Dale Caparaso (center) has the Spoto Spartans off to an undefeated start
Under the guidance of Coach Cap, the Spoto High School Spartans won a tight game at Alonso High on Sept. 11, and as a result Caparaso was named the Buccaneers' Week Two High School Coach of the Week…The school will receive $1,000 to apply to their football program
When junior kicker Carlos Andrade joined the Spoto High School football team this season, he told his new teammates he would one day kick a game-winning field goal. In just his second game of organized football, he was given the chance.
On Friday, September 11, the Spoto Spartans traveled to Alonso to take on the host Ravens. Thanks to three sacks by senior John Adkins and a pair of interceptions by junior Donald Smith, Spoto held Alonso to just one score in four quarters of play. Late in the fourth quarter, Spoto Head Coach Dale Caparaso signaled for Andrade, who calmly nailed a 23-yard field goal to secure a 10-7 Spartan victory. The win improved Spoto High to 2-0, a record they improved to 3-0 with a 42-0 win over East Bay on Sept. 17.
As a result of that victory, Coach Caparaso was named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers High School Coach of the Week for Week Two of the 2009 season. "Coach Cap," along with senior running back Jamar Burns, junior fullback/linebacker Rodney Williams and Athletic Director Cornelius Bobo visited One Buccaneer Place Thursday afternoon for a tour of the training facility and an opportunity to watch the Buccaneers practice. Following the team's afternoon session, Head Coach Raheem Morris greeted the group and congratulated the Spartans for their impressive start to the 2009 season.
During the visit, Williams expressed his feelings on the award bestowed upon his coach.
"He deserves it," the junior said. "When coach came to this program he turned it around, and he's going to help us win a lot of ballgames."
Along with a signed certificate, Buccaneers hat and personalized football presented by Coach Morris, Caparaso received $1,000 towards the Spartans' football program.
"This was a great experience," Caparaso said after practice. "It was good for the kids and good for me and Mr. Bobo. We really enjoyed ourselves today, and considering we're a new school, we're always looking for ways to raise money. This money will help us greatly."
The Buccaneers will honor ten high school coaches from West Central and Central Florida during this year's prep football season. A Coach of the Year, who receives an additional $1,000 for his football program, will be selected from the ten weekly winners at the end of the season. The Buccaneers and National Football League's Coach of the Week program aids in the development of youth football, which has a positive influence on young athletes and the communities in which they live.
