Clearwater Academy makes improbable comeback to defeat Sarasota Riverview

SARASOTA, FLORIDA- Still fresh in people’s minds in Florida from last weekend was how the Miami Hurricanes fell 20-17 to Georgia Tech in the final minute.

A similar situation reared its head in Sarasota County when Clearwater Academy International (3-4) pulled off one of the more improbable victories of the season in a 35-33 win over Sarasota Riverview (3-4).

Knights freshman quarterback Joaquin Kavouklis connected on a 36-yard Hail Mary throw to Minnesota commitment Dallas Sims with 0.7 seconds left, capping off one of the top finishes to a game in the Sunshine State for the 2023 season.

How did something like this happen, though?

We could give you a typical gamer to explain how the game went down, but in the final minutes this game really took a crazy turn.

Here's a play-by-play as we saw it live:

1:16 4th down CAI - CAI running back Antwan Raymond on 4th & 3 is stopped after a 1-yard gain, giving the ball back to SR with 1:11 remaining. The Knights currently have two timeouts left at this point.

1:11 1st down SR - SR opts to run the ball on first down instead of taking a knee and Isaiah Belt runs up the middle, but fumbles and CAI defensive lineman Samuel Ehret forced it with CAI linebacker Keyari James recovering the ball with 1:01 remaining in the game. SR starting running back DJ Johnson was out of the game for this play due to cramps.

1:01 1st down CAI - Kavouklis pass intended for wide receiver Mahki Johnson falls incomplete.

0:58 2nd down CAI - Kavouklis throws to an open tight end Brandon Koobay, who wasn't looking and the pass falls incomplete. No yardage gained on first two downs of the drive.

0:53 3rd down CAI - Kavouklis takes a deep shot down the right sideline for Sims, who is double covered on the play. The pass falls incomplete and brings up seemingly one last chance for the Knights.

0:44 4th down CAI - Kavouklis drops back and scrambles around, not seeing anyone downfield, and runs towards the left sideline and goes out of bounds. Short of the first down, it's a turnover on downs and the Rams take over.

0:39 1st down SR - SR quarterback Braxton Thomas takes a knee and after the play concludes, wide receiver Jackson Watrobsky does a back flip, which draws an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and stops the clock. It brings up a 2nd and long now.

0:26 2nd down SR - Thomas takes another knee. Six seconds runs off the clock, with CAI taking one of its two remaining timeouts.

0:20 3rd down SR - Thomas takes another knee, able to run 12 more seconds off the clock. CAI takes its final timeout of the game.

0:08 4th down SR - SR punter Anthony Miller takes snap and sprints to the endzone and steps out of the back for a safety. Only six seconds runs off the clock, forcing the Rams to kickoff the ball to the Knights and giving them an opportunity.

0:02 Kickoff SR - Ball downed at SR 36-yard line

0:01 1st down CAI - 36-yard touchdown pass from Kavouklis to Sims

Final score - Clearwater Academy International 35, Sarasota Riverview 33

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-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl

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