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Wharton Defense Keys Victory

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - The score may have reflected differently, but Wharton was forced to grind out a victory against Wesley Chapel 31-7 in a Class 5A-District 5 game Saturday.

The game was moved to Saturday due to heavy rain and lightning Friday night.

Although led by junior Jairus Jones' two rushing touchdowns, Wharton (4-2) had to rely on its defense to hold off Wesley Chapel (3-3). The defense recovered two fumbles, one of which senior linebacker Xavier Fareed returned for 60 yards, and sacked Wesley Chapel's Chris West four times.

'We still have some thing to work on,' Wharton coach David Mitchell said. 'Our timing is still not there. Defense? Yes. Offense? We still have some things we need to get done.'

Jones, who also played at punt returner and strong safety, had nine carries for 94 yards. Senior tailback LaDre Watkins followed with five carries for 62 yards and one touchdown.

Freshman Hunter Joyer scored Wesley Chapel's only touchdown on a 5-yard rush. Joyer led the Wildcats with 66 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Nick Williams
PLANT 64, BLAKE 7: The Plant Panthers finished what they started by adding 13 points to their Friday night total in a victory against Blake. The teams gathered Saturday morning to complete the second half of the Class 4A-District 10 contest.

Plant opened the third quarter with a 41-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Murray to Derek Winter. The Panthers added another score midway through the fourth quarter when senior defensive back Don Rushing returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

Blake's Davis Myron prevented a third consecutive shutout for the Yellow Jackets with his 55-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Katherine Smith
HILLSBOROUGH 37, FREEDOM 0: Hillsborough added three touchdowns Saturday to the 16-0 lead it had at halftime Friday, when lightning forced a suspension of the game against Freedom, as the Terriers defeated the Patriots.

When the game picked up Saturday evening, neither team had attempted a pass and Freedom had 4 yards of total offense. The Terriers (6-0, 2-0) fixed the passing problem as Tarean Austin completed 5-for-7 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, one coming on a 55-yard completion to Iziah Wyche.

The Patriots added yardage but looked frustrated as penalties (seven in the half) ended any chances to add to the six total points Freedom (0-6, 0-2) had on the season.

Jarrett Guthrie

BISHOP McLAUGHLIN 41, ACADEMY AT THE LAKES 0: Junior Ryan Beeble scored three touchdowns, senior Trae Williams added two and junior quarterback Jeff Pope rushed for 141 yards as the Hurricanes won the battle of winless Pasco County schools.

Pope, who also was 3-for-5 for 69 yards passing, scored the other Hurricanes touchdown. Bishop McLaughlin (1-4) totaled 431 yards of offense and its defense only allow the Wildcats (0-4) into Hurricanes territory three times.

Rick Harmon

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