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Tampa Catholic Routs District Foe

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A Tribune staff report

Published: November 3, 2007

FORT MYERS - Tampa Catholic recognized it would be facing an improved opponent in Fort Myers Bishop Verot on Friday night. The Crusaders ended up rolling anyway for a dominant road win.

With both teams already assured of playoff berths, the fifth-ranked Crusaders recorded their fifth shutout of the season, 35-0, to secure the Class 2A-District 5 title.

"It was like night and day watching these guys on film," Crusaders coach Bob Henriquez said of a team Tampa Catholic had beaten by a combined 69-14 in the last two meetings.

"We just came out tonight and played a whale of a ballgame. I have to credit our coaching staff. It seemed like we really knew what they were going to do and how they were going to play us."

The Crusaders (8-1, 5-0) scored on three of their five possessions in the first half for a 21-0 lead at the break. Tampa Catholic also held Bishop Verot (6-3, 3-2) without a first down and to minus-2 yards in the half.

Mario Mendoza had three sacks to increase his season total to 16 and blocked a punt in the second quarter.

Eric Gerken's second touchdown pass from Christian Green and Henry McCloud's 38-yard run pushed Tampa Catholic's advantage to 35-0 in the third quarter and the game to a running clock for the fourth quarter.

The Vikings finally picked up a first down in the third quarter.

"They took the challenge upon themselves," Henriquez said. "People have been saying we haven't been scoring enough points, but we've been winning ball games. Tonight we put it all together. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into the playoffs."

Seth Soffian

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