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Pasco Pirates

Pasco Pirates off to solid start

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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

Sunlake, Zephyrhills headed to playoffs

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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.

In Print: Learning lessons from loss of Robin Williams

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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!

Early turnover costs Zephyrhills playoff trip

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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.