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Happy Homecoming For Dragons

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By KATHERINE SMITH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2007

Video: Dancing Dragons

Special Report

TAMPA - One minute Zack Grossi was playing video games, the next he was on the dance floor with his teammates.

The Jefferson High quarterback wound up at Raymond James Stadium on Friday night for the school's annual Homecoming Dance because he lost a bet.

Grossi was challenged to a game of 'NCAA '07 Football' by teammate Max Holloway; if Grossi was victorious, he'd remain at home.

'I lost on the last play of the game,' Grossi said. 'He threw a Hail Mary and caught it, so he won and I came.'

Grossi attended the dance with a group of Jefferson players, including wide receiver Darrell Young. Like Grossi, Young hadn't planned on attending, but a series of 'peer pressure' phone calls from his teammates coerced Young out of his house.

Young had barely stepped off the escalator leading up to the dance floor when a lady in red gave him a bear hug. It was a recurring theme throughout the night.

Young couldn't take two steps without a girl running up to give him a hug.

'I don't try to be, but that's the effect I have on women,' Young said laughing. 'I try my best to make everybody happy, just keep being the Darrell they want me to be.'

Young spent most of the night perusing the dance floor, waiting for the appropriate song. For Young, fast songs wouldn't do.

'I'm a romancer,' he explained. 'I'm waiting on a slow song.'

On the dance floor, it was easy to spot the football team. They moved as one big clump. Even off the field, they remain just as close.

'We really do feel like family,' Grossi said. 'We know that everybody has each others backs.'

Young couldn't help but wonder how much more of a party it would have been had his cousin, C.J. Mills, been there to take over the D.J. duties. Mills, who was shot and killed on April 25, went by many nicknames, 'Lil Cutty,' his D.J. nickname among them.

'It would have to be a Lil Cutty party or it wasn't a party,' Young said. 'He would have been trying to make the party even bigger himself. That was C.J.'

The night before the dance, the football team held up its end of the homecoming festivities by defeating Blake 40-0. It was the second district win for the Dragons and clinched a spot in the playoffs.

Young scored the first touchdown of the night, while quarterback Grossi threw four touchdowns.

'We haven't had the best season that we would like to so far, but we had a big win and we really like where we're at right now,' Grossi said. 'We're starting to come together and we're going to click here sooner or later.

'Everybody's counting us out, but that's how we like it. We're going to be all right.'

The Dragons have battled through a lot of adversity this season. Against Blake, Jefferson players sported all-black uniforms for the first time this season in honor of C.J.

At the dance, the attire varied. Grossi arrived tieless, while other Jefferson: All Access participants Adrian James and Devion Falconer sported sharp suits.

Hats seemed to be the accessory of choice of the young men. Many donned various New York Yankees hats, while Holloway wore a Florida Gators hat. Though he has verbally committed to Boston College, Holloway said he will attend Florida if the Gators offer a scholarship.

Grossi had attended two homecoming dances when he was student at Sickles, but Friday night was his first at Jefferson. By the end of the evening, the senior was grateful he had attended what will be his last high school homecoming dance.

'All the seniors used to tell me when I was a freshman, 'Don't waste a moment because your senior year will be here before you know it,'' Grossi said. 'I was like 'Yeah, whatever,' but now it's here and I just have to try and make the best of it.'

Young felt grateful just to have the opportunity to attend a homecoming dance, especially since it provided him with a special moment.

'The best part for me was when a slow song came on,' Young said. 'I got to dance with one of my high school girls, someone I've always wanted to talk to and be with. It was amazing.'

Young and Grossi didn't originally plan to attend the dance, but they're glad they did. The seniors have only three regular-season games remaining and who knows how many playoff games.

They're trying to soak up as much of the football atmosphere before it's over.

'It was good to go to my last homecoming,' Grossi said. 'I had fun and it was a good experience. I love hanging out with all the guys. We always have fun no matter what we do.'

COMING NEXT WEEK: Grossi and Plant quarterback Aaron Murray formed a friendship in the offseason, based on their similar situations. Both took over starting quarterback positions vacated from highly successful predecessors.

Reporter Katherine Smith can

be reached at (813) 259-7860

or ksmith@tampatrib.com.

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