Prep football: First Baptist roars past Marco Island Academy to notch undefeated regular season

First Baptist roars past MIA

Lions have undefeated regular season.

The First Baptist Academy Lions celebrated its four-year journey to respectability, raising the Class 2A-District 6 trophy on Friday night.

The Lions completed an undefeated regular season (10-0), downing first-year program Marco Island Academy, 61-0.

FBA Administrator Tom Rider hugged coach Billie Sparacio as they shared the trophy with the team after the game.

"I am very happy and proud of our kids," Sparacio said. "It was a lot of hard work and perseverance."

The Lions host Largo-Indian Rocks Christian School in the first round of the playoffs next Friday.

Sparacio wants the journey to continue beyond the first playoff game.

"We have more to do," he said. "Now we focus on what's to come, we want to keep playing."

The happy ending concluded FBA's Senior Night. When the 13 senior players were introduced, the announcer told how many years each player had been playing varsity football. It totaled 45 years.

The 25 Manta Rays completed their first season with a 2-8 record.

MIA coach Andy Delgado remained upbeat after the lopsided loss.

"We knew we had to pay our dues," he said. "FBA was once in our position. We are already drawing interest by other athletes who most likely will join the team next year."

FBA's experience showed quickly as it scored in the first 42 seconds.

The Manta Rays opened the game boldly, trying an onside kick which the Lions fell on at the MIA 45. A penalty and two plays later, a 25-yard hookup between quarterback Jonah Beutel and Alex Diaz accounted for the score.

FBA scored four more times in the first quarter and had a 55-0 halftime lead.

After reserve Dylan Cibelli scored from 15 yards out to make it 48-0, the Manta Rays' Delgado asked for a running clock at 9:05 in the second quarter.

For the half, the Manta Rays were 1-for-10 passing for 10 yards and two interceptions. They rushed 13 times for no yards.

Halftime statistics for the Lions showed 204 yards rushing, good for six touchdowns, Bueltel and Corey Todd each completed two passes, good for 63 yards, including Bueltel's touchdown pass.

Other FBA players crossing the goal line were Cibelli, a second touchdown, Chris Dorrill, 2, cousins Jonah and Cole Bueltel, one each, Christian Rodrigues and Dillon Brocius on a pass interception.