Lemon Bay quarterback Lucas Sparks looked across the line at Charlotte’s goal-line defense and called his own number. He easily covered the three yards between him and paydirt with 1:13 remaining on the clock, sucking the collective breath from Tarpon Nation while fans of the Mantas and Port Charlotte roared in unison.
Sparks’ touchdown had pulled Lemon Bay to within 7-6 and a playoff berth would be decided on Lemon Bay coach D.J. Ogilvie’s next play call.
He opted to skip a game-tying extra point and stay with the hot hand. Sparks took the snap, then took off for a potential game-winning two-point conversion.
Charlotte’s Clyde Newton and Mike D’Alessandro cut down Sparks short of the goal line and …
And?
The two teams never played again.
That epic battle took place in 2012. It didn’t happen at Lemon Bay or Charlotte. Rather, the two met on Port Charlotte’s home field in the first quarter of a three-way District 7A-11 playoff tiebreaker. Lemon Bay stayed alive by defeating Port Charlotte, 14-0, in the second quarter, but Charlotte ended the matter with a 10-7 win over the Pirates.
“These things are crazy,” then-Charlotte coach Binky Waldrop said afterward. “You know, Lemon Bay scores and goes for two (and is tackled) inside the 1-yard line. They get that, and we’re on the bus ride home.”
That was the last time all three Charlotte County schools were in the same district. Lemon Bay dropped to Class 5A the following season. While the Mantas and Pirates continued to meet for a few more years, Lemon Bay and Charlotte never again donned their cleats in anger
That non-aggression treaty technically remains in place on Friday when the two teams finally meet again for the 2024 Kickoff Classic. Though the game will not go down on the official record, seeing the county foes renew acquaintances spices up what typically is the most vanilla week of the football season.
All seven area teams — including Babcock — are in action Friday, though none of the other games drip with the historical significance of the Mantas-Tarpons affair.
Here’s a primer on Week 0’s slate:
LEMON BAY AT CHARLOTTE
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Tarpon Stadium, Punta Gorda.
What about it: While that one-quarter tiebreaker 12 years ago was a humdinger, it should be noted the Mantas-Tarpons rivalry has always been a one-sided affair and was spiraling away from Lemon Bay at the time it ended. Charlotte outscored Lemon Bay 188-9 over their final five regular-season meetings (Charlotte did lose once, when their 37-3 victory in 2007 was ruled a Tarpon forfeit). … First-year coach Jason Mensing will be keeping an eye on the Mantas’ retooled offensive line and might bring a little more variety to the play calling as he figures out just what he has in the running and passing games. … After flashing substantial offensive play-making ability against Barron Collier in the spring game, the Tarpons will see whether or not it was a fluke while also hoping to clean up things on defense, where they proved susceptible to big plays.
NORTH PORT AT MOORE HAVEN
When: 7:30
Where: 700 Terrier Pride Dr SW, Moore Haven, FL 33471
What about it: The Terriers are one of the smaller programs in the state but their bite might be mightier than their bark. Relatively young a year ago, Moore Haven when 7-4 against a Class 1S schedule, winning their first playoff game before falling to eventual powerhouse, First Baptist. … The Terriers should return a healthy portion of its offense from that team and could be an intriguing crew to watch in Rural Class 1A. … Expect the Bobcats to play everyone, because that’s what these games are for. A dual purpose, of course, is to avoid injuries. Mostly a running team, it wouldn’t be surprising to see North Port allow QB Gino DiBene to air it out a little bit, maybe building a little rapport with Makai Bernard, but if Friday’s game provides some clarity behind Peter Kalphat at running back, then mission accomplished. Sophomores Kristian Palmer, Tay’Shaun and Jude Kersnason should see action at the position.
PORT CHARLOTTE AT RIVERVIEW
When: 7 p.m.
Where: 1 Ram Way, Sarasota, FL 34231
What about it: This would be a banger of a regular season game. As is, it will probably still have the feel of one. Riverview has a tough slate ahead, so the Rams might treat this more as a dress rehearsal than a time for experimentation. Where Riverview might let its foot off the gas is at running back, where 1,000-yard rushers DJ Johnson and Isaiah Belt return. No need to put them in harm’s way, especially when the night could be all about former Venice QB Anthony Miller getting reps in his first true start. … Port Charlotte will also be likely be limiting reps to some of its more important players while trying to come out on the right side of the scoreboard. Expect a heavy rotation on the defensive line, where superstar interior linemen Myron Charles and King Justice may give way to depth after working up a sweat. Seeing how new QB Logan Flaherty syncs up with his receivers while guiding the Pirates’ ship is also of keen interest. … These two have only played each other twice in the MaxPreps era, both pre-Jordan Ingam. The Rams swept the home-and-home series 41-3 and 35-14 in 2009-10
GADSDEN COUNTY AT VENICE
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Powell-Davis Stadium, Venice
What about it: Friday’s biggest takeaway for the small, far-flung Jaguars may be learning how to ride the bus for hours on end. Hailing from the Tallahasse-area suburb of Havana, the Class 2A program went 6-5 a year ago in Class 2S and lost several key playmakers from that team. … Venice will likely treat this game in the same manner NFL teams approach the first week of the exhibition season. Expect the starters to work up a sweat, then hand it over to the reserves.
DESOTO COUNTY AT LAKEWOOD RANCH
When: 7 p.m.
Where: 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211
What about it: When we last saw the Mustangs, they lost to Venice, 53-6, in the Class 4S regional playoffs. Lakewood Ranch ended up 4-7 in 2023, losing to Lemon Bay along the way, but played a lot of players, which should lessen the impact of what appears to have been a decent-sized senior class, though transfers also dented the roster. … The Mustangs’ situation may play into what DeSoto County needs to get done on Friday under first-year coach Cliff Lohrey. Several key players are back for the Bulldogs, but finding playmakers to help QB Rylan Unruh carry the load will be key. After the spring game, another primary focus for DeSoto County will be keeping the yellow hankies in the officials’ back pockets.
BABCOCK AT CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Gainesville
What about it: While the area’s other games are exhibitions, this one is a live-fire exercise and, other than the painfully long drive, Babcock couldn’t ask for a more ideal opponent for its first-ever game. The Crusaders went 1-8 a year ago and haven’t posted a winning campaign since 2018. They are also a perennial 6-man program stepping up to 8-man alongside the Trailblazers.
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