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Durant Denies Bloomingdale Rally

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By SCOTT PURKS

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 15, 2008

PLANT CITY - With 32 seconds left in the game, Bloomingdale was on Durant's 2-yard line. It was first down.

All Bloomingdale needed was 2 more yards and an extra point to tie Durant at 14.

Durant's band, on the Cougars' goal line, was blaring a song called "Mars," a horn-screaming war chant.

Bloomingdale's offensive line, struggling to hear quarterback Anthony Beko's signals, flinched. Five-yard penalty.

Durant's band blared, "MARS!"

Bloomingdale's line flinched. Five-yard penalty.

Two plays later, Durant defensive back Marvin Dexter, intercepted a pass in the back of the end zone.

No time remained.

Final score: Durant 14, Bloomingdale 7.

"I love our band," Durant coach Mike Gottman said. "I love them."

Gottman also said he loved his defense's overall effort, that his Cougars (6-4) went undefeated at home and that they were going into next week's playoff game against Orlando Dr. Phillips on a winning note.

On the other side, Bloomingdale coach Jason Stokes said he felt "so frustrated."

"When we got down to the 2-yard line, I wanted to score so bad because we had never beaten Durant and because these seniors have worked so hard and come so far," Stokes said. "I wanted it so much for them."

Bloomingdale finishes the season with the school's first winning season at 6-4 and its first trip to the playoffs, next week at Lakeland.

Stokes told his team to stay positive because there still was more football to be played. He was proud that they fought all the way to the end Friday.

In the beginning, it appeared Durant might make a rout of it, taking a 14-0 first-quarter lead after Budd McQueen returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and Durant scored on its next possession, going 26 yards on five plays.

At halftime, the Bulls had gained 36 total yards and had three first downs.

Bloomingdale's only other score came after Beko ripped off a 49-yard run to Durant's 20-yard line. The Bulls scored three runs later.

"That was about it for us offensively," Stokes said.

Bloomingdale got its final chance after Durant fumbled the ball away on its 27-yard line with 2 minutes remaining.

"Oh yeah," Gottman said, "we sure do like to make it interesting, don't we?"

D - Shoemake 1 run (Bass kick)

B - Amos 6 run (Firestine kick)

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