pretty much gave up in the second half and shouldn’t have done that.”

Castelamare credited City of Life for making the adjustments it needed to win.

“They’ve lost a couple games over there and we hadn’t lost any and they didn’t know what that tasted like and we now know what it feels like,” Castelamare said. “They’ve got some horses over there and we didn’t do a good job of wrapping up and tackling, but they’ll be alright.”