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Pasco Notebook: Rushing Title Down To Wire

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2007

Pasco County's single-season rushing record is going to come down to the final regular-season game when Ridgewood hosts Zephyrhills and Gulf travels to East Lake.

Both Ridgewood coach Chris Taylor and Gulf coach Jay Fulmer said they have all intentions to play both of their star running backs, Byronell Arline and David Williams, their normal load in their regular-season finales.

Williams leads the Bay area with 1,904 yards and Arline is second with 1,881. Both have exceeded the previous mark of 1,734 set by Wesley Chapel's Tyrone Tomlin in 2001.

Fulmer said Williams, who has a deep thigh bruise, practiced this week, unlike last week when the Bucs held Williams out all week because his leg was hurting too much.

Williams told Fulmer this week that his leg only hurts when he wakes up in the morning.

The Rams, with a playoff game upcoming next week at Daytona Beach Seabreeze, aren't planning to take it easy against Zephyrhills because Taylor said they have some issues to address following their 3-point loss to Land O' Lakes in the district title game.

Arline, who has 30 touchdowns, also has a chance to break Pasco County's single-season touchdown record of 34, also set by Tomlin in 2001.

BULL RUSH: The Wiregrass Ranch football team attained several program milestones last week with its 40-20 victory against Sunlake.

It was the first varsity victory for the program and its first win at home, where the Bulls (1-8) were outscored 189-28 prior to last week's win. The squad also posted the highest one-game point total of the season. The previous single-game high was 18, which took place in the Bulls' Week 6 65-18 loss to Hudson.

"I kind of wish the season was starting over," Wiregrass coach Ricky Thomas said. "The kids are playing better right now and we're peaking right now. It's been a long season and it was great to get that first win. I was so happy for the kids and my coaching staff because it's been a real, real tough road, but I knew that coming in, so did my coaching staff.

"But I think we laid a real good foundation for next season and years to come. That's what's important to me."

WYNN HURTING: Hudson QB Zack Wynn, who injured his left knee last week against Zephyrhills, will learn the extent of the damage following a doctor's appointment this afternoon.

Wynn said he's already had an MRI and seen a specialist, who believes that he has a torn meniscus. But even if that's the case, the sophomore has no intentions of missing next week's playoff game at Harmony.

"I'm playing no matter what," he said. "I've gotten the chance to lead this team all season, and I'm not giving it up now."

As for tonight's game against Crystal River, both Wynn and Coach Mark Nash say there's a chance he'll play, but at the most he would be involved in a platoon with backup Dylan Luke and freshman JV call-up Scott Kujak.

"If there's not a lot that he can do, we'll use a few different looks," Nash said. "There's not one guy that can replace Zack."

Luke is more of a running threat, and Kujak is a traditional passing quarterback with one notable exception: he is ambidextrous, and can throw equally well with either arm to the amazement of Nash.

WAITING FOR THE CALL: As if preparing for the playoffs with a possible injury wasn't enough to worry about, Wynn also is waiting to hear from the NFL's Punt, Pass and Kick program to see if he's qualified for the national finals.

Wynn easily won the regional event, which took place at Raymond James Stadium during halftime of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' game against Jacksonville two weeks ago. By mid-December, he should learn how his totals stack up against representatives from the other 31 NFL teams. The top four compete during the AFC Championship Game in January.

He is the second Hudson player to advance out of regional, joining former PK Matt Edelman who did so in 2005.

EMOTIONAL SENIOR NIGHT: Of the 22 River Ridge seniors expected to walk with their parents on the field prior to tonight's game against Wesley Chapel, one will appreciate the walk more than the others.

Lineman Craig Midkiff, BayFlite-ed off the field during last week's game against Brooksville Central with a neck injury, at first had limited movement in his extremities and endured a lengthy hospital stay, but is expected to make a full recovery and attend tonight's game.

"He's doing as well as can be expected," Knights coach Tim Stevens said. "He's still a little sore in his neck and back. It could have been a lot worse."

Stevens watched the play on film, and was surprised by how routine it appeared, describing it as "just like a hundred plays I see in practice every day."

Midkiff's head was up and in the proper position when he took the hit, unlike Buffalo Bills TE Kevin Everett, who nearly lost his life due to a neck injury this season.

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