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Naples
Golden Eagles
Barron Collier Cougars
Eagles shut down the Titans, win 34-12
The Golden Gate Titans were hoping to catch Naples looking ahead to their big district matchup with Barron Collier next week. Instead, they found a focused and disciplined Eagles team that methodically dispatched the Titans and prevented them from celebrating another huge upset victory. The Titans were playing at home, hoping to build on their titanic win over Barron Collier the week before. The Golden Eagles had other ideas. Using a ball control offense, Naples was able to keep QB Ken Mouton and the rest of the Titan offense off the field until the game was well in hand. Naples built a 31-0 lead and coasted home from there.
Naples wins the coin toss and defers to put the defense on the field first. TK Okubo blasts his kick into the end zone and the Titans start from their 20. The first pass from Mouton is a harbinger of the success that the Dollar Defense would have all night. While the pass is complete, it will lose one yard. The Titans find limited success on the ground, and are forced to punt after 6 plays. Manny Morgan and Isaac Dutes take turns running the ball to the Naples 26 where Billy Crook executes the draw play to perfection. His 34 yard scamper ends up in Titan territory. Crook's first pass of the night finds Thomas Martin who ends up just inches short of the goal line. Morgan powers it in from there and midway through the first quarter, the Eagles go up 6-0. This is a good time to practice the 2point conversion, which Crook does, and his run stretches the lead to 8-0.
Another touchback by Okubo puts the Titans in a familiar spot - 1st and 10 from their own 20. The Titans running game does pick up a few yards, but again it is time to punt. Naples doesn't fare any better and they punt it back to the Titans near midfield. The Naples defense shuts down the Titans on this drive, forcing a 3 and out. Martin calls for a fair catch on the punt, and Naples starts on their own 18, with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.
This Naples drive is not flashy. Only one play goes for as much as 12 yards, a run by Morgan. What this drive does is keep Mouton and company on the bench for the next eight minutes and 34 seconds as the Eagles go on a 19 play scoring drive. The crowd is effectively muted, and the 1 yard run by Crook for the touchdown removes any doubt that the Eagles are not looking ahead to next week. The Titans get the ball with just 3:34 left in the half after yet another Okubo touchback. After an initial first down, the Titans once again punt, but a ferocious rush by the Eagles punt coverage team causes a hurried kick that lands on the original line of scrimmage. The excellent field position allows Okubo to nail a 47 yard field goal, pushing the lead to 17-0, which is where it stands at halftime.
The Naples kick return team sees their first action of the night, but Isaac Dutes can't get the handle on the squib kick and it rolls harmlessly into the end zone. More determined than ever, Dutes takes the handoff from Crook and runs down the left sideline like he was shot out of a cannon. He outruns every one of the Titan defenders on his way to an 80 yard score. Okubo tacks on his first PAT of the night and with just 13 seconds gone in the third quarter, the Eagles are in control, 24-0.
The on-sides kick from Okubo touches a Naples player after only 9 yards, setting the Titans up on the Eagles side of the 50. The Naples pass rush deflates this drive, punctuated by a 10 yard loss on a sack by Sammy Lubin. A Titan fake punt doesn't fool anybody, and the 1 yard catch is 17 yards short of a first down. Now with the ball, the Naples offensive line protects Crook like a Lion looking after her cubs, and he marches the Eagles downfield. Morgan runs for 9 yards, and Crook is able find Malacchi Esdale & Martin for 11 and 9 yards. Morgan finishes this drive with a 14 yard run.
Leading 31-0, Okubo sends this kickoff, where else, into the end zone to start the Titan drive. Golden Gate is able to move downfield but even with a first and goal from the 4, the Dollar Defense stiffens, and the Titans turn it over on downs. Although the Eagles prevent the score, they punt it back and the Titans are near midfield. Mouton, who had great success against Barron Collier, is finally able to connect on a 32 yard scoring strike, and the Titans are on the board with just a minute left in the third. The 2 point conversion fails, and the score remains 31-6. The Eagles chew a few more minutes off the clock with a series of short runs, and Okubo boots a 45 yard field goal to finish the Eagle scoring. Leading 34-6, the Eagles allow 1 more Titan score. The 2 point conversion attempt is "picked off" by Deac Conti, but you can't run it back for a score in high school, so the score remains 34-12. Steven Williams returns to the lineup tonight after battling a nagging ankle injury, and his 23 yard run with 1:49 allows the offense to take the victory formation, with three kneel downs by Crook.
The Golden Eagles remain perfect against the Titans, winning all 7 games played between the 2 schools. the Eagles now prepare for 2 straight district contests to decide who goes to the playoffs and who stays home.
Danny Gallman celebrates with Isaac Dutes after he scored on an 80 yard run to open the second half. Photo courtesy of the Naples Daily News
