Pace Defense Records 3rd Straight Shutout
By Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat
Oct. 4, 2002 
       

            A 35-0 score might indicate a Pace blowout of Gulliver, but this game was not a blowout by any means. While its offense stumbled and bumbled all over the field fumbling the ball six times and losing four, the defense won the game scoring two touchdowns and limiting the Raiders to 76 yards of total offense while recording their third straight shutout.

            Safety Lavon Ponder picked off a pass at the Pace 15-yard line with under 30 seconds remaining in the first half, returning it 85 yards bobbing and weaving through traffic to give the Spartans a 14-0 lead heading into halftime.

            Having fumbled on its first play of the game in a monsoon, Gulliver was unable to mount any attack under the Spartans' swarming defense.

            Jerry Seymour made quick work of Pace's next possession scoring on a 35-yard run after Anthony Sandstrom connected with Mike Jones on a 38-yard pass play to give Pace a 1st and 10 at the Gulliver 35. Seymour finished with 200 yards on 17 carries and 3 touchdown runs of 35, 69 and 24 yards.

            "As you know the weather is a great equalizer, "Pace head coach Joe Zaccheo said. "The kids were a little tentative trying not to make a mistake. We played it close to the vest, but Ponder's interception gave us a lot of momentum going into the half."

            The Spartans came out firing on all cylinder in the second half though as the defense put another 6 on the board as James McDowell recovered a Ryne Phillips fumble returning it for the score to open up a 21-0 lead.

            Seymour came on to score two more touchdowns as Pace improved to 5-0.

            The defense lead by Ponder, McDowell and Kevin Brown, who had 2 interceptions, allowed the Raiders to cross the 50-yard line only once the entire game, and that drive ended up in Ponder's score.

            "Our defense kept us in it today until we were able to make adjustments at the half," Zaccheo said. "I want to make sure that we don't get flat after games because we can never take our opponents lightly."

Pace hasn't given up a point since the fourth quarter of their game against Jacksonville Trinity Christian, spanning 12 quarters.