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Seniors Ignite Cobras

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By BART O'CONNELL Tribune correspondent

Published: November 4, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS - One by one, Hudson's seniors stood up and made their statements to the rest of the Cobras at halftime. And one by one, they responded.

The Cobras looked nothing like their usual, offensive selves in Friday's first half against Zephyrhills, mustering only a safety and trailing by 12 after the Bulldogs physically pounded them for 24 minutes.

But the speeches, and the toughness, made an impact with big plays in the second half of Friday's 23-17 win, which qualified Hudson (7-2, 4-1 Class 3A-District 8) for the playoffs as the district runner-up.

"That's the part of this school that I love more than anything else, and we've said this since 2004," said Coach Mark Nash. "We're not the most athletic team in the world, but when you ask some of these kids, they will do whatever they can to deliver it.

"I'll take the lack of athleticism for the extra heart."

Fittingly, all three second-half touchdowns were scored by seniors: receivers Tony Germano and Dylan Jordan, and running back Sean Scott.

Germano converted two fourth downs with receptions that kept a 16-play, 80-yard touchdown drive going to begin the third quarter. The first conversion was on fourth-and-19 in Zephyrhills' territory, and he needed to break two tackles to move the chains. On the second, he scored the Cobras' first touchdown. He also caught the two-point conversion play that made it 14-10.

Scott had the go-ahead score on a 9-yard run, part of a 161-yard rushing night, and Jordan caught the clincher, a 46-yard pass over the middle, breaking away from his defender.

But sophomore quarterback Zack Wynn displayed his own toughness and leadership.

He injured his left leg during a 12-yard scramble in the fourth quarter, with Hudson trailing 14-10. He heard something pop, but he wasn't going to sit out.

"Coach, I have got to play in this game," Wynn said.

The comeback spoiled a fine effort by the Bulldogs (5-4, 3-2), who dominated the first half, taking a 14-2 lead to the locker room. They marched 13 plays and 57 yards for an opening-drive touchdown and scored their second touchdown on a 60-yard interception return by Lance Hayes in the half's waning seconds.

Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher did not play leading rusher Chris Henry in the first quarter for disciplinary reasons that caused him to miss practice during the week. But he still finished with 69 yards rushing to surpass 1,000 on the season.

The Cobras will await the results of a three-way tiebreaker in District 7 to see where they'll travel for the playoffs' opening round. Orlando Bishop Moore, Harmony and Eustis finished district play 3-1. Pasco took the district title by virtue of their win against Gulf on Friday, and victory over Hudson earlier this year.

Bart O'Connell can be

reached at boconnell@

pop.tampatrib.com.

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