PREP FOOTBALL: Tarpons top Mantas in renewed rivalry

PUNTA GORDA — If something truly amazing happens during a Kickoff Classic game, it’s typically because something really bad happened.

Nothing really bad happened on Friday night when Charlotte and Lemon Bay played each other for the first time in 12 years. Therefore, there were not many memorable moments beyond a big night from Tarpons receiver Seven Bullock as Charlotte came away with a 20-6 victory.

“We were able to clear the benches and got a lot of kids in the game and on tape,” Charlotte coach Cory Mentzer said. “They got playing experience after three weeks of practices, dealing with heat, dealing with lightning. I’m just happy to be back here and to play a game. Renew the old county rivalry, right?”

The last time these two teams met was in 2012 during a one-quarter district playoff tiebreaker that Charlotte won, 7-6. For a time, it appeared that same exact result was in the cards. Mantas running back Adam Schwartz turned his first carry of the game into a 37-yard festival of missed tackles and bad angles on his way to the end zone for a 6-0 Lemon Bay lead.

A short while later, Lemon Bay’s overhauled defense surrendered its one bad play of the game. Charlotte quarterback Teagen Lipke hit Bullock on a quick slant, then Bullock made a few Mantas miss as he streaked down the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown and a 7-6 Tarpons lead.

“We played much better defensively than we did in the spring game,” Lemon Bay coach Jason Mensing said. “So that was something really exciting.”

Missed opportunities eventually became a theme for the Mantas. Twice, potential interceptions were bobbled and dropped, though Caleb Hutcherson did stop one Tarpons drive with a pick.

Charlotte finally gave itself some breathing room during its first drive of the second half, marching 52 yards on seven plays. Jackson Hey capped the drive by taking a little shuttle flip from Lipke the last six yards for a 13-6 Tarpons lead.

Bullock later capped the scoring with a 7-yard, toe-dragging reception on a razzle-dazzle play in which Hay took a handoff and then threw the pass.

The final numbers for Lemon Bay weren’t pretty, but other than one lost fumble, the Mantas avoided disaster on offense. The Mantas totaled 148 yards on 40 run plays, but never got their passing game going, missing on all four attempts.

“It’s a process; people don’t realizing how difficult our offense is to run, to execute,” Mensing said. “There is so much nuance to it and when we get good at it, we’re going to cause problems.

“But we’re still a ways from being good at it.”

Charlotte will open the regular season at home next Friday against Gulf Coast. Lemon Bay will open the season on the road at Lakewood Ranch.

KEY STATS: Bullock put up the night’s gaudiest stats, gathering in four passes for 117 yards and the two touchdowns. … Charlotte finished with 270 total yards of offense, 209 of which came through the air. Lipke completed 9 of 13 passes for 170 yards and two scores. … Schwartz led all rushers with 55 yards on just four carries. Drew Smith added 43 on 12 carries while Drew Moorman had 39 yards on 10 totes.

KEY PLAYS: Trent Curliss halted what had been a decent Lemon Bay drive to open the second half by forcing and recovering a fumble. … Hutcherson’s interception in the first quarter set up the game’s first score after he returned the pick to the Tarpons’ 44-yard line. … Bullock’s first touchdown was a thing of beauty. After making a couple of Mantas miss, he tap-danced down the sideline, somehow keeping his feet in bounds before turning on the jets.

QUICK HITS: Mentzer said the plan this season would be to use two quarterbacks — Lipke as the starter and McCullough for change-of-pace packages. McCullough provided an instant spark when he came in midway through the third quarter, rattling off a pair of runs for 21 yards. He would finish with 35 yards on six carries. … 177 of Charlotte’s 279 total yards came on first down, including 140 passing yards. … Tarpon Stadium has a new name after the school’s sponsorship deal went through this week. It is now known as Smuggler’s Stadium.

QUOTES: “We had some bright spots and we had some low moments, but you know, that’s expected. First game of the year. We were in the gym for the last six days.” — Mentzer.

“We’ve got a lot way to go, but we’re going to be good. You’ve got to trust the process. It’s not going to be easy.” — Mensing.