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Photo Credit: Bradley Walker NGSC Sports
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Under a beautiful cloudless blue sky and humiditiy, the Pinellas Park High School Patriots had their spring game. They traveled off campus to Boca Ciega High School, home of the Pirates. From the sounds and sights, there were more fans there for the visiting Patriots than the home Pirates.
This is spring football, and it showed where these teams are currently at. The Patriots lost a ton of talent and experience to graduation. Head coach Max Smith not only lost players but also assistants.
Pinellas Park wore their road all white uniforms with white helmets. The Pirates were in yellow tops, yellow helmets, and navy-blue pants. Before the game started, both teams ran towards the middle of the field.
The Pinellas Park Patriots won the toss and deferred to the second half. In the spring game there are no kickoffs. Bogey had the ball and did not waste much time. They mixed it up on their opening possession and it resulted in an opening touchdown. The Patriots were unable to stop the Pirates passing attack. The next question was, could Pinellas Park answer with a touchdown of their own. This is where youth and lack of experience came into place. The first two snaps were offsides penalties that come from only one returning offensive lineman from last year. Once the Patriots were able stop committing penalties, they had trouble protecting the quarterback. Another new face on that side of the ball.
In fact, for most of the first quarter, the Pirates held on to the ball and their scoring drive lasted over eight minutes of a 12-minute quarter. Pinellas Park scored for their second possession and at the time had the game tied at seven. Unfortunately, that was the closest the Patriots would have to tie or leading the game. As the game hit the half, Pinellas Park trailed 17-7.
The Pirates used their offense and defense to keep Pinellas Park off balance. Trailing by ten points gave the Patriots fans reason to chirp. Both teams left the field and that gave both times to adjust at the half. As the second half started, it seemed the Pirates did not have to change much.
The Pinellas Park Patriots were able to get some offense started as they focused on the bread and butter from last year, the run game. Unfortunately, the offensive line had issues that resulted in a Pats turnover after the running back was stripped of the ball. That turnover resulted in a Pirates touchdown drive via the passing game.
As the game was winding down, the Patriots would find the end zone and get within ten points. The biggest play on offense came near the end of the game as the Patriots on a passing play that got them near the endzone. On the next play the quarterback scrabbled and fell short of a touchdown and that was the game. The Patriots will have the rest of the spring to grow as a team before the season opens in the fall.
Is the experience factor important when it comes to a team that has many new faces? Leave a comment below.
For all your high school football news log on to NGSCsports.com.
For more follow me on Facebook: Bradley Walker, on X: bradwalker3083, and my weekly sports podcast: The Walker Report.
Author Profile
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Director of Operations for NGSC Sports
Covers USF Athletics in Football, Baseball, Lacrosse, and Softball.
Also covered both major and minor league baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays and Clearwater Threshers.
He also covers college football bowl and conference championship games.
It might seem like just covers team sports he also covers both the PGA & LIV Tours and writes and announces for the Pinellas Park High School Patriots in football and basketball.
He also has two sports podcasts in the P&W Sports Report and The Walker Report.
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About the Author
[…] has been exciting to be a fan or parent of a player for the Pinellas Park High School Patriots football team. The last two years, under the great coaching of Max Smith and his excellent […]