Sparkman squeaks by Spain Park 21-18

Staff Reports, Madison Record

Sparkman improved its record to 2-3 with a 21-18 victory over Spain Park Friday night. The victory gave the Senators a win over the team that defeated them 17-3 in the first round of the 2004 playoffs.Sparkman used a late interception by junior linebacker Blake Burns to seal the victory.Burns was also Sparkman's leading star on offense, scoring two touchdowns and carrying the ball seven times for 51 yards.Sparkman led the game 21-10, only to see Spain Park come blazing back behind the play of quarterback Cody Wells.Wells, a sophomore who was pressed into action after an injury ended Auburn-bound Neil Caudle's senior year, completed 6-of-9 passes for 53 yards.Wells completed a touchdown pass to Chris Whitehead and a two-point conversion to Matt Noto to cut the Senators' lead to just three points with 2:39 remaining in the game. The Jaguars recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Burns' interception of Wells' pass gave the Senators the ball back. Burns then ran 19 yards for a first down that allowed the Senators to run out the clock.Sparkman quarterback Whitney McKinney finished the game with 107 yards on 8 of 11 passing.Bryant Williams rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries as he and Burns split time at tailback.

Senators spoil Spain Park Homecoming

Jaguars drop homecoming game
Birmingham News
Saturday, September 24, 2005
CHRIS KIEFFER
News staff writer

Entering Friday's game at Spain Park, Sparkman's biggest strength had been its defense.So the Senators (2-3) decided to use their defense to boost their offense and it carried them to a 21-18 victory over the Jaguars on homecoming at Spain Park (2-3).Sparkman lined up a linebacker and a safety as backs in its wishbone offense and put a defensive end and a defensive tackle on the offensive line. "It gave us a lot of momentum because our defensive kids just don't want to lose," Sparkman head coach Roger Haynes said. "It just carried over and gave our offensive kids momentum and that meant a lot to them."The Senators were led by junior linebacker Blake Burns, who carried the ball seven times for 51 yards and two touchdowns, recorded four tackles and intercepted a pass It was Burns' play on both sides of the ball that sealed the win for Sparkman. With 2:39 remaining, Spain Park cut the score to 21-18 and recovered an onside kick to set up a potential game-tying drive. That's when Burns dove to catch a deflected Cody Wells pass to give the ball back to the Senators. Two plays later, Burns broke several tackles to finish off a 19-yard run that gave Sparkman a first down and allowed it to run out the clock."I can't say enough about (Burns') effort," Haynes said.Sparkman quarterback Whitney McKinney completed 8-of-11 passes for 107 yards, and Bryant Williams ran for 65 yards on 10 carries.Carlos Anderson tallied 51 yards on 15 carries for Spain Park. Wells, a sophomore who split time at quarterback with R.J. Varner, completed 6-of-9 passes for 53 yards. Trailing 21-10, Wells led the Jags on a late scoring drive, throwing to Chris Whitehead for a touchdown and Matt Noto for the two-point conversion.Trey Del Greco missed a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter and made a 23-yarder in the third."We just put ourselves in a hole and we couldn't recover," Spain Park head coach Vince DiLorenzo said.

4th

Passing

• #2 McKinney 8-12 121 yards 0 TD 0 Int

Punting

# 22 Jusmon Rivers- 1 punt -33

#2 McKinney -1 punt -24

29.5 yard average.

Rushing

• # 36 Williams 10-64 1Fum
• # 11 Burns 8-58
• # 5 Ryce 14-39
• # 22 Rivers 1-21
• # 2 McKinney 7-(-2)

Receiving

• #22 Rivers 7-114
• #80 D.Brown 1-7

Sparkman

Spain Park