• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
  • Online E-Editions
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits

Pasco Pirates

Pasco Pirates off to solid start

September 14, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Just a few weeks into the regular season, the Pasco High football team already has surpassed its win total from all of last season.

In fact, they’ve doubled it.

Pasco High head coach Tom McHugh, in his 11th season, has a career mark of 83-35, which includes a string of seven straight playoff appearances from 2007 to 2013. (File)

The 2016 season was unpleasant for the Pirates, losing nine straight games until they beat Gulf High — a struggling program that’s now lost 22 straight regular season games — in the season finale.

The 1-9 record was its worst since 1978, when Jimmy Sessoms coached the team.

The struggling campaign was a surprise to many, considering the Pirates often have been one of the county’s upper-tier programs under longtime head coach Tom McHugh.

McHugh, in his 11th season, has a career mark of 83-35, which includes a string of seven straight playoff appearances from 2007 to 2013.

Additionally, under McHugh, the Pirates have produced some of the county’s top players who have gone on to collegiate and professional careers, including, defensive tackle Joey Ivie (University of Florida/Dallas Cowboys, defensive back Josh Johnson (Purdue University/Canadian Football League/Jacksonville Jaguars), athlete Janarion Grant (Rutgers University) and defensive back Jayvaughn Myers (Auburn University).

Yet, perhaps the biggest disappointment to the Pirates’ faithful wasn’t the abysmal 1-9 record, but its devastating 46-0 home loss to Zephyrhills High in the annual 9-Mile War — oftentimes a one-sided affair in which Pasco High claims the all-time series record 40-19.

This season, however, appears to be a strong contrast to last year.

The Pasco High Pirates have rebounded from last year’s dismal 1-9 mark. The 2017 squad features 17 seniors, including middle linebacker Cameron Smith. (Courtesy of Tom Ketchum)

The Pirates handily won its first two contests over both Hudson High (22-10) and Gulf High (46-0), and proved dominant in its preseason game, a 36-18 victory over Ridgewood High.

And, unlike the 2016 season, the Pirates have a bevy of experienced depth, both on offense and defense. This year’s roster features 19 seniors. Last year’s had just seven.

Besides a steady, game-managing presence at quarterback in junior Doug Crawford, the Pirates display an explosive rushing attack currently averaging more than 200 yards per game — thanks to a trio of runners in senior Jaleel Hansberry, and juniors Early Knight and Jacquez Mobley.

The defense, too, has shown an ability to create pressure and limit opposing yardage, early on.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Pirates have three reigning All-Sunshine Athletic Conference players in senior offensive lineman/defensive tackle Camron Craig, senior middle linebacker Cameron Smith and senior defensive lineman Cody Mercer.

The Pirates, meanwhile, have several winnable games on their 2017 slate.

In addition to facing upstart Cypress Creek Middle High at home, the Pirates should match up well against Superior Collegiate Academy, along with district foes Sunlake— which appears to be in a rebuilding year — and Land O’ Lakes high schools.

But, contests against the likes of Mitchell, Springstead and Zephyrhills high schools should determine how good this team is.

And, how far it will go.

 

–Stats compiled by Maxpreps.com

Published September 13, 2017

Filed Under: Local Sports, Zephyrhills and East Pasco Sports Tagged With: Auburn University, Cameron Smith, Camron Craig, Canadian Football League, Cody Mercer, Cypress Creek Middle High School, Dallas Cowboys, Doug Crawford, Early Knight, Gulf High school, Hudson High School, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacquez Mobley, Jaleel Hansberry, Janarion Grant, Jayvaughn Myers, Joey Ivie, Josh Johnson, Land O' Lakes High School, Mitchell High School, Pasco High School, Pasco Pirates, Purdue University, Ridgewood High School, Rutgers University, Springstead High School, Sunlake High School, Sunshine Athletic Conference, Superior Collegiate Academy, Tom McHugh, University of Florida, Zephyrhills High School

Sunlake, Zephyrhills headed to playoffs

November 3, 2014 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Pasco Pirates wanted to play spoiler for the Zephyrhills Bulldogs once again, and earn a trip to the playoffs themselves. Instead, they were beat by a tough Nature Coast Tech team that almost outlasted the Bulldogs in a single-quarter playoff Monday night.

That means Zephyrhills (7-2) is going to the playoffs for the first time in eight years as the Bulldogs finish as the Class 5A-District 7 runner-up behind the undefeated South Sumter.

Also heading to the playoffs once again, but winning its first-ever Class 6A-District 6 title was Sunlake High School (8-1), outlasting Mitchell (6-3) in front of a home crowd in its one-quarter playoff. Mitchell will enter the Class 6A playoffs in two weeks as well, finishing as the district runner-up.

The Bulldogs almost didn’t make it into the playoffs once again. They took on their longtime rival, Pasco High School, last week with a 7-1 record in a game they were finally expected to win against a 5-3 team. But the Pirates stayed close the Bulldogs, and eked out a single-point victory in overtime.

That forced the playoff, involving not only Pasco, but Nature Coast Tech (5-4). However, the Pirates were not able to survive that challenge, and watched as the Sharks took on Zephyrhills in a chance to earn that last playoff berth.

Sunlake will host the first game of the Class 6A regional quarterfinals, taking on Ocala’s Vanguard High School. That team finished with a 4-4 record, but chalked up two of those wins against district opponents, according to MaxPreps. The Knights have not really dominated this season, virtually even between points scored and points allowed.

The Seahawks, on the other hand, have outscored their opponents 6-to-1.

Those teams match up Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Sunlake.

Zephyrhills will face Suwannee, out of Live Oak, a team also known as the Bulldogs. Suwannee powered its way to a 9-0 record, outscoring opponents 337-116. Zephyrhills is no pushover itself, also boasting a powerful offense that has outscored opponents 366-189.

If the local Bulldogs find a way to beat Suwannee, there’s a good chance their foe in the regional semifinals will be South Sumter, one of the two losses Zephyrhills posted this year. Few chunks have been found in the Raiders’ armor this season, and will be battling North Marion High School in the first round, a team that finished 7-2 on the season and looked almost as dominating as Suwannee in the same division.

Zephyrhills will travel to Live Oak Nov. 14 for its 7:30 p.m. contest at Paul Langford Stadium.

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: Live Oak, MaxPreps, Mitchell High School, Nature Coast Tech High School, North Marion High School, Ocala, Pasco High School, Pasco Pirates, Paul Langford Stadium, South Sumter High School, Sunlake High School, Suwannee, Vanguard High School, Zephyrhills Bulldogs, Zephyrhills High School

In Print: Learning lessons from loss of Robin Williams

August 20, 2014 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The tragic death of actor and comedian Robin Williams shocked his fans and the world. It has been tough, even more than a week later, for people to grasp how someone who seemed so happy could feel so cornered in life, that the only out he could find was to end it.

The biggest question people ask themselves is, “Could it have been prevented?”

Suicide-depression-r100There are warning signs that could lead to saving the life of a loved one — or even your own. But even then, knowledge might not be enough.

“What comes out of all of this is that we never know when someone is suffering suicidal thoughts,” Betsey Westuba, chairwoman of the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition, told reporter B.C. Manion. “It’s a very complex situation.”

When someone does tragically commit suicide — around 39,000 Americans do it each year — it can be even more traumatic on family members, especially since those closest may blame themselves for not being able to stop it.

“I believe that friends and families of those who die by suicide have a particularly difficult grief challenge,” said Grace Terry, founder of Grief Resolution Resources of Tampa. “No matter what the circumstances or situation, people who have loved ones die by suicide have a crushing sense of guilt.”

To read more about how to help someone in need, and what sometimes happens in the minds of those who are contemplating suicide, read this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. You can find it at your home or at local retailers, or you can read it free right now in our online e-edition by clicking here.

The new school year has started, with many kids showing up for class with dreams of going on to college and pursuing an amazing career. But there are others who may want those dreams, but feel that because of their family’s financial situation, can never achieve it.

But there is hope, as reporter Michael Murillo talks about in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News.

Pasco-Hernando State College runs a program called Concept College, where at-risk youth and disadvantaged high school students explore and obtain college opportunities. It helps nearly 600 students each year, taking them on campus at PHSC, giving them a firsthand look at college life, answering questions, helping with application, and exploring scholarship opportunities.

“This is really targeting students who need assistance to help make them believe that college is possible for them,” said Maria Hixon, PHSC’s director of development. “Sometimes without that direct outreach and personal attention, they kind of fall through the cracks.”

To find out how the program has helped students, and ways to get involved, read this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, or read the online e-edition for free by clicking here.

Finally, we as a society seem to have a hate-hate relationship when it comes to rust. We don’t want it on our cars, our metal tables, our pipes … nothing.

But B.C. Manion has found a North Tampa man named Tom Harden who not only loves rust, but seeks out the history behind each rusty object he finds.

“When people go out and detect, I always tell them, ‘Dig up the iron. You never known what you’re going to find,” Harden said. “When you’re planting the plant in the ground, or hoeing the row to plant the tomatoes, or whatever you’re going to plant — you might turn up that old iron object and wonder, ‘What is this? Where did it come from?'”

Learn what Harden has discovered, and some of the local history behind it in the B Section of this week’s The Laker/Lutz News. If you can’t wait to get the hard copy of the edition, read our free e-edition by clicking here.

Oh, and are you ready for some football? We continue our preview of all the local gridiron teams this week from reporter Michael Murillo with the Wesley Chapel Wildcats and the Pasco Pirates.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.

And see The Laker XL with our brand-new video!

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: B.C. Manion, Betsey Westuba, Concept College, Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition, Grace Terry, Grief Resolution Resources of Tampa, Hillsborough County, Maria Hixon, Michael Murillo, Pasco County, Pasco High School, Pasco Pirates, Pasco-Hernando State College, Robin Williams, Tampa, Tom Harden, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel High School, Wesley Chapel Wildcats

Early turnover costs Zephyrhills playoff trip

November 6, 2013 By Michael Hinman

An early miscue during a punt in the wrong end zone proved to be fatal for the Zephyrhills Bulldogs, as they miss the playoffs once again at the hands of their longtime rival, 24-16.

Both the Bulldogs and the Pasco Pirates needed a win Friday to secure a spot in the playoffs. And record-wise, Zephyrhills seemed to be in a driver seat at 7-1, plus had home-field advantage. But the Pirates came ready to play, especially senior wide receiver Malik Johns, who ran 157 yards — including a 62-yard run late in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory.

The Bulldogs had a rough start in their second drive, going three-and-out pinned inside their own 10-yard line. The snap for the punt went sailing over the kicker’s head, allowing the Pirates to recover in the end zone, giving them an early 7-0 lead.

The Pirates would never give up the lead, although Zephyrhills came close late in the third quarter when freshman running back Antwione Sims ran eight yards to bring the Bulldogs to within a field goal, 17-14.

Two minutes later, after the Bulldogs held the Pirates to a three-and-out, Pasco had its own punt miscue, resulting in a safety for Zephyrhills, a one-point deficit, and possession of the ball with a little more than a quarter remaining.

The Pirates defense, however, held strong, stopping four drives and limiting the Bulldogs to a net gain of no yards before their final full drive with five minutes remaining, and Pasco up 24-16.

Quarterback Ty Tanner burst for 28 yards on the ground, with junior Jaylen Pickett chipping in 24 more to bring Zephyrhills within sight of the Pirates territory.

But then the Bulldogs turned to their passing game, which had been virtually non-existent for both sides up to that point. And this was no different with a pair of sacks on Tanner and sophomore Tre’un Everett ending Zephyrhills’ last gasps.

Senior Devon Brockington rushed for 89 yards for the Bulldogs in the loss, while Tanner finished with 59 on the ground, and Pickett 48.

Pasco’s only other runner was senior Jaquan Clower, who rushed for 46 yards, in the win.

Zephyrhills finishes its season against Sunlake (8-1) this Friday, while Pasco will take on River Ridge (3-6) on their way to the playoffs.

Filed Under: Local Sports, Zephyrhills and East Pasco Sports Tagged With: Pasco Pirates, Zephyrhills, Zephyrhills Bulldogs

Primary Sidebar

Pasta di Guy, Wesley Chapel

Foodie Friday Gallery

Featured Story

Shooting For The Future

Mainstreet Billiards of Zephyrhills

Search

Sponsored Content

Absolutely Avalon Celebrates Spring with FREE Family Fun Activities

March 30, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Of the many things that sets Avalon Park Wesley Chapel apart from other planned developments is its long history of … [Read More...] about Absolutely Avalon Celebrates Spring with FREE Family Fun Activities

More Posts from this Category

Archives

What’s Happening

04/11/2021 – Free park event

Kids Helping Kids Pasco County will host a free event called Enrichment in the Park on April 11 at 9 a.m., at Land O' Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd. The event will give children the opportunity to engage in socially distanced fun and participate in activities. Kids Helping Kids partners with its Teen Advisory Board to host yoga, art, reading, music and other enrichment classes. … [Read More...] about 04/11/2021 – Free park event

04/11/2021 – Spring Show & Shine car show

American Legion Post 147, 17383 Gunn Highway in Odessa, will host its first-ever car show fundraiser, “Spring Show and Shine,” on April 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rain date is April 18. This community, family friendly event will support the Post 147 veterans, and building repairs. The Post has been providing community support for the past 55 years. The cost is $5 at the gate to display your classic or collectible car, truck or motorcycle. Display grounds are on the grass. Suggested set-up is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Space is limited. There also will be on-site food and beverages for purchase, and 50/50 raffles. A cash bar will be open to members and their guests. No outside, food, beverages, alcohol, coolers, weapons or drugs. No on-site water spigots. Guests are required to wear masks to enter the indoor campus area (bar, hall, bathrooms). The American Legion campus is non-smoking/vaping. There will be no refunds, and violators of American Legion rules will be asked to … [Read More...] about 04/11/2021 – Spring Show & Shine car show

04/12/2021 – Frontline Heroes Day

McDonald's is offering a free crispy chicken sandwich combo meal to Central Florida first responders and health care workers on April 12 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., lobby and drive-thru only. … [Read More...] about 04/12/2021 – Frontline Heroes Day

04/12/2021 – Sing a story

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present “I Can Sing That Story” on April 12 at 11 a.m., for ages 3 to 6. Ms. Mar, from Music with Mar, will use music and movement to enhance a child’s love of reading. To register, visit the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 04/12/2021 – Sing a story

04/13/2021 – Meal prepping

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present “Meal Prepping to Save Money” on April 13 at 6:30 p.m., for teens and adults. This Money Smart Week program will cover topics such as making a meal budget, meal prepping to save time and money, and healthy pantry staples. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 04/13/2021 – Meal prepping

04/13/2021 – Networking group

The East Pasco Networking Group will meet on April 13 at 7:30 a.m., at IHop, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. The guest speaker will be Rosie Paulsen, commissioner, published author, speaker, and Medicare broker. For information, contact Nils Lenz at 813-782-9491 or , or Vicky Jones at 813-431-1149 or . … [Read More...] about 04/13/2021 – Networking group

More of What's Happening

Follow us on Twitter

The Laker/Lutz NewsFollow

The Laker/Lutz News
LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
15h

Pause on multifamily moves step closer in Pasco. https://buff.ly/2RnP6sk

Reply on Twitter 1380913675826044929Retweet on Twitter 1380913675826044929Like on Twitter 1380913675826044929Twitter 1380913675826044929
LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
10 Apr

Pasco schools to drop mySchool Online option this fall. https://buff.ly/39Ynu3s

Reply on Twitter 1380677413936463873Retweet on Twitter 1380677413936463873Like on Twitter 13806774139364638731Twitter 1380677413936463873
LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
9 Apr

Young players shoot for the future. https://buff.ly/3mAhDpT

Reply on Twitter 1380551338652807171Retweet on Twitter 1380551338652807171Like on Twitter 13805513386528071711Twitter 1380551338652807171
Load More...

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Top Stories

Young players shoot for the future

Pause on multifamily moves step closer in Pasco

Growth is coming to Zephyrhills

Pasco schools to drop mySchool Online option this fall

City manager recaps possible 911 dispatch merger

Pasco board approves nearly $200,000 for design work

Leadership Pasco seeking applicants

Help is available for rent, utility payments

Plenty of ways to get a kumquat fix at this festival

Raising money for the Special Olympics of Pasco County

Pasco Parks plans modified 2021 summer camp program

Art contest invites kids to think about ‘home’

Pasco health department seeks community help

Secondary Sidebar

More Stories

Check out our other stories for the week

Young players shoot for the future

Pause on multifamily moves step closer in Pasco

Growth is coming to Zephyrhills

Pasco schools to drop mySchool Online option this fall

City manager recaps possible 911 dispatch merger

Pasco board approves nearly $200,000 for design work

Leadership Pasco seeking applicants

Help is available for rent, utility payments

Plenty of ways to get a kumquat fix at this festival

Raising money for the Special Olympics of Pasco County

Pasco Parks plans modified 2021 summer camp program

Art contest invites kids to think about ‘home’

Pasco health department seeks community help

Sports Stories

Watch these locals during 2021 MLB season

PHSC women’s soccer camp

Charity hockey game

Deep Fried Dash 5K

Strong season

Copyright © 2021 Community News Publications Inc.

   