The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Students have new tool to make campus safer

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By B.C. Manion

When students hear a rumor about a weapon on campus, or know that there bullies running wild – they may want to tell someone, but may be afraid of potential consequences.

Now, there’s a new tool in Pasco County’s public schools that aims to help school officials and law enforcement prevent and prosecute crime on school campuses.

Pasco County Sheriff Bob White and Pasco schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino announced the Campus Crime Stoppers program at a joint news conference last week.

The initiative, which began the first day of school, gives students three ways to anonymously report criminal activity or a suspect, by calling a 24-hour, toll-free hotline, by going to a website, or by texting it in.

The student provides the name and location of the school, along with a description of the criminal activity or the suspect and the program’s coordinator passes that information along to the school resource officer.

Like the traditional crime stopper program, rewards are provided for tips that lead to arrests.

At the time of the news conference, the district had already received 15 anonymous tips, said Summer Romagnoli, school district spokeswoman.

“We’re hoping it will give our students peace of mind in knowing they can report crimes and bullying without any fear of retribution and retaliation,” Romagnoli said.

Besides, students are an excellent source of information, she added.

“Nobody knows what’s going on in their peer group better than the students themselves,” Romagnoli said. “We want to involve them (students) in keeping our campuses safe.”

In addition to the news conference, the district held a poster contest to bring attention to the program and it printed information about it on the back page of a planner it gives to each student to help plan the year ahead, Romagnoli said.

More than 400 entries were received in the poster contest. The winners – created by Rebecca Baer of Zephyrhills High School, Frances Calderin of Rushe Middle School and Savannah Hall of Wesley Chapel Elementary School — now grace walls in schools throughout the district.

To share anonymous tips
Campus Crime Stoppers hotline (800) 873-8477
Web tip: http://www.crimestopperstb.com
Text tip: C-R-I-M-E-S [274637], keyword CSTB

Lutz Market returns Saturday

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By Kyle LoJacono

Market in the Park was an annual staple at Bullard Park in Lutz for more than a decade and the community tradition is returning as Market at the Old Lutz School Oct. 2.
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club puts on the event, which started 10 to 12 years ago, according to event co-chairwomen and club member Phyllis Hoedt. The event was canceled last year because of the fees that were imposed by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department to use department property like Bullard Park.
“It was always a good time and I’m happy we can bring it back,” said Christy Rogers, the club’s second vice president. “We have room for 75 vendors and hopefully we have a full house.”

Past GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club president Marilyn Wannamaker (left) and current president Edwina Kraemer.

The event is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Old Lutz School. Parking is free.
Some of the things that will be sold at the market are jewelry, crafts, produce, antiques and other flea market items. The women’s club will also sell hot dogs and desserts. Those interested in being a vendor, which costs $20 per booth, should call (813) 948-2090 or (813) 949-1937 by Friday, Oct. 1.
“We wanted to bring the event back to raise some money for good causes,” said current club president Edwina Kraemer. “Money raised from selling vendor spots will go to the club and then to more than 200 groups like the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, veterans groups, Moffitt Center and others. The money from food we sell will go to the Old Lutz School.”
Rogers said the vendors get to keep all the money from selling their products. She added that the money raised for the old school will probably go to replacing the windows in the building.
Sandy Sumner, who has lived in Lutz for 11 years, sold Avon products at three of the markets when it was still at the park and is pleased the event has returned.
“It’s a great event to have,” Sumner said. “There are so many things going on with a lot of people coming out and having a good time. I do some business in Land O’ Lakes and a lot of the people from up there I know used to always come out, so it’s more than just a Lutz event.”
Besides Avon makeup and skincare products, Sumner will be selling shirts and purses.
The women’s club will not just be selling food. They will be selling their cookbook with all types of recipes.
“You can put your finger in any page and find something great,” Kraemer said. “We’ll have samples of some of the desserts for people to try at the market.”

In addition, some of the money raised by the women’s club will go to Glenda Wilson’s campaign for Honorary Mayor for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.
Kraemer is very happy with bringing back the Lutz tradition after its one-year hiatus mainly because it can help bring the community together.
“Hopefully people will come out and have a good time with their neighbors,” Kraemer said. “You’ll be able to find something nice for yourself and your friends and family while helping the Old Lutz School.”

Market at the Old Lutz School
When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2
Where: the Old Lutz School in front of Lutz Elementary
Vendors: call (813) 948-2090 or (813) 949-1937
Parking: free

Pizza Mania brings Italy to Wesley Chapel

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By Shannon Edinger

A local pizzeria invites customers to enjoy the taste of Italy just west of the Shops at Wiregrass.
Pizza Mania, located at 1734 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in the west corner of the Publix plaza, has been open for eight years and is family-owned.  Antonio Parascandola opened the restaurant because he wanted to share his passion for authentic Italian food with others.
Parascandola, 33, was born in Naples, Italy and moved to New Jersey at the age of 20.  He moved to Florida five years later and opened Pizza Mania.
“Pizza and Italian food is part of our family,” Parascandola said.  “Some of our recipes date back 56 years to my grandmother’s time.”  Parascandola’s father, Ray, has been in the business for 45 years.
Pizza Mania makes hand-tossed pizzas with fresh ingredients including mozzarella, ricotta, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, spinach, garlic, basil, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.
One of their specialty gourmet pizzas, the pizza Italiana, is a customer favorite. It is a white pizza with spinach, tomatoes, and fresh garlic that shows off the colors of the Italian flag.  Pizza prices range from $5.95 to $20.95.
Other menu items include calzones, soups and salads, pastas, and Italian desserts such as Tiramisu and Cannoli.
Parascandola says Pizza Mania is busiest on Friday nights. They do not serve alcohol or deliver orders, but they do cater events.  “We’ve catered two weddings for over 100 guests, and we cater MetLife twice a year, serving thousands of employees,” Parascandola said.  “Everything always runs smoothly.”
Last November, Parascandola and his uncle, Lenny Schiano opened Fresco Pizza. It has the same menu but it is smaller than Pizza Mania. Parascandola worked at Fresco Pizza for the first five months after its opening.  Fresco Pizza is located at 18853 SR 54 in Lutz.  With restaurants located in both Wesley Chapel and Lutz, more people can enjoy authentic Italian food closer to home.
Pizza Mania and Fresco Pizza are open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Parascandola says that perfecting authentic Italian dishes takes time.  Pizza Mania and Fresco Pizza are not fast food or chain pizzerias. The restaurants are small in size, but big on taste.
Pizza Mania: (813) 907-0005
Fresco Pizza: (813) 949-7400

Fresco Pizza dishes fresh pies in Central Pasco

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By Shannon Edinger

A popular Wesley Chapel pizza place recently branched out with a similar location in Lutz.
Fresco Pizza, located at 18853 SR 54 in Lutz, is an extension of Wesley Chapel’s Pizza Mania, located at 1734 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., is family-owned and has been open for eight years.

Steve Cleary, a transplant from Long Island and now a Wesley Chapel resident, twirls his Pizza Mania pie to stretch and and aerate it for the next customer’s order. (Photos by Glenn Gefers of www.photosby3g.com)

Due to the restaurant’s success, owner Anthony Parascandola and his uncle/co-owner, Lenny Schiano, opened Fresco Pizza to serve two pizza-hungry areas of Pasco County.
The family moved from Naples, Italy to New Jersey, then to Florida eight years ago. Parascandola’s father, Ray, has been in the business for 45 years now, and some of the recipes date back 56 years.
Fresco Pizza and Pizza Mania share the same menu.  The pizzas are hand-tossed with fresh ingredients including mozzarella, ricotta, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, spinach, garlic, basil, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.  Gourmet pizzas such as the pizza Italiana and the meat lovers are two customer favorites.  The pizza Italiana is a white pizza with spinach, tomatoes, and fresh garlic that show off the colors of the Italian flag.  Its crispy crust and fresh toppings make it a top choice.  The meat lovers pizza has pepperoni, sausage, bacon and extra cheese piled high atop the crispy crust, making it another customer favorite.
“We have a unique pizza at Fresco Pizza called grandma’s pizza,” Schiano says.  “It’s an upside down pizza with the cheese on the bottom and fresh tomatoes and onions on top.”
Schiano says some other popular menu items are the antipasto mania salad and the chicken Napoli sandwich.  The antipasto mania salad contains crispy green lettuce, auricchio cheese, salami, black and green olives, artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes.  The chicken Napoli sandwich has grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, balsamic vinaigrette, and fresh mozzarella.
Menu items range in price from about $2.75 to $20.95.  Schiano says Fresco Pizza is busiest on Friday nights.  “About 90% of our customers are regulars,” Schiano says.  “Creating pizzas and pleasing customers is what I love most about working here.”
Fresco Pizza does not serve alcohol or deliver orders, but does cater events.  Fresco Pizza is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Pizza Mania: (813) 907-0005. Fresco Pizza: (813) 949-7400.

East Pasco’s Wild Things welcomes Diamond

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By Tom Chang

Riding a trolley from the gift shop, visitors will enter the world of Dade City’s Wild Things, an animal sanctuary and zoo. The 22-acre facility is home to more than 190 different animals from tigers and bears, to wallabies and monkeys.

Diamond, a white tiger cub, is a new addition at Dade City’s Wild Things.

“I worked with animals since I was a kid,” owner Kathy Stearns said.  “I have been doing wildlife rehab for 30-plus years.  We got this monkey then we got more [animals].  It grew to the point where we created the nonprofit.  We started doing private tours. We got to doing this full-time.  I woke up one day and said ‘let’s start a zoo.’ We’ve been a nonprofit for 7-8 years.”
One recent addition to the zoo is a white tiger cub named Diamond, who recently visited PetSmart in the Grove at Wesley Chapel for a fitting of his blue color with embedded diamonds.
“Diamond is a white tiger with brown stripes,” Stearns said.  “She’s a Bengal.  She was donated to us from a zoo out in Oklahoma City.  We got her when she was 3 weeks old.  She’s about 9 and a half weeks now.”
According to Stearns, all white tigers are related and can be traced to the one found in the wild.  Diamond is still on the bottle, fed with the essential nutrients tiger cubs require.  She is adjusting to raw meat, but not capable of chewing through bone.  When the cub reaches 100 pounds, which is usually within a few months, she will be above handle-weight.
Diamond isn’t the only baby at the zoo, according to Randy Stearns, Kathy’s son and a 15-year employee of the zoo. He said visitors can handle a variety of baby animals.
“It’s popular because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.  “The people enjoy it.  The animals enjoy it.  It helps socialize the animals and get used to people.”
Other youths are also a common sight at the zoo — children.
“We do a lot of birthday parties in the spring time,” Kathy Stearns said.  “We also have summer camps where kids come for a week or three days where they get hands-on.”
She said the zoo is expanding its driving tour section.
“We have buffalo now and a lot of the animals not on the walking tour,” Kathy Stearns said.  “We are planning to get a giraffe.  There is a five-acre section where a guide will tell you about things.”
Dade City’s Wild Things is located on 37245 Meridian Ave.  General admission is $22.95 for adults.  Seniors receive a 10 percent discount. Children ages 2–12 are $12.95 and ages under 2 are free. The facility opens from Tuesday thru Saturday.  The gift shop is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, while tours run at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.dadecityswildthings.com or call (352) 567-9453.

No longer sick for the brick

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Meet me in St Louis, Louis
Meet me at the Fair
Don’t tell me the lights are shining
Anyplace but there

-Sterling/Mills

By Randall Grantham

Hello, my name is Randy and I am a brickoholic. That was my mantra before, but now, I’m clean!
That’s right, after years of gathering, stacking and laying out brick walkways, pads and parking areas, I am cured of my brick obsession.
As you know, I had a serious brick problem and, I admit I was addicted to bricks. I started, as most casual users do, with pavers. Old school popcorn rock pavers. A few here, a few there. Next thing I knew, I was sneaking off with bricks found anywhere.
It got so bad that, like many substance abusers, I got in trouble with the law. Code Enforcement cited me for not being quick enough in cleaning up the piles of Ybor City bricks that had been dumped in front of my house and that I had commenced to clean and stack this summer.
I have brick walkways all the way around my house and out to both main gates. I have a brick floor on my outdoor shower. I have a brick stoop on my work-room building. I had a brick problem.
In my last post about this subject, I said my “brick problem” was that I didn’t have enough bricks. Well, after this last load of bricks, I think that I have enough. By my count, I have more than 5,000 bricks cleaned, stacked and ready for deployment.
Does that prove that I’m cured? No. But the fact that I walked right past 20 or 30 Tampa street bricks, stacked unsecured on the side of the street in downtown Tampa, not once, not twice but three times without even picking one up and carrying it back to my car, or even seriously considering it, does.
But I did not escape from this culture unscathed. As is true in any addiction scenario, there are the unavoidable medical issues.
You’ve heard of tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome? Well, I developed brick-cleaner’s shoulder. A version of tendonitis that hurts like hell and has prevented me from paving over my entire yard with the bricks I’ve acquired.
But seriously, I think that I have enough bricks and I am thankful that my addiction did not get out of hand and hurt anybody else.
I’m also grateful to learn that I am not alone in my struggle. I recently read that somebody in St Louis, Mo., also has a brick problem. However, they’ve let theirs get to the point where they are burning down buildings just to get to the “special” St. Louis bricks.
You see, after the fire of 1849, the city required that all new buildings be built from non-combustible materials and dozens of brick manufacturers sprung up using the rich clays of Missouri.
According to those who should know, they are highly desirable due to their quality and craftsmanship. So people are setting fire to vacant buildings and having the fire department do all the mortar cleaning with their high-powered hoses.
One guy that was caught loading up bricks swore that he had only been messing with bricks for a week and now that he had been caught he was gonna get off the stuff.
Sure he is. But that’s how quickly this addiction can get you. We’ll see if he stays clean.
As for me, I take it one day at a time. And maybe I’ll take my next vacation in St. Louis.

Eating Healthy at Taco Bell? It’s possible

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By Samantha Taylor

It’s a fact of life: Most Americans eat fast food 3 times a week!
So, it’s better to be wise with what we eat than to be in denial, right?
Fast food is obviously the least healthy restaurant food that you can consume although each place has a few healthier options.  So, for this article, I did my review on Taco Bell.  It’s unfortunate that they don’t offer any whole wheat products although I think that will change in a few years.
For now, they have quite a few options that are on the lower calorie side (just make sure you don’t eat too much).  You may already know that I used to be a binger — at Taco Bell, I used to get three tacos, a Nachos Bell Grande and a steak quesadilla (talk about overeating).
Fortunately, I haven’t had that problem in more than seven years.  I still eat fast food occasionally, but much less than I used to.  The funny thing about fast food is if you stop eating it for a relatively long time and then go back to eating it, it begins to taste weird and obviously processed.
You just don’t notice that “processed taste” if you eat it all the time.
I grew up on fast food and even as a health professional, I stopped eating it only about a year ago.  If you are pressed for time and want to have a quick, tasty fix, Taco Bell has got some good alternatives to calorie-loaded burgers and fries.
Your best bet is the chicken soft tacos even though it comes with a white flour tortilla.  It’s not too big a deal if you eat it once in a while, but it’s a whole different story if you have white flour all the time.  Two chicken soft tacos amount to only 380 calories and are filling.
Or, if you want some crunch, you can get two crunchy tacos for only 340 calories.  I still stick with chicken because the quality of meat in crunchy tacos is not exactly the best option.  But hey, the reality is that even if some people hear that, they will still eat it, but it at least helps to know that you have lower-calorie options.
One great thing about Taco Bell is they have a nutrition calculator on their website that lets you build an entire meal piece by piece that lets you know and control just how many calories you are consuming.  I highly recommend you look up the menu at www.tacobell.com and take advantage of the calculator, not only with Taco Bell, but with most fast food restaurants.  If you choose to eat fast food, it pays to know exactly what you’re putting into your body.

“Little soldier” makes All American Bowl

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By Kyle LoJacono

Brandon Debyah works so hard at football that previous coaches nicknamed him the little soldier.

His effort on the field has earned him a place on the Offense-Defense All America Bowl eastern team, the only player from Pasco County to make the squad.

“It’s a great honor,” Brandon, 13, said. “I never thought I’d be picked for something like this. I knew I was good, but I didn’t think I was good enough to make the team.”

It took four John Long defenders to bring down Brandon Debyah.

Brandon is an eighth grader at Raymond B. Stewart Middle in Zephyrhills. His main positions are running back and linebacker, but his coach, Norman Scheuerman, said he never comes off the field during a game.

“Basically he can play all the defensive positions but defensive line and is great on our special teams,” said Scheuerman, who has coached the Bulldogs for five years. “He’s very well rounded. I can’t think of a more deserving player to make the team.”

Brandon was picked for the team after trying out during a football camp in Saint Leo. The game will match the best players from the eastern and western halves of the United States on New Year’s Day in Myrtle Beach, S.C. There is a game for both middle and high school students.

The best-known player to participate in the game is Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant, who was selected in the first round of the NFL draft in April. Also making the team last year was former Pasco High quarterback D.J. Clower.

“The Offense-Defense All American Bowl is the culmination of years of hard work developing a winning curriculum and reputation for excellence, as well as experience in working with young players,” said bowl director Matt Whittier. “… We are working to make this game a pure, annual tradition that athletes from all across the country can strive to be a part of.”

Brandon started playing football at 4-years-old in the Zephyrhills Police Athletic League. His mother, Kim, said all three of her boys have always loved sports.

“They all play soccer, basketball, baseball and football,” Kim said. “The funny thing is when he started playing he was the littlest one out there. Now he’s one of the biggest.”

Brandon is currently 5-foot-9, 150 pounds. His older brother, Josh, also played under Scheuerman at the school, while his younger brother, Chris, is in sixth grade at Stewart and will tryout for the team next year.

Last season Brandon averaged more than two touchdowns a game. He scored his first of the 2010 campaign in a 28-10 victory over Centennial Middle Sept. 14. The Bulldogs also won their second contest 21-6 against Dr. John Long Middle Sept. 21.

“He has grown a lot physically and mentally from last year,” Scheuerman said. “He’s come in from the summer break a lot stronger and faster, but he’s a much more intelligent player too. He finds places to get through the line when before he might have not followed his blockers.”

Scheuerman said Brandon also gets a lot of support from Kim and his father, Mike. They come out to each game to cheer him on.

“I love watching him because he works so hard, but he doesn’t see it as work because he loves playing football,” Kim said. “I’m so proud to see him running up and down the field doing what he loves.”

Brandon is just starting his football career, which he hopes will continue for another 20 to 30 years.

“I’m going to try as hard as I can to get a football scholarship to play in college,” Brandon said. “Then hopefully I’ll be good enough to be drafted by an NFL team and then play in the NFL. That’s my biggest dream.”

Soccer program kicking two months in

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By Kyle LoJacono

FC Tampa Lutz Rangers is less than two months old, but the first soccer program ever in Lutz is already drawing hundreds from around Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

Driss Belhassan, of Lutz, during the first week of practice for the U8 Academy for the FC Tampa Lutz Rangers.

“It’s a great facility we get to use at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex,” said Rangers founder Mike Connell, of Lutz. “It’s a perfect location for the people of Lutz and Odessa who have never had a soccer program and we’re getting kids from Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel too.”

The park has been around since 1975, but until its expansion Aug. 14 there was no room for soccer. Now the Rangers have plenty of practice and game fields.

Land O’ Lakes High boys soccer coach Mark Pearson, of Lutz, is coaching the boys U8 Academy for the Rangers, which is a program for kids just learning the game.

“I’ve been coaching at Land O’ Lakes High for 15 years, so it was a no brainer to start coaching here too,” Pearson said. “I like coaching the kids at this level here because it’s a nice break from coaching high school. It’s a different kind of mentality from the pressure of getting the kids good enough to make the playoffs to teaching these kids the basics. It’s a nice change.”

One of the players in the academy is Driss Belhassan, of Lutz. Belhassan said he likes playing soccer because he gets to run around with his friends.

Connell is coaching the U11 and U13 boys teams for the club. Derek Walters, of Land O’ Lakes, plays on that U13 team and he cannot get enough soccer.

“I’ve played since I was 6,” Walters, 13, said. “Soccer is like my life. My dream is to play soccer when I grow up and I love playing here in Lutz.”

Walters has also played for Hillsborough County United. He said he likes playing at the new Lutz fields because it is closer to his home and because of the coaches.

“The coaches are just so much better,” Walters said. “They know exactly how to make us all become much stronger players.”

Founder of FC Tampa Lutz Rangers Mike Connell speaks to the U11 boys team.

Connell said there are 11 competitive teams for players ages 8 to 15 and 25 recreational squads for ages 5 to 16. There are 280 children signed up, while another 18 men from around Lutz and Odessa make up the Rangers men’s team. Connell said everyone on the adult team is at least 40, but that is not a requirement to join.

“It’s special to have so many people interested in soccer here,” Connell said. “We have a lot of families in a 15-mile radius all coming here to play soccer because we have the right goals for the kids … We want them to be the best while having fun playing soccer. It’s not about how good they are the first game or after the first year, but when they leave the program at 15-years-old.”

Connell also runs Unlimited Motion Soccer Academy in Wesley Chapel at Sports + Field. Biko Claxton, of Wesley Chapel, is one of Unlimited Motion’s coaches and also helps the Rangers players get better at their speed and agility.

“It’s a great way for me to give back to another community and spread the love of soccer,” Claxton said. “If I can get more people playing soccer here then I’m getting the job done as a coach.”

The current season for the Rangers runs through the end of February. There will be another season starting in April. For more information on the Rangers for interested players or coaches, visit www.fctampalutz.com.

“I’m hoping these kids stay in love with soccer and get to high school to make them really strong in soccer,” Connell said. “In a couple of years I’m hoping our high schools will each have state championships. That’s when I’ll know the program is really working.”

Game of the week

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Cowboys come up big on Ron Allen’s special night

By Kyle LoJacono

Gaither High christened Ron Allen Field with a 17-10 victory over north Hillsborough County rival Freedom High.

Ron Allen with his wife Nancy (right) and Gaither’s current principal Marie Whelan during the naming of Ron Allen Field.

Before the game the Cowboys had a ceremony to name the field after the school’s first principal, who led Gaither from 1984-1993.

“I was ok until they started playing the school’s song,” Allen said. “That kind of brought a tear to my eye. I just want to thank everyone, especially the original faculty.”

Original faculty still at Gaither signed a football that was presented to Allen during the ceremony. He said it is one of the most special gifts he has ever received and he will put it in his living room so he always sees it.

Allen, of Lutz, was Chamberlain High’s principal before coming to Gaither. Many graduates from Gaither and Chamberlain came to see him.

“It’s very special,” said current Gaither principal Marie Whelan, who was a student at the school during Allen’s tenure. “He really deserves it for everything he’s done for the school. He’s the reason the school is what it is today.”

The game was also special for the Cowboys as the seven-point win was the first for Gaither at home in nearly two years.

“It’s a great feeling to win in front of what I feel is the best supporting cast in Hillsborough County,” said Cowboys coach Mark Kantor. “I’m excited for the school, for the kids and to win for our principal. I love winning games for that lady because she’s a fantastic principal, and especially on the night we dedicate the field to Mr. Ron Allen.”

Both offenses started slowly, each losing fumbles on their second drives.

The Cowboys (2-2) got on track first when quarterback Shug Oyegunle ran for a 27-yard touchdown with 1:34 left in the first half. Gaither got the ball back with 1:06 remaining and scored again when Oyegunle hit Josh Bultron with a 36-yard pass.

Patriots (1-3) quarterback Dominic Marino got his team on the board in the fourth quarter with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Robert Lohnes. Two drives later Freedom made a 35-yard field goal to get within a touchdown.

The Cowboys gave the Patriots a chance to tie the game by losing a fumble with 38 seconds remaining on their own 43, but the visitors were sacked twice on the drive to end the game.

“We had our opportunities and we just didn’t do anything with them,” said Freedom coach Tchecoy Blount. “We’ve got to get back to work and fix all the problems as fast as we can.”

Oyegunle finished 9-of-13 passing for 101 yards and added another 60 yards on six runs.

The Cowboys defense recorded four sacks and forced three turnovers, two of which were interceptions by defensive back Tyler McCollum.

“I kept seeing them going over the middle to (Lohnes), so when I saw him doing it again I just tried to make a tackle and the ball ended up in my hands,” McCollum said. “The next one it was just an overthrow that I went and got.”

Lohnes had five catches for 120 yards. Blount called Lohnes the team’s ironman for playing on both sides of the ball while returning punts and kicks.

“That kid is a football player,” Kantor said of Lohnes. “I was scared to death of him touching the football all night. He deserves to play somewhere in college.”