All-Area Athletes & Teams
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1503113
www.yoursun.com Page 5 And the Pirate defense? Wow. Pride being what it is in a rivalry game, Charlotte had its chances, particularly after Port Charlotte took its early lead. Twice, the Tarpons forced, but neither time could the offense convert the gifts into points. Michael Valentino eventually got Charlotte on the board with a touchdown pass to Brady Hall just before the half, but when a Tarpons drive stalled out at the Pirates 11 following the break, the Pirates put the game away for their first win in the series since 2019. Guerrier ran for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Streeter had an epic 60-yard reception to set up Guerrier's first score. Brothers Cam and Justice Becerril each had touchdown receptions for the Pirates. Fun fact: They're all back for 2023. NOV. 2, 2022 PLANTING A TITLE Venice won yet another state volleyball title in 2022 and that victory against Hagerty in the championship was quite the battle. But Venice would never have had the opportunity had it not been for its epic rally against Plant in the Region 7A-3 championship match. Down 24-20 in the fourth set and facing match point, the ju- nior Carli Waggoner delivered a string of well-placed serves as Venice stormed back to steal the set, 26-24, on the way to a five-set victory (10-25, 25-22, 16-25, 26-24, 15-9). In so doing, Venice celebrat- ed the 14th regional champi- onship in school history at the TeePee. "That could be one of the best matches in Venice High volleyball history right there," Venice coach Brian Wheatley said that day. "I mean, they had us dead in the water. 18-23. 20- 24. Then little Carli Waggoner went back there with a mis- sion. She ain't little. She has a huge heart, and she went back there with a mission. "We were in the grave and had one hand out." NOV. 11, 2022 DOGS BITE CATS DeSoto County football made its triumphant return to the postseason on this night, winning their Region 2S-4 opener in convincing fashion, 34-7, against visiting Estero. Lil'Dreco Tompkins scored three touchdowns and the Bulldogs' defense forced four Wildcat turnovers to lead the way and cap coach Sam Holland's rapid, two-year rebuild of a proud program. DeSoto County fell the following week at Frostproof, but ended the year 7-4, a far cry from 2020's miserable 0-10 campaign. Following the season, Holland retired and Jeff Lee took the reigns in Arcadia, seeking to continue DeSoto's feel-good story. DEC. 12, 2022 SO CLOSE, BUT … The Venice Indians football team entered the 2022 season as the defending Class 8A state champions. Because nothing is ever permanent when it comes to the FHSAA, any return trip would have to be navigated through the newly minted Class 4A Suburban division. Venice had lost several key pieces from that 2021 title run, but plenty returned and several key newcomers plugged key holes. The 2022 season would be a rocky one as John Peacock and his staff worked the puzzle of putting both sides of the ball together, but by the time the games really mattered, Venice was back to their old tricks. The Indians opened postsea- son play with an 87-20 rout of Riverdale. They followed up with a 39-0 win against Lehigh and 35- 15 victory over Riverview. Then, after a rousing 42-35 triumph against Buccholz, the Indians were back in the championship game, this time against perenni- al powerhouse, Lakeland. In a taut, low-scoring affair in Fort Lauderdale, Venice quarterback Brooks Bentley drew first blood with a 20-yard touchdown run two plays after Elliot Washington II's intercep- tion on Lakeland's second play from scrimmage. Lakeland responded and knotted the game at 7-7. Alvin Johnson III capped an 80-yard drive with a short touchdown run. Lakeland responded and knotted the game at 14-14. The Dreadnaughts finally got the drop on Venice and scored midway through the third quarter for their first lead of the game, 21-14. As they had done the entire game, the two defenses traded body blows throughout the rest of the second half. With time running down, Venice mounted one, last charge. Facing a 4th-and-6 near the Lakeland 15, Keyon Sears took scampered down to the Lakeland 9 but was ruled short of a first down by mere chain links. TITLES FROM PAGE 4A SUN FILE PHOTO BY JUSTIN FENNELL Members of the Venice volleyball team celebrate their playoff victory against Plant High School in November. The epic comeback paved the way to a state championship for the Indians. SUN FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS BLAKE DeSoto County's Lil'Dreco Tompkins stiffarms an Estero defender on the way to one of his three touchdowns as the Bulldogs completed a two-year turnaround with a 34-7 regional playoff victory. SUN FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS BLAKE Venice's Jamarice Wilder breaks free from the Lakeland defense during the Class 4S state championship game in December. Venice lost, but the defeat didn't dim the achievement of getting back to the title tilt for a second consecutive year. SEE TITLES, 6A