TAVERNIER -- The long Coal Shores High football season came to a close Friday night as the Hurricanes ended the season with a 42-7 loss to Archbishop Carroll on their home field. With the loss, the 'Canes conclude the year without a victory, but coach Kelly Clark says his team gained a lot in the process.
"This year, we did things the right way and the kids learned valuable lessons," said Clark. "We took a step in the right direction. We certainly played tough, tough competition, week in and week out, and these guys never quit."
The Hurricanes, which only have six seniors on the squad, knew it was going to be a rebuilding year and, according to senior Dylan Mats, they left the field knowing there was a bright future ahead of them.
"They know what we need to become successful," Mats said of the underclassmen. "We can be on those team's level and we know what we have to do to get there."
With swirling winds making it tough on the passing game, it was the ground attack that excelled for both teams and Coral Shores tailback Kyle Hargis led the way for the 'Canes, picking up 73 yards on the ground to go along with the only Hurricanes' score.
On the third play of the game, the Bulldogs' running attack struck first when Gabriel Melendez found a seam to the outside and ran for a 50-yard touchdown.
Coral Shores responded with a 31-yard scoring run by Hargis to tie the game at seven. However, the Bulldogs scored 35 unanswered points, following the Hurricanes' touchdown, to take the commanding victory.
Two plays into Carroll's next drive Leroy Clark took his turn to the outside and reached pay dirt after a 51-yard run.
On Coral Shores' next drive, a blocked punt in the end zone and recovery of the loose ball by the Bulldogs led to a 14-point lead and just before the half, Clark punched in a touchdown from four yards out to give the Bulldogs a 28-7 advantage at the break.
Carroll opened the second half by shutting down the Coral Shores offense and driving the ball down the field, capped off by a 14 yard touchdown by Clark.
The Bulldogs sent the game to a running clock in the fourth quarter after Melendez rushed for his second 50-yard touchdown of the game.
Despite being on the short side of the score at the final buzzer, Mats said the emotions were high on the field and he was happy to have had this experience with this group of teammates.
"I love my teammates and couldn't have asked for a better group to play with," said Mats. "This has made me 100 percent a better person. I've learned about leadership and hard work. Our coaches are amazing and have done everything for us."
As for his coach, after a first year as head man in charge of the Hurricanes without a victory, Clark said he was still very pleased how the players worked all season.
"I'm probably more proud of them then a number of teams I've had that won a lot of games," Clark said of this year's squad. "It could have been very easy to quit and to walk away from it. My hats off to all these kids."
jwcooke@keysnews.com