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Gators Cruise Past Bulls For Their Ninth Straight Victory

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By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - It was business as usual at Land O' Lakes.

Sandwiched between last week's victory against Ridgewood, in one of the most anticipated games of the season, and next week's playoff opener against Rockledge, Land O' Lakes hosted one-win Wiregrass Ranch.

And despite the potential for distraction, Land O' Lakes collected its ninth consecutive victory of the season, 34-6, and earned its third consecutive Sunshine Athletic Conference title.

"We were kind of joking around one day in practice, Wiregrass coming after Ridgewood, but we got settled down around Tuesday or Wednesday and we focused," Land O' Lakes starting quarterback Ely Payne said. "This was for conference, so in some ways we were thinking about that. But we were all thinking about getting our offense and everything on time and sharp. Just getting ready for Rockledge."

They were indeed sharp.

By halftime, the Gators (9-1) settled into a comfortable 27-0 advantage.

Stephen Wood kicked off the scoring when he capped a 10-play drive with a 25-yard scoring run with 6:57 left in the first quarter.

Wiregrass (1-9) ended its second consecutive offensive series by punting the ball away. On the ensuing drive, Land O' Lakes freshman quarterback B.B. Weatherford showed his pocket savvy.

On third-and-15, the pocket collapsed around Weatherford. He calmly stepped up, found an extra three seconds and arched a perfect pass up the left sideline to Jerome Harrison for a 24-yard score and a 13-0 lead.

Harrison found the end zone again, this time at the end of Payne's 26-yard pass.

Land O' Lakes scored again on its next possession. Running back Tyler Peak took the handoff and went over the left side of the offensive line for a 1-yard score, extending the lead, 27-0 with 4:51 left in the half.

Land O' Lakes ran the ball 36 times for 190 yards and used nine different running backs.

"All of our seniors had heart tonight and they all just wanted to get in and play and move the ball," senior lineman Raleigh Bamberg said.

Land O' Lakes found the end zone again on its opening drive of the third quarter when Ben Hipps took a pitch to the right, racing past defenders for the 35-yard score.

Wiregrass' best drive - aided by two Land O' Lakes unsportsmanlike penalties and an offside infraction - came on its second possession in the third quarter when Blake Eads scored from a yard out. The failed 2-point conversion pass put the score at 34-6.

L-Harrison 24 pass from Weatherford (kick failed)

L-Harrison 26 pass from Payne (Spock kick)

L-Peak 1 run (Spock kick)

L-Hipps 35 run (Spock kick)

W-Eads 1 run (pass failed)

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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