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Land O'Lakes 14, Brooksville Central 7

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - As the final minutes ticked off the game clock Thursday night at Gator Stadium, Land O' Lakes defensive coordinator Al Claggett couldn't help but allow everyone into his head.

Several times - to anyone listening - the coach declared, 'This is the best defensive football game we've played in a while.'

Land O' Lakes shut out the Brooksville Central offense, a unit that has averaged 31.3 points in its last three games, gave up just 135 yards of offense, while collecting a crucial Class 4A-District 8 victory, 14-7.

'We played as a unit,' said Land O' Lakes defensive lineman Joseph Robinson, who tallied one of five Land O' Lakes sacks against Central quarterback Chase Walker. 'We come out and we just do what we have to do.'

That Land O' Lakes unit was called upon early and never faltered. After Central opened the game with a three-and-out drive, Land O' Lakes fumbled the ball back to the Bears on the punt return, giving Central the ball at the Land O' Lakes (6-1, 3-0) 39-yard line.

On that drive, Alex Zimmerman recorded his second sack of the night, pushing the ball back 7 yards on the second-and-8 play. Dan Szymanski batted down the ensuing pass, forcing Central (4-3, 1-2) to attempt a 45-yard field goal, which sailed left.

With 5:41 remaining in the second quarter, Central's Austin Forte caught a tipped Ely Payne pass, returning it 42 yards for the score and the 7-0 advantage.

'Anytime you get a big play like that, you feel good about your team,' Central coach Cliff Lohrey said. 'I think everybody thinks you're going to start rolling from there. Credit to Land O' Lakes, we weren't able to gain any more momentum off of that than what we did.'

Land O' Lakes answered back on the ensuing series with a five-play drive, which ended with a 15-yard pass from Stephen Weatherford to tight end Nick Castellano across the middle.

The first three possessions of the second half for Land O' Lakes were ineffective as they each ended with Alex Spock punts. Once again, it was the defense's turn to put its stamp on the game.

On a second-and-9 pass from the Central 20, Gators defensive lineman Keith Hoffman picked off Walker's pass, returning it 15 yards for the score and the first Land O' Lakes lead of the night, 14-7 with 9:38 remaining.

Of Central's remaining three offensive drives, the Gators defense forced two punts and a turnover on downs.

The Gators defense held the Central ground attack to 29 yards on 30 carries. The Bears leading rusher was Walker with 11 yards. Conversely, Land O' Lakes' Stephen Wood and Chris Singleton accounted for 63 and 60 yards, respectively, of the Gators' 148 total rushing yards.

L-Castellano 15 pass from Weatherford (Spock kick)

L-Hoffman 15 interception return (Spock kick)

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