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Hines' Long Run Ends Keswick Christian's Season

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By MATTHEW PARKE, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 24, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - In a game Bradenton Prep did not win statistically, one play could define its postseason run. Tervaris Hines' 65-yard game winning run for touchdown.

"I saw the hole open and I hit it. I was looking for the pulling guard to trap and then I just took it all the way in," Hines said.

The Patriots found themselves looking at a three-point deficit to Keswick Christian with four minutes left in the game. They had only five first downs for the game, yet the 37-yard field goal from Kenny Lucas separated them from the Crusaders.

"I fully expected us to make a defensive stand. After the go-ahead field goal I told my defensive captain to go shut them out," Keswick Christian coach Rick Sanson said.

On the ensuing kickoff, Lucas angled his short kickoff out of bounds. It would be the Crusaders' costliest gaffe, even in a game filled with numerous turnovers. The penalty set up the Patriots at the 35. On their first play from scrimmage, Hines found the hole provided by his line and ran to the house, drawing only 11 seconds off the clock.

"Tervaris is a great athlete," Patriots coach Joe Hammond said." When I saw him hit the hole, I thought he was gone."

The Crusaders would control the ball for much of the second half and racked up seven first downs to keep momentum on their side. Their advantage in time of possession would work against them as they had less than four minutes to engineer a game-winning drive.

The Patriots' Tyler Tedesco sacked Crusader quarterback Jared Stacy on a second down in the waning minutes in that final drive. It forced Stacy into a passing third-down situation.

In a desperate heave toward a first down, Brian Parker intercepted Stacy's pass.

With just one minute left, the 8-3 Patriots made a game-clinching first down to upset the 11-1 home team en route to their Class 1B regional championship.

Hines did not play in their previous meeting, a 21-0 loss to Keswick in late October. The fullback finished with 78 yards on eight carries. Robert Murrell carried the bulk of the Patriots rushes with 20 for 119 yards and a touchdown, an 8-yard run that tied the game with Keswick going into halftime.

The Crusaders had multiple opportunities to build a substantial lead going into the second half. Stacy and Jared DiMaggio fumbled the ball on consecutive first-half drives.

DiMaggio's 131-yard rushing game was overshadowed by his fumble into the end zone from the 5-yard line.

Another touchdown, a 21-yard strike from Stacy to Tarvin Jones, was called back due to holding. A resulting field-goal try from Lucas from 42 yards out was unsuccessful.

"It was uncharacteristic of them to have these turnovers," Sanson said.

DiMaggio had a breakout season running for the Crusaders and as the senior moves on, his graduation will leave a deep void in the Crusaders rushing attack.

"We are really going to miss him," Sanson said, "It's what is special about Keswick.

"I've watched them grow from flag football to high school. We coach our own kids."

BP-Murrell 8 run (Machado kick)

KC-FG Lucas 37

BP-Hines 65 run (Machado kick)

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