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LIVE GAME BLOG: Naples 28, Cocoa 21 -- FINAL -- Class 3A semifinals

By ANGELA BUSCH (Contact)

Originally published — 5:03 p.m., December 7, 2007
Updated — 9:41 p.m., December 7, 2007

9:40: It's over -- NAPLES 28 - COCOA 21

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9:39: The outcome never seemed in doubt tonight, even though Cocoa was able to tie the game at 21. Heady plays by Naples upperclassmen leaders, especially Greg Pratt.

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9:38: Pass incomplete. Naples fans starting to celebrate, as the Golden Eagles take over on downs at Cocoa's 41 yardline.

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9:35: Fourth and two for Cocoa from their own 41 -- 1:30 left to play.

9:34: Cocoa backed up on its own 20 with third and 10 to go, but 15-yard penalty on Naples for roughing the passer leads to first and 10 on Cocoa's 33.

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9:30: TOUCHDOWN NAPLES: Greg Pratt escapes to the outside again -- 154 yards for the junior, who always seems to come up big when his team needs him most. Naples up by seven with 2:30 to go.

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9:28: Screen pass to Pratt -- moves Naples up to first down from Cocoa 45.

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9:27: Wingate out already -- twisted up his ankle on a run and has to limp off the field. Poor guy.

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9:25: Naples gets first down on the ground. Starts from midfield, then offsides penalty makes it first and 15 from the 45.

9:23: Naples starts from its own 40. Wingate's in! We'll see how this goes ...

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9:22: Rowe runs it in for a two-point conversion. We're tied in Cocoa.

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9:20: TOUCHDOWN COCOA: Worse than no gain for Naples -- an interception on a bad pass by backup QB Juno Prudhomm leads to a 36-yard TD from Tiger Marquis Dixon. Cocoa is going for two.

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9:17: Near-fumble by Pratt, but the play was dead. Suddenly Naples can't get anything going on the ground. It's 3rd down and 10 from the Naples 32 yardline. 7:52 and counting to go.

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9:14: TOUCHDOWN COCOA: After a couple three and outs for both teams, and Cocoa pinned back to its own four yardline, QB Steve Tagye suddenly launched a 79-yard touchdown pass to David Rowe. And now the momentum swings partially to Cocoa -- but Naples blocked the extra point!

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9:01: TOUCHDOWN NAPLES: Pratt into the endzone -- saw that one coming. Cocoa's stands are mute. Outside route for 11 yards -- great blocking by the o-line. Momentum back to Naples again ...

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8:58: Naples gets a good runback from Cody Frank to the 48 yardline. Then, he follows it up with a 35-yard reception to the Cocoa 16 yardline. I smell another Naples TD. Good timing, after the game just got closer ...

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8:55: TOUCHDOWN COCOA: Sophomore wideout Matt Younger makes a great catch deep in the endzone, outleaping Jamison May on a wobbly pass by Tigers QB Steven Tagye. It's a one-possession game, folks. Gutsy call on 4th and 13.

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8:52: 4th and 13 for Cocoa at Naples 28 yardline. Two run plays for no gain after good pursuit by the Naples D behind the line of scrimmage. Cocoa takes a timeout.

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8:45: Cocoa takes over at its own 34 yardline. After two short gains, back David Rowe explodes for a 27-yard gain to bring Cocoa to the Naples 32 yardline. It's the Tigers' longest gain of the night, and Cocoa continues its march up the field after an offsides call on Naples.

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8:44: Naples can't get much going on the ground and goes three and out in its first possession of the second half.

HALFTIME

8:16: Cocoa gets a 17-yard pass to Brian Rowe, up to the 40 yard line. After a 7-yard run by Smith, it's second and three from Cocoa's 42. But instead of going for it, Smith gets a run up the middle for a gain of one. Then, the Tigers take a delay of game penalty. It's fourth and seven from their own 37, and they have to punt away. Why so tentative down 14-0?

Cocoa's fans weren't happy with the play-calling on that one.

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8:11: Naples stuck at Cocoa's 31-yard line, then called for unsportsmanlike conduct and forced to punt. Cocoa takes over at 8 yard line.

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8:08: Cocoa goes three and out on next possession -- continuing the deflation of the Tigers and their fans. Naples starts at Cocoa's 42-yard line. This thing could get out of control fast ...

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8:02: TOUCHDOWN NAPLES: Juno Prudhomm runs it in on a 2-yard TD keeper, putting Naples up 14-0 with 7:11 to go in the first half. Cocoa and its fans seem a little deflated.

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8:00: Naples takes over at Cocoa's 26 yard line.

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7:59: Naples safety Jack Swanson snatches an interception near Cocoa's 26 yard line. Tagye was trying to throw it out-of-bounds under intense pressure from the Naples D-line, but he couldn't get enough on it, and Swanson grabbed it instead.

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7:52: TOUCHDOWN NAPLES: Greg Pratt outruns everyone else on the field for a 53-yard touchdown run with 10:04 left in the second quarter. Makes up for the personal foul, huh ... no one could keep up with Pratt on that one.

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7:49: Naples takes over on their own 32. Golden Eagles move up 15 yards after personal foul on Cocoa's David Rowe, who leveled Greg Pratt after a run.

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7:47: Naples drives Smith back on third down for no gain and a turnover on downs as the first quarter expires.

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7:46: Smith breaks through the Naples D for a first down on third and one at the 30 yardline. Thought Naples might stuff that one up ... but Smith carrying it well tonight.

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7:44: Prudhomm tackled for loss of four yards near midfield. Naples has to punt.

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7:41: Naples takes over at their own 27 yardline. Starting QB? Juno Prudhomm. Pratt takes first snap for a gain of 17-yard gain up the middle.

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7:40: Third down and 12 for Cocoa, trying to get to the Naples 28 -- QB Steven Tagye throws it away under pressure and is called for intentional grounding. Naples was all over that one, even though Tagye took it from the shotgun.

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7:37: An encroachment call on Naples gives Cocoa third down and one near the Naples 40, and Smith breaks through for another first down.

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7:36: On its first set of downs, Cocoa gets a first down on a run by Brandon Smith up the middle, through a big hole in the Golden Eagle defense. Nicko McNeil nearly gets another first down on the next play, a run outside for eight yards. It takes just one more play, a run by Smith, to give Cocoa another first down and bring the Tigers near midfield.

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7:30: Naples kicker Rob Randolph drives it into the endzone for a touchback. Cocoa will start at its own 20.

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6:53 p.m.: Welcome to Cocoa High School, where the stands are (almost) full, and the Tigers and the Golden Eagles are warming up. Biggest news of the night: quarterback Craig Wingate taking snaps during warm-ups. He looked OK, light on his feet. Good enough to start?

We'll see ...

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