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A Battle To The End

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By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 11, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Ridgewood's Byronell Arline began making a name for himself back in his sophomore season when he led Pasco County in rushing that year.

Last year, he was 14 yards shy of breaking the county's single season rushing record that would have been his had he not gotten injured in the first series of the Gulf game.

Friday night, he stomped through that last step to history with an average day at the office - 23 carries for 307 yards and five touchdowns.

"Breaking the records was something I wanted to do but it kind of like took care of itself with winning games," Arline said.

Arline's name will be attached to greatness now that he has the record for single-season rushing yards (2,188) and touchdowns (35) but it's true breaking those records didn't need to be his concern.
Friday night against Zephyrhills, the way the Rams had all season, his teammates gave him the luxury of running as he pleased.

The offense blocked and opened holes. Quarterback T.J. Haab and his receivers threw just enough to make the opposing defense consider that the Rams had another option.

The defense took the pressure off of Arline.

"Everybody played great," Arline said. "They didn't make mistakes like we did last week. Last week we had too many mistakes.

"Everybody knew what they were supposed to do. Last week everybody was messing up, we had a lot of fumbles. People weren't doing their jobs. It was like no one wanted to win."

So Ridgewood wrapped up its regular season with a 9-1 record, sullied only by the loss to Land O' Lakes and Arline put his stamp on Pasco County until another thrilling running back comes through the pipeline, whenever that may be.

"He's a heck of a running back and he's done a great job but our season's not over yet," Taylor said.
Next Friday the real test comes when Ridgewood travels to the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Stadium to face big, bad Daytona Beach Seabreeze.

"I'm not scared to play against any defense," Arline said. "They say they're No. 3 in the state so let's see what they give me. That's all I want to know is what they can do to me."

REGION QUARTERFINALS

(All games Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

CLASS 4A
Ridgewood (9-1) vs. Daytona Beach Seabreeze (10-0) at New Smyrna Beach Muncipal Stadium

Rockledge (7-3) at Land O' Lakes (9-1)

CLASS 3A

Hudson (7-3) at St. Cloud Harmony (8-2)

Eustis (8-2) at Pasco (6-4)

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