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Pasco Pulls Away Late

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By EDDIE DANIELS The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - From the looks on their faces to the tone of their voices, neither football coach was surprised by what took place at Wiregrass Ranch on Friday night.

The Bulls hustled to the ball and collected two fumbles, and no one would tell you Wiregrass' effort was futile, even though Pasco eventually ran away with a 33-0 victory.

'They're a good football team, and they're quick. We knew that when we watched the videotape,' first-year Pasco coach Tom McHugh said.

The Bulls defense held Pasco (4-4, 3-1 Class 4A-8) to a quiet six-point first half.

Brennan Allen booted a 39-yard field goal with four seconds left in the first quarter, giving the Pirates a 3-0 advantage.

Undeterred, Wiregrass (0-8, 0-4) struck back with a halfback-option pass, and Chris Lewis completed it to Travis Duffy for a 20-yard gain to the Pasco 40. The drive got as far as the Pirates' 17, but it sputtered on incomplete passes on third and fourth down.

Two possessions later, Allen booted a 47-yard field goal for a 6-0 halftime lead.

The Wiregrass defense opened the third quarter by forcing a turnover. On Pasco's first-and-11 run from its 49, the Bulls defense forced the fumble, pounced on by Allen Thomas. Six plays later, a Wiregrass 28-yard field goal attempt fell short.

'You can control speed. I think we controlled it pretty much tonight,' Wiregrass coach Ricky Thomas said. 'You can control it if the kids do their assignments. We pretty much played solid defense, we were in the right spot at the right time. Like I said, my coaching staff did an outstanding job getting ready.'

Pasco distanced itself midway through the third quarter when Demetrious Larry made a leaping grab behind a defender, turning it into a 43-yard score.

Two possessions later Jamall Haynes scored on a 4-yard run, giving the Pirates a 19-0 advantage. He led all rushers with 85 yards on 17 carries.

Pirates quarterback D.J. Clower finished 6-for-10 for 105 yards and one score.

Pasco linebacker Timmy Saylor put the game away when he picked off James Tringali's screen pass and returned it 63 yards for the score with 5:45 left in the fourth quarter. Free safety Chase Dunn added two interceptions.

With 1:03 remaining, running back Willie Jackson added a 2-yard plunge for the final score.

Before kickoff, Pasco's coaching staff presented Thomas, a 1974 Pasco graduate and running back who was the Pirates' coach from 1996-2002, with his black No. 22 jersey, which was retired.

P-Allen 47 FG

P-Larry 43 pass from Clower (Allen kick)

P-Saylor 63 interception return (Allen kick)

P-Jackson 4 run (Allen kick)

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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