Going Out With A Bang?

You can rest assured that sometime during this week, Springstead football coach Bill Vonada gathered his team close around and whispered three words that he wanted his team to remember before it plays Lecanto tonight at 7:30 p.m. on the road: "Remember River Ridge."

Before that game, Springstead was 5-1 and unbeaten in Class 4A, District 8 while the Royal Knights were 0-6. But River Ridge scored three touchdowns in the last quarter to beat the Eagles 31-14 and set the course for the rest of the Eagles' season.

Now it is the final game of the 2008 season and the Eagles, using the common cliche, 'Have nothing to play for.'

But in fact, the Eagles have a ton to play for tonight as they try to finish their season with a 7-3 mark against a Panther team they have beaten five straight times by a combined score of 174-15.

Springstead also found out Tuesday that it's now co-champion of Hernando County after Nature Coast Technical forfeited its game against Central by order of the Florida High School Athletic Association.

While tonight's game is being played in Citrus County, the game is sort of a Senior Night for Vonada and his team. Springstead is saying goodbye to 12 seniors tonight and most of them have been major contributors to the Eagles' 6-3 season.

They are led by senior quarterback James Mahla, the leading passer in Hernando County. Mahla goes into his final game having completed over 55 percent of his passes for 1,264 yards, with 12 touchdowns against two interceptions. He also is the leading rusher for the Eagles with 505 yards and another eight touchdowns.

Along with Mahla, the other leading Eagle players making their last appearance in the Red, White and Blue include Ben Noury, Domnique Roberson, Bryce Hollingshead, Mike Greco, Daniel Wilson, Stan Miele and Zach Bailey.

The other key Eagle seniors include: Glenn Clarke, James Wozniak and Nate Schafer.

For Lecanto, tonight ends another disappointing season as the Panthers enter the game with a 1-8 record. They have been outscored in those eight games by a total of 202-66 and have lost 33 of their last 34 games.

But in the end, Vonada will probably repeat his warning to his team, just to be on the safe side.