FLAMES FALL, TIGERS WIN IN FOOTBALL
In a curious sequence Friday night at the Grape Bowl, Lodi High football coach Robert Sperling instructed his defense to take a knee and allow St. Mary’s to score a touchdown.
At that point, in what turned out to be a 56-0 Rams’ victory over the Flames on Senior Night, Lodi had lost five players due to injuries and had only 15 healthy bodies in the second quarter. Sperling said several Flames had to play out of position, forcing him to basically throw in the towel.
“It’s a safety issue,” Sperling said. “I’ve got to answer to parents. I’ve got to look in these kids’ eyes. I can’t keep sending these guys out there to get hurt one after the other. I can’t have that. It’s on me to keep them safe. So that’s why the whole taking a knee and the running clock thing transpired.”
Sperling asked for a running clock with 11:40 left in the second quarter with St. Mary’s leading 21-0.
“I didn’t think it was a good idea at that point to do it,” Franks said.
The running clock wasn’t enacted until there were about 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
“They were concerned, and rightfully so,” Franks said. “Some kids got injured and they are down in numbers and they are trying to finish their season.”
Sperling said St. Mary’s presence as the only private school in the Tri-City Athletic League creates a competitive imbalance that was obvious Friday night.
“These guys should not be in this league,” said Sperling, whose team is 4-5 overall and 1-3 in the TCAL. “That’s the bottom line.”
Franks said seeing a team take a knee and allowing the opposition to score was a first for him.
“Never, and I don’t know what would cause that sort of a reaction,” Franks said. “I don’t know.”
The Rams (7-2, 4-0 TCAL) were a model of efficiency in the first half, scoring 42 points on 11 offensive plays with a pick-six by Rick Telitz added for good measure.
Dusty Frampton entered the game needing 22 yards to eclipse the 4,000-yard career rushing mark. He did that and more on his first carry, racing around the left end and through a couple defenders for an 80-yard touchdown. His second carry resulted in another touchdown, this time from 50 yards. The Cal Polybound senior finished with just those two carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his career totals to 4,109 yards rushing and 74 touchdowns.
“It means a lot,” Frampton said. “I can’t help but thank my line because I can’t do it without them. I give all the credit to them. That’s what it comes down to.”
Marcus Aponte completed all six of his throws for 94 yards with touchdowns to Asaralim Moore and Hunter Low before he was given the rest of the night off in the second quarter. Low, Dumaurier Cotton and William Brown had touchdown runs.
Logan Stout completed 3 of 8 passes for 39 yards and two interceptions, and Jake Hayes made a nice 30-yard reception in the first quarter for Lodi.