Saturday, Sep. 27, 2008

Bustos' field goal leads Bayshore to first win

BRADENTON

- Maybe all Bayshore High needed to get its season headed in the right direction was for the district schedule to begin.

In a game with many lead changes, the Bruins broke a late deadlock by scoring 10 points in the final 20 seconds to defeat visiting Seminole Osceola 31-21 in a Class 4A-District 9 football game at Balvanz Stadium during homecoming Friday night.

"It's a new chance for them," said Bayshore coach Jean P. Gordon, talking about opening district play.

Junior kicker Jhonathan Bustos came on with the clock ticking down for the game's decisive moment. Bayshore had no timeouts left, so they were forced to rush the kicking team onto the field.

It was no bother for Bustos, who calmly stepped up in the pressure situation.

"I was so nervous," chuckled Bustos, who nailed a 36-yard field goal with 20.9 seconds remaining. "I said, 'I was going to make it' because I have been making field goals like this in practice."

Earlier in the game, Bayshore (1-3,1-0) built a 14-7 lead with the help from the Seminoles' special teams unit. Bustos kicked off short and no Seminole Osceola player went for the ball. It landed and bounced toward the oncoming Bruins, who used the opportunity to score on a four-play drive capped by Dustin Linderman's seven-yard touchdown run.

"I told (Bustos) to pooch it toward (Seminole Osceola's Mike George)," Gordon said. "We didn't want to kick it to (Seminole Osceola's Edwin McKinney)

After widening the margin to 21-13 early in the second half, the Bruins gave one back to the Seminoles. Linderman had his team moving into Seminole Osceola territory before he unleashed an unforced error. His pass floated over the intended receiver and into the Seminole defense.

Seminole Osceola ended an eight-play drive with a Tyler Lewis 10-yard touchdown run. The Seminoles converted the two-point attempt and the game remained tied until the final minute.

"I counted on everyone else to get their job done and I knew we were going to come out with the victory," Bruins running back Deric Hanson said.

Following the Bustos kick, the Seminoles had one last chance. But the run-oriented squad had to heave a long pass with less than 20 seconds to play. The pass landed into the Alex Jackson's waiting arms. He then darted to his left before cutting back towards the right. After eluding several would-be-tacklers, Jackson raced forward for a 37-yard interception return sealing Bayshore's victory.

The Bruins will stay at home in two weeks when they next face St. Petersburg Lakewood.