Land O’ Lakes, Hudson eliminated
By Steve Lee
Sports Editor
DADE CITY — One and done.
That marked the theme for the county’s three playoff teams with Pasco, Land O’ Lakes and Hudson bowing out in the opening round on Nov. 21.
The host Pirates battled St. Petersburg Lakewood tough in a 36-25 loss at W.F. Edwards Stadium. That dashed any hopes the Pirates had of matching last season’s postseason run that ended in the state semifinals.
The Gators, who under first-year coach Matt Kitchie clinched their county-record 13th consecutive postseason berth in the ninth week of the regular season, lost 43-22 at Jefferson.
The Cobras, who lost to Land O’ Lakes in the regular-season finale, also played on the road. The result was not good as Gainesville posted a 17-0 shutout of Hudson.
Although Pasco’s quest to return to the state tournament ended abruptly, the team has become a perennial playoff contender with three straight district titles and back-to-back Sunshine Athletic Conference championships.
“Hopefully, we’re learning to do things to win,” said Tom McHugh, who has coached the Pirates for three seasons. “(Returning players) have something to build on, something to come back for.”
Trailing 22-15 at halftime, Pasco capitalized on a Lakewood miscue to knot the score at 22 early in the third quarter. One play after a Trey Dudley-Giles interception, Janarion Grant tiptoed inside the left pylon for an 8-yard touchdown run.
Brennan Allen, who struggled before halftime with a missed field goal and two errant point-after kicks, converted for the tie. Allen later kicked a 47-yard field goal that came after a 79-yard pass play from quarterback Jermiel Douse to Bernard Reedy.
“You don’t have to accept (losing), but you have to understand it’s going to happen,” McHugh told his players in a postgame huddle. “There’s only one team that doesn’t lose, the team that wins the state.”
Pasco (9-2) got on the scoreboard first with Grant’s 61-yard catch setting up Clifford Phillips’ 11-yard touchdown run. With Allen missing the extra-point attempt, Lakewood came back to take a 7-6 lead on Douse’s 8-yard run and Max Thuriere’s kick.
Allen’s 33-yard field goal gave the Pirates another lead at 9-7, but the Spartans (9-2) rallied with two touchdowns and a field goal before the break.
Grant, Pasco’s freshman sensation, answered one of those scores by returning a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown.
JEFFERSON 43, LAND O’ LAKES 22: After spotting Jefferson a 7-0 lead, Land O’ Lakes countered with a field goal and a touchdown to go ahead 9-7. But that was as close as the Gators came as the Dragons reeled off 23 unanswered points for a decisive playoff win.
Land O’ Lakes (9-2) got a 37-yard field goal from Brennan Stack and 22-yard touchdown pass from Stephen Weatherford to Alex Robinson before Jefferson’s scoring outburst.
The Gator defense was no match for quarterback Quentin Williams, who passed for three scores and ran for two more. Jefferson (9-1) also got stellar efforts from Demetrius Russell, who gained 110 yards, and Andre Davis, who had two scoring receptions.
Weatherford finished with 210 passing yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He threw another scoring pass to Robinson and one to Jason Tello.
GAINESVILLE 17, HUDSON 0: The Cobras, who at barely snuck into the playoffs, were no match for host Gainesville (10-1).
Four-year starting quarterback Zack Wynn, the second-leading passer in county history, led Hudson’s offense with 147 passing yards. Wynn also had a 32-yard field goal attempt blocked in the first quarter.
(Glance box. SL)
Football Playoffs
St. Petersburg Lakewood 36, Pasco 25
Jefferson 43, Land O’ Lakes 22
Gainesville 17, Hudson 0
