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Naples comes up short at Venice, loses 24-7
Two teams preparing for the playoffs but there would be only one winner on this cold and breezy night in Venice. The Golden Eagles had their chances to make it close and even pull out a win, but a couple of missed opportunities cost them in the end.
Venice came out strong with their big offensive line and used 12 consecutive running plays to take the early lead. After a touchback, Naples started their initial drive with runs by Ike Dutes and Manny Morgan followed by a 12 yard completion from Billy Crook to Thomas Martin. This drive would stall and faced with a fourth down and 3, a little trickery appeared to be in order. Instead of TK Okubo lined up in the backfield to punt, he was replaced with Sophomore quarterback Kilton Anderson. Anderson hasn't punted all year, but he has thrown a few passes, which he tried to do here. The pass is deflected just enough to change the trajectory and fall incomplete. The Indians take over on the Eagles 43 with a great opportunity to score, but that is denied when Deac Conti intercepts and returns the ball 22 yards to the Eagles 38.
Trying to capitalize on the turnover, Dutes runs the ball but is caught in the backfield. But as we know, Ike can catch the ball too, and he pulls in a 20 yard pass from Crook on the next play to move into Indian territory. Here was a missed opportunity as Billy Crook breaks free for a 9 yard run, but the ball is ripped loose by a Venice defender. Instead of Naples possibly scoring the tying touchdown, The Indians have the ball again. They take just 4 plays to score, capped off by a 44 yard burst by the speedy Danny Dillard. It was easy to see why the Miami Hurricanes were so eager to latch on to this powerful running back.
Now down 14-0, the Eagles embark on their only scoring drive of the night. Facing a 3 and out, Anderson is once again in the backfield to "punt". You know that old saying "Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me"? Well Anderson this time connects with a wide open Isaac Lyle who picks up 27 yards and a first down. Now the Eagles showcase their running game, with a 13 yard keeper by Crook and a 19 yard blast by Steven Williams. A few more shorter runs leads to 6 yard TD run by Dutes. Okubo adds the PAT and the game is on, with the Indians lead cut in half, 14-7. Venice however is not done yet either, as they look to score on the first play of their next drive, and might have done so if not for big Cody Christner chasing down their running back, albeit it after a 45 yard gain. Two plays later, Dillard breaks free again for a 30 yard score.
The second half begins with Naples receiving and starting from their own 20. Unfortunately, the Eagles offense was just as cold as the breeze in the stands, and they punt after 3 plays. Venice again stays with the ground game and 12 straight running plays gets to the Eagle 15. the Eagle "D" will stop them here, and Venice is forced to settle for a 32 yard field goal.
The Golden Eagles offense is still in a funk, and another 3 and out brings out Okubo for another punt. He is able to push the Indians back on their side of the field where the Dollar Defense once again stands tall. Having to stop the Indians twice (They got the ball back after a roughing the punter penalty) Jules Dornevil comes up with a huge 12 yard sack on 4th down to give the Eagles the ball back. There is still 8 minutes left in the game as Naples mounts another drive to get back into the game. Malacchi Esdale hauls in 27 yard Crook pass between 2 defenders to get the Eagles to the Indian 35 yard line. But missed opportunity #2 comes up as the Crook's attempted TD pass in the end zone hangs up a fraction of a second too long by the aforementioned breeze and is picked off. The Indians will again return to their effective ground game and run out the remainder of the clock for the 24-7 victory.
Naples returns to the practice field to prepare for a rematch of last years playoff classic against the South Fort Myers Wolfpack in the first round of the playoffs.
Ike Dutes scores against Venice in the regualr season finale. Photo courtesy of the Naples Daily News
