So close, yet so far again

This time, Tevin Drake exuded some vastly different emotions as he reflected on a just completed playoff game at Stan Toole Memorial Stadium.

The two-time All-State senior running back smiled as he described a four-year prep career, one of the finest in Hernando County history.

A career that came to a close Friday in a Class 3A, Region II quarterfinal at Citra-North Marion, a 34-22 loss that was closer than the final score would indicate.

"I can't believe it's over," Drake said. "I'm going to miss playing for Nature Coast. I played for them so long, man it's finally over. No more number four at Nature Coast.

"...We're a tough team. The stuff we went through and we still made the playoffs and we were still a good team. All the stuff we went through, another team probably could have done it, but it made us so much stronger. I respect all the players for doing that."

Unlike after a 2007 regional defeat at this same venue, when a critical fourth-quarter fumble by Drake derailed a potential upset bid, he had a far more upbeat attitude.

However, the inability of the Sharks (7-4) to get him - and ultimately their bread-and-butter offense - cranking proved their undoing against the fourth-ranked Colts (10-1).

Drake finished with 111 on 23 carries yards thanks to a 55-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the game. But he went into halftime with 10 rushes for zero yards.

"They've got some big boys up front," Nature Coast Head Coach Mark Lee said. "Number 70 (Courtland Thomas) was a man-child.

"...It seemed like any time we got something going, we had a bad play to go back. We were unable to execute our offense like we wanted to."

Early blitz

Despite Drake's initial struggles, as well as the absence of fullback Antwan Story (bruised ribs), the Sharks managed to jump on the Colts early to the tune of a 9-0 first-quarter lead.

They took advantage of North Marion's attention to Drake, as C.J. Baker connected with Ja'Juan Story on a patented play-action pass on fourth-and-5 from the Colt 45.

Baker's throw down the middle found an open Story downfield for the game's first touchdown with 1:39 left in the opening quarter.

"As much as we run inside with Tevin, the safeties come down to help out," Lee said. "That's fine. With the receivers we've got like Ja'Juan, they're able to get downfield for us. That's been a big play for us all year."

On the next play from scrimmage, Richard Hart recovered a fumble to give the ball back to Nature Coast 15 yards from the end zone.

That resulted in a 33-yard field goal by Tyler Callaghan, who had his previous PAT blocked, as time expired in the first.

At that point the Sharks had the Colts looking shaky and momentum clearly on their sideline. They appeared to force a three-and-out, except that North Marion was bailed out by a pass interference call.

A 54-yard pass from Chuckie Looney to Sean Prince set up an 18-yard scoring rush by Jamie Gilmore.

Three minutes later, C.J. Richardson burst up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown, following an impressive 67-yard run by Gilmore as he somehow escaped the defense's clutches.

Justin Beetz recorded his second blocked PAT in two weeks to keep it at 13-9, the score at halftime.

Tight till the end

Gilmore's 48-yard dash made it 20-9 less than two minutes into the third quarter. Then Justin Murray's 35-yard kickoff return seemed to jumpstart Drake and Nature Coast.

Drake chewed up 30 yards on consecutive plays and the Sharks lucked out when Jamel Byrd recovered a fumble and took it 12 yards to the end zone.

That luck ran out, though, when Baker fumbled inside his own 5-yard line. This time the Colts pounced, Devon Brant returning it for a critical score at the 6:01 mark of the fourth.

With Nature Coast in desperation mode, North Marion turned an interception into a B.J. Franklin's 1-yard touchdown run to seal the proceedings.

Gilmore, a sophomore with 1,364 yards and 11 scores on the ground in the regular season, had 180 yards on 18 rushes in his one. That helped the Colt overcome 11 penalties for 93 yards.

"We worked all week long on trying to contain Drake," North Marion Head Coach Craig Damon said. "He's a great running back. He runs the football very well and their defense has given fits to people all year long. We knew we had to be patient, keep our composure. It was going to happen.

"...We just tried to stop (Drake) before he got going. A guy with his size, once he gets in one direction he's hard to bring down. We wanted to tackle him in the backfield before he got going."

The Sharks took the end of their season in stride, considering in 2008 they had to forfeit their playoff spot.

"We're upset," said Lee, in his first year at the helm. "We really felt we could win this game and a couple of things happened for us. We had the opportunity to win.

"It's been an interesting season with the transition we had (to a new coach). The kids did a great job. I wouldn't trade it for the world."

Lee pointed to the fact that his team kept playing even with the outcome all but decided, exhibited on Drake's touchdown on his final prep play with 21 seconds left.

"That means a lot," said Drake, whose career rushing numbers ended up at 5,103 yards and 71 touchdowns. "Just so everybody knows I'm not going to give up. I play until the clock hits zero."

It officially has, for Drake's days in a Nature Coast uniform and the Sharks in 2009.

NORTH MARION 34, NATURE COAST 22
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
NCT 9 0 6 7 - 22
NM 0 13 7 14 - 34

Individual Scoring:
NCT - J. Story 45 pass from Baker (Callaghan kick blocked)
NCT - Callaghan 33 field goal
NM - Gilmore 18 run (Orsono kick)
NM - Richardson 13 run (Orsono kick blocked)
NM - Gilmore 48 run (Orsono kick)
NCT - Byrd 12 fumble recovery (Drake run failed)
NM - Brant 5 fumble recovery (Orsono kick)
NM - Franklin 1 run (Orsono kick)
NCT - Drake 55 run (Callaghan kick)

NCT NM
First Downs 9 8
Atts./Rushing Yds. 47-195 35-230
Comp./Pass Atts./Int. 2-11-2 4-8-0
Passing Yds. 47 85
Total Offense 58-242 43-315
Fumbles Lost 4-1 3-1
Return Yards 7-96 7-51
Punts/Avg. 4-25.3 5-34.4
Penalties 7-55 11-93