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The Final Tape Session

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By KATHERINE SMITH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

TAMPA - On April 24, Jefferson quarterback Zack Grossi's house became the gathering spot.

Most times, it was difficult to get the team together because the guys had different schedules and priorities. That night was different. Several players met to watch game film of the Nov. 24 Armwood game.

Sitting next to C.J. Mills on the couch was fellow linebacker Gorby Loreus. The two pored over each play of the playoff loss, pointing out all the 'flaws' Armwood had in their offense and how Jefferson's defense could expose them when the two teams met again.

Over pizzas and game film, Loreus and C.J. bonded and had such a good time, both agreed they needed to hang out more.

'I was thinking in my head, 'We need to plan some more stuff,'' Loreus said. 'We were actually planning to do something that weekend.'

That weekend never came. C.J. was shot and killed in his driveway the next day by an assailant who still remains at large.

His Jefferson teammates didn't know it then, but that would be the last time they would see C.J. alive. The film they watched would hold memories of the last game C.J. would ever play.

'That night, I think God gave us that night,' Loreus said. 'It was just one last night to spend time with C.J. Ironically, no one that night had anything else to do, so we all just got together.

'I think that was just a gift from God to give us one last chance to hang out with C.J.'

That moment also made last Friday's game against Armwood all the more special.

Throughout the makeshift film session, C.J. grabbed Loreus, his eyes big and wide, and vowed they would get Armwood next time. They would pause, rewind and watch play after play, as various players, including C.J., would run to the TV and point out Armwood's vulnerable areas.

'He got real emotional about the game and said how we were going to beat them,' Loreus said. 'He truly believed in his heart we would stop them.'

Jefferson came close to stopping the No. 1 ranked and undefeated Armwood Hawks, perhaps closer than any other team has this season. The 26-9 score doesn't truly reflect how close the game was and how two or three plays decided the outcome.

Players couldn't help but wonder how the outcome might have been different with C.J. on the field. It's a thought that's been on Grossi's mind throughout the season.

'People say how much the murder of C.J. has affected the community and affected the team's morale, which it has,' Grossi said. 'It was awful, but people forget how nasty he was, what a stud he was at linebacker for us. He was defensive MVP for a reason.

'People forget that he would have been there busting heads, but ...it's a big loss on the field, but not nearly as it is off the field.'

Jefferson coach Mike Fenton isn't one who believes in moral victories, but Friday night's loss to Armwood just may have made him a believer. It was the second loss in a row for the Dragons as they head into district competition this week.

'I was starting to wonder if we had totally lost our spunk,' Fenton said. 'One thing that game showed me was that they got their spunk back. They still have it in them. They totally believed that they could win the game.

'We always like to win and especially beat Armwood, but there were some good things that came out of it. We had some fire in us.'

'We learned that we can come together and play as a unit and stay strong together,' Loreus said.

That's a lesson Loreus and his teammates learned on April 25. That's when most of the team, gathered in a waiting room at St. Joseph's Hospital, learned C.J had died from two gunshot wounds to the stomach.

In the locker room before Friday's game, Loreus couldn't help but glance at the locker next to him as he got dressed. He teared up as he stared at the hanging No. 8 jersey C.J. last wore in November.

'I thought about him on every play,' Loreus said. 'He gave me a lot of strength to go out on the field and perform. I feel since C.J.'s gone, we're missing a lot and I have to be everywhere on the field. I need to get that big pop, just like C.J. used to.'

COMING NEXT WEEK: Starting center Adrian James' mother taught him early on that life isn't going to be easy and she should know. Over the past two years, James' mother gradually has gone blind, but that setback hasn't stopped her from going to Jefferson's games. She sits in the stands with her sister, who describes the action on the field.

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860 or ksmith@tampatrib.com.

Keyword: Prep Sports for video of Jefferson players during their 26-9 loss to Armwood last Friday. Keyword: Prep Sports for video of Jefferson players during their 26-9 loss to Armwood last Friday.

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