By The Numbers: Sunlake’s 22-21 win against Ocala Vanguard

Posted Nov 19, 2011 by Bart O'Connell

Updated Nov 19, 2011 at 12:31 PM

Sunlake’s dramatic, come-from-behind 22-21 win against Ocala Vanguard was improbable for a multitude of reasons. Here are a few of them.

1. Sunlake became the first school in Pasco County history to win its first-ever game in the FHSAA football playoffs. Beginning with Pasco’s 1977 squad, the other 11 schools to qualify had each been defeated in their first try. All but one of those losses (1979 Hudson, 12-7 to Oviedo) was by 17 points or more.

2. The Seahawks are the fourth Pasco County team in 35 years to win on the road in the opening round of the FHSAA playoffs, joining the 1992 state-champion Pasco Pirates, Zephyrhills (1997) and Gulf (2008). The other 34 teams that have gone on the road for their first-round game, including Fivay on Friday, all lost.

3. Sunlake was out-rushed by Vanguard 267-46 on Friday, and outgained overall 320-214.

4. Vanguard had not allowed three touchdowns in a single game since Sept. 30 against football powerhouse Lake City Columbia. The Knights had allowed three touchdowns only four times in the last two seasons (23 games) before Friday. The other teams to do it were Carrollton (Ga.), Jefferson, the eventual 2010 Class 3A state champion, and Ocala Forest. They had shut out defending state champion Ocala Trinity Catholic 21-0 on Oct. 14, and held Pasco’s next opponent, Citra North Marion, to only a safety in an 8-2 win on Sept. 9.

5. According to maxpreps.com stats, Vanguard only had seven turnovers all season prior to Friday. They fumbled on their second possession against Sunlake, and later had a punt blocked (technically not a turnover).

6. Vanguard defeated three teams this season (Citra North Marion, Ocala Trinity Catholic, Gainesville) that are still alive in the playoffs.

7. Sunlake allowing Vanguard to rush to the 1-yard line, which set up the Seahawks’ heroic goal-line stand, may have worked in its favor. It induced Knights coach Alex Castaneda to go for it on fourth-and-goal instead of kicking a 19-yard field goal which, if made, would have given Vanguard a 24-14 lead with 9:00 remaining. As it turned out, Sunlake’s TD and 2-point conversion gave them 22 points which was enough for victory. Vanguard missed a 43-yard field goal short and left as time expired.