The Sarasota Millionaires may not have shown everything in their offensive playbook, but what they did display was effective in a dominating 32-0 shutout of the N.Y. Demon Knights Saturday night at Booker High School in Sarasota. The game was the final tune-up before the Millionaires embark on their inaugural season in a new league, the UFF, beginning February 9.
The Millionaires opened the scoring midway through the first quarter when former Sarasota High School standout Mike Ford took the handoff from quarterback Mario Davis and ran it into the end zone untouched from four yards out. Ford is attempting to resurrect his football career with the Millionaires after several years of off the field troubles. Marvin “Mo” Harris rumbled in for the 2-point conversion to give Sarasota an 8-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, Mario Davis connected with Marcus Mills on a 30-yard pass setting up a first and goal at the Demon Knights 6 yard line. Patrick “Choo Choo” Brown blasted in for the Millionaires second touchdown. “Mo” Harris added his second 2-pointer to put Sarasota up 16-0.
William Carter intercepted a pass on the Demon Knights next possession setting up the Millionaires third touchdown when “Choo Choo” Brown carried it in from 15 yards out. Justin Thomas added Sarasota’s third consecutive 2-point conversion extending the Millionaires advantage to 24-0.
With 2:45 remaining in the first half, Demon Knights defensive back Eddie Gonzalez suffered a broken arm. Sarasota Emergency Medical technicians spent a half hour on the field treating him before he was carried off the field and transported to a nearby hospital.
The second half was played with a running clock.
Sarasota tallied its fourth touchdown of the game on a 25-yard pass from Mario Davis to Mike Ford at the 10:00 minute mark of the third quarter. A fourth straight 2-pointer made it 32-0.
The Millionaires “Black-out” defense smothered the Demon Knights the entire game by not allowing any completed passes.
Sarasota will open the 2013 regular season on February 9 on the road against the Tampa Bay Stallions.
I spoke with team owner Calvin Williams about his decision to move to a new league, Mike Ford, Head Coach Ernest Givins and more in a video interview posted to this article.
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