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Prep football: Naples loses heartbreaker to Monsignor Pace
PACE 24, NAPLES 23
Pace 12 6 0 6 -- 24
Naples 7 0 3 13 -- 23
SCORING
P -- Derrick Hopkins 78 pass from Stephen Morris (kick blocked), 9:40.
N -- Juno Prudhomm 1 run (Puma Nuredini kick), 4:57.
P -- Deandre Johnson 24 run (kick blocked), 3:30.
P -- Johnson 38 run (run failed), 3:01.
N -- Nuredini 50 field goal, 1:26.
P -- Ronnie Dickens 30 run (kick blocked), 7:33.
N -- Prudhomm 1 run (Nuredini kick), 5:31.
N -- Pratt 42 run (run failed), 2:20.
Video
Naples High loses its first game of the season 24-23, to Monsignor Pace in a close game. Watch »
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Naples loses heartbreaker to Pace
Defending Class 3A champion and current No. 1 team Naples High School got knocked on its heels early Friday before mounting a comeback and narrowly losing 24-23 to fifth-ranked Miami Monsignor Pace. After going 15-0 last season, this was the first regular-season loss for the Eagles in almost two years.
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NAPLES — Some buried their heads in their hands late Friday, while other Naples players wiped tears from their eyes. This was an unfamiliar feeling for most of them, one they hadn't felt before.
To hear Golden Eagles coach Bill Kramer, however, this could have been the best thing to happen to his football team.
Defending Class 3A champion and current No. 1 team Naples got knocked on its heels early Friday before mounting a comeback and narrowly losing 24-23 to fifth-ranked Miami Monsignor Pace. After going 15-0 last season, this was the first regular-season loss for the Eagles in almost two years.
If that's what it takes for a young group of players to come together and play better, that's OK with Kramer.
"We never have the goal to go undefeated," Kramer said. "Our goal is to get better every week. I'm pretty sure we got better in that second half."
The Eagles improved on both sides of the ball against Pace following a first half in which the Spartans rang up an 18-7 lead and limited Naples to 62 yards.
Despite giving up half as many touchdowns in one game as it did last regular season, the Eagles were three yards away from pulling out their 16th straight victory. Naples trailed by 14 points with seven minutes to play, but a 42-yard scamper by Greg Pratt made pulled the Eagles to within a point (24-23) with two minutes to go.
Opting for victory instead of overtime, Kramer left his offense on the field and went for a two-point conversion. Pace's defense smothered Naples' option play, handing the Eagles their first regular season loss since Sept. 15, 2006.
"That's what it's about right there," Kramer said. "Let's go, let's win it. Let's do what we do. That was one of the best teams in the state, so maybe that's going to help us prepare a little bit better next week."
Before two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the Eagles found the end zone just once in the game's previous 41 minutes.
Naples finished with 229 yards rushing, but more than half that total came on two big runs by Pratt in the fourth quarter. In addition to his 42-yard score, The senior tailback's 76-yard dash set up Juno Prudhomm's one-yard scoring dive midway through the final period.
With just one starter back from last year's defense that gave up eight touchdowns in 10 regular season games, the Eagles struggled early against the Spartan's speed and athleticism on offense. Pace's very first play from scrimmage was a screen pass from Stephen Morris to Derrick Hopkins that Hopkins turned into a 78-yard touchdown.
Pace junior running back Deandre Johnson finished with 143 yards rushing on 16 carries. Johnson gained 133 yards in the first half thanks to scoring runs of 24 and 38 yards.
The Eagles defense tightened in the second half, limiting Pace to 66 yards rushing on 23 carries. The Spartans managed 107 yards after halftime after gaining 271 yards in the first two quarters.
"What can I say about that team?" Pace coach Alvin Slaughter said. "That team was hard. That team had heart. Man that team showed heart in the second half."
Carlos Hyde gained a hard-earned 69 yards on 16 carries. Before Pratt's big runs, his final carries of the game, he had been limited to 13 yards on six carries.
Josh Elizondo played for Naples against Pace. Elizondo was not on the team's roster in last weeks' preseason game against Hialeah. The senior defensive lineman is the only returning starter for the Eagles.
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Nothing like a little heart ache to bring a team closer together. Coach tested the team tonight and they came up a little short... hopefully when it's on the line later in the season this experience will make them that much stronger. 50yd Field Goal... can anyone say holy crap!!! A leg like that is always nice to have on the team. Go Eagles!!!
#1 Posted by youngtimer on September 6, 2008 at 2 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Eagles!!!! What a game, down to the very last second.
My entire section was yelling for them to go for the kick-- guess they couldn't hear us.
That's OK, we still love you.
Kramer for President!
#2 Posted by lizzyb on September 6, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's just football. Life will go on.
#3 Posted by FedUp on September 6, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kramer for best recruiter in the state !
#4 Posted by raspberry on September 6, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
best recruiter? Recruiter of what? There's no recruiting in public school football.... I was at a different game but it was a good choice going for the win at the end with the momentum.
#5 Posted by Rugbystate9champ on September 6, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all....GO EAGLES!
kramer made a stupid mistake, thats all.
he shouldve just let Puma kick for the one point and gone into overtime! he decided to be greedy.
the eagles arent about greed and not about SMOTHERING the other team. We were number one in the state and nation. One loss will only make our team strounger. that was one of the most exciting, adreniline pumping games ive ever been to. silence took over naples side the last minute of the game. im so sad.
whatever, GO NAPLES GOLDEN EAGLES!
#6 Posted by EmilyNHS on September 6, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Coach Kramer & staff for School Board.
#7 Posted by dooley on September 6, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Puma hit a freaking 50 yard field goal!!!! But NDN would rather not mention that...of course. Naples will route all the area teams. Good learning experience for the young team.
#8 Posted by slayer on September 6, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#12 post I agree, Kramer has no ethics.Put him on the school board. They have a lot in common. Lying and deceit.
#9 Posted by MONKABOY on September 6, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like some sour pusses who got beat by the Eagle machine. If you played sports when you were in school you probably had the same attitude when you got your helmets handed to you, oh they cheated.
#10 Posted by buster1 on September 6, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NAPLES HIGH TILL I DIE.
#11 Posted by kramerisgod on September 6, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
High school football? I could not give a rats posterior.
#12 Posted by Sanity on September 6, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you think Kramer has not recruited then you live in a fantasy land. I personally know instances of when he did it.
#13 Posted by raspberry on September 6, 2008 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with ethic101. i have in fact seen some of his coaching staff go to other schools and film practices. i also personally know kids who have been recruited. Remember the naples gators on their sidelines last year? everything to do with that is totally illegal.
#14 Posted by trojans58 on September 6, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a game. We all have played games in our past. ie. checkers, monopoly, go-fish, etc. If our school district is hurting for money, we shouldn't spend the money on facilities, equipment, coach's. Why don't we have this much enthusiasm in our studies?
#15 Posted by whatsright on September 7, 2008 at 12:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are only two kinds of people in the world, Golden Eagles, and those who want to be Golden Eagles! Kramer, The Eagles love ya! Who cares, what the want to be THINKs :p
#16 Posted by Disney on September 7, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lol yea the 2 best teams in the state lol all you team proved tonight coach is that they're overrated. they'll be lucky to get past south fort myers in the playoffs and even though immokalee lost naples will still have a hard time winning against them in a place where kramer has NEVER WON. oh and disney they 2 kinds of people those who are eagles and those who have kicked your sorry butts 17 out of the last 20 games. GO INDIANS!!!!!
#17 Posted by nonesense08 on September 7, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bust1 one that statement actually sounds familiar to me especailly since in high school (immokalee) i never once lost to naples yet naples had excuses coming out the you know what. here are some of my favorites dwayne coleman didn't play or the game didn't count or the ref called bad calls. lets from 1992 to 2001 immokalee 10 naples 0.lol
#18 Posted by nonesense08 on September 7, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Gator boys were invited to come to the game and hang out with the Eagles because they had been pen pals for months. Something that STEVE QUINN at the Gators initiated, NOT Naples High.
That was a real life lesson for them, as they showed up at the game in their shirts, thinking they were going to get to stand by the big boys, only to be told that some whiners had alleged recruiting violations. It took numerous explanations to try and explain THAT one to some of the youngsters-- some never did get it.
Great role modeling.
Naples lost Friday night, no doubt. No whining from me. Bad decision to not kick. Pace played a heck of a game, and looked better than NHS-- that's how it goes.
I would guess that EVERY high school coach who has been remotely successful watches other schools' practice sessions. What do you think goes on in college? Ditto for recruiting. And THAT'S been going on since I was in high school, many years ago.
#19 Posted by lizzyb on September 7, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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