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Pinellas Roundup: Gladiators Stay On Top Of 5A-9

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A Tribune staff report

Published: October 27, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Gibbs High enjoyed what appeared to be the makings of a classic rout as it entered halftime of its homecoming game with 38 unanswered points against Pinellas Park in a Class 5A-District 9 matchup. The Patriots returned to the field with a gritty ground game that held the Gladiators scoreless in the second half, but were unable to bridge the first-half deficit as the Gladiators won 38-13.

Led by quarterback Lamar Hall, the Gladiators scored four touchdowns in the first quarter. Hall connected a short pass to wide receiver Kevonta Brown for a 70-yard touchdown, followed by rushing touchdowns by Devon McCullough, Matt Cabassa and Devon McCullough. The Gladiators (6-2, 4-0) continued to roll with a 27-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Marcus Russ, and a 48-yard field goal by Tommy Hains.

But that's all the home team would garner, as the Patriots (1-7, 1-3) owned the second half with quarterback Jesse Redden engineering a pair of touchdowns by running back Chris McKinnie in the third and fourth quarters.

Gladiators coach Yusuf Shakir said he thought his players may have been a little distracted by the homecoming aura. 'At halftime we figured we had it made,' he said. 'I told them if we stay focused and keep going, we'll be OK.'

With five minutes remaining in regulation, the Patriots made good on their onside kick attempt, but lost Redden to an injured leg on the following play. McKinnie took over at QB, but game ended with the Gladiators sealing their homecoming victory.

Steve Sims

LARGO 34, SEMINOLE 0: Safety Mike Lang's two interceptions helped keep Largo's defensive shutout intact. Brynn Harvey rushed for 184 yards on 26 carries with a 5-yard second-quarter touchdown run. Leonard Johnson found the end zone in the first quarter with a 33-yard quarterback keeper. Marcel Durham's 4-yard touchdown run gave three Packers a 20-0 halftime lead.

Johnson's third-quarter 2-yard touchdown completion to Arsenio Scott and a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth by Shawn Holte capped off Largo's victory.

Chris Daugherty

BOCA CIEGA 28, OSCEOLA 0: Ja-Vonta Trotter recorded 134 yards receiving and three touchdowns, leading Boca Ciega to a victory.

Boca Ciega opened up the scoring in the first quarter after a fumble recovery by Julius Forte led to a touchdown run by Mundrae Francis. In the second quarter, Boca Ciega quarterback Orhian Johnson threw a pair of touchdowns to Trotter to give the Pirates a 21-0 lead.

In the third quarter Boca Ciega scored again when Trotter returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter Boca Ciega relied on running backs Francis, Latavian Washington and Donald Warren to carry the load. Boca Ciega quarterback Johnson finished the game with two touchdowns and 252 yards passing.

Peyton Jones

EAST LAKE 35, PALM HARBOR 7: East Lake eased to a easy Class 5A-District 9 win against Palm Harbor University as Richie Bailey scored for three rushing touchdowns. Bailey opened the scoring on a 6-yard run early in the first quarter, and added a second from 3 yards to give the Eagles (5-3, 2-1) a 21-0 lead.

Palm Harbor (3-5, 1-2) reduced its deficit to two scores with a 5-yard touchdown run by Mike McNeely 44 seconds before halftime, but Bailey restored the Eagles' advantage with a 38-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. T.J. Herman added a 1-yard touchdown run to complete the scoring.

Sean Stewart

SEBRING 23, BRADEN RIVER 0: Tailback T.J. Williams rushed for 174 yards, quarterback Steven Fortner threw for two touchdowns and the Sebring defense forced five Braden River turnovers to lead the Blue Streaks (4-4, 1-2) over the Pirates (3-6, 1-3) in Class 3A-District 12.

Both defenses dominated a scoreless first half, but Sebring (4-4, 1-2) blocked a punt early in the third quarter to set up a 25-yard field goal by Sam Robinson.

On Braden River's next possession, Sebring intercepted a pass and drove 90 yards in 10 plays, with Fortner connecting with Brannon Doorman for a 47-yard scoring strike to put the Streaks up 10-0 midway through the third.

Sebring sealed the win when Robinson picked up a bad snap on a punt and scrambled 89 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.

Mark Pinson

BISHOP VEROT 31, LAKE PLACID 0: Butch Moore threw two touchdown passes to Garrett Redden and Fort Myers Bishop Verot scored twice in the frenzied final 1:01 before half en route to victory over Lake Placid in Class 2A-District 5.

Moore, a senior, completed 11 of 20 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns and kicked a 37-yard field goal, while sophomore running back Schon Thomas had 11 carries for 58 yards and a score to clinch a playoff berth for the Vikings (6-2, 3-1).

The Green Dragons (2-6, 0-4) had their opportunities, but three turnovers on downs and a blocked punt and touchdown return by Bishop Verot junior Craig Toggweiler led to LP's fifth straight defeat.

Senior Rashaad Brown had 14 carries for 58 yards pace the Dragon offense, while senior Josh Hickey had two interceptions in the second half to lead the LP defense.

Brian Gjurgevich

DESOTO 41, AVON PARK 0: DeSoto continued its onslaught in Class 3A-District 12, pummeling Avon Park for 236 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a key district win.

Bulldog tailback Jerrell Thomas scored two touchdowns, while Jerrell Ezell ran for 46 yards and a score, as the Bulldogs outpaced Avon Park 303 to 79 total yards of offense. DeSoto's defense clamped down hard in the second half, allowing just 10 yards from the Red Devils.

COUNTRYSIDE 42, CLEARWATER 24: Maurice Threatts ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns to lead Countryside to its fourth straight win with a victory over crosstown rival Clearwater in Class 5A-District 9.

The Cougars scored on all but one possession. Quarterback Jimbo Chmelik was a perfect 10 of 10 for 134 yards and a touchdown.

KESWICK 56, SARASOTA OUT-OF-DOOR 0: Keswick Christian wrapped up the Class 1B-District 6 title with a convincing win over Sarasota Out-of-Door, but Crusaders coach Rick Sanson had to try to keep his emotions in check.

'Out-of-Door lost its best running back on the opening kickoff,' Sanson said.

Running back Jared DiMaggio had three touchdowns on runs of 7, 36 and 14. Tarvin Jones added a 53-yard touchdown reception and a 60-yard punt return.

TARPON SPRINGS 27, BROOKSVILLE CENTRAL 10: Tarpon Springs rallied from a 10-0 deficit in the second quarter to score 27 unanswered points. Ladarrius Only had touchdowns of 3 and 2 yards.

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