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Gaither 27, Jefferson 17

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Nick Williams/The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 21, 2007

TAMPA Gaither High junior running back Jarvis Giles had anticipated playing Jefferson, his former school, all week. The standout back went as far as doing sometrash talking, via text message.

Friday night, Giles let his talent do the talking, as the standout led the Cowboys with 217 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-17 victory against the Dragons.

'We really needed this win right here,' Giles said. 'Everybody was doubting us. You see in the papers everybody voted against us, everybody except Tampa Tribune reporter Bill Ward.'

After starting the season 0-2, the Cowboys are 2-2. Giles said the team is turning things around.

'I think we are back on track,' Giles said. 'As you can see we came out here and executed. I used to go to Jefferson, those are my dudes right there, I love them boys because they played a good game.'

On his first carry of the game, Giles scored on a 63-yard touchdown for a 7-0 Gaither lead. On his second carry, he scored on a 1-yard run to make it 14-0 in the first quarter. At the half, he had already recorded 138 yards.

'I don't owe it to myself, I owe it to my line,' Giles said. 'They did everything for me.'

'Over 200 yards, the kid is a good back, and he showed it tonight,' Gaither coach Mark Kantor said.

Gaither's defense caused problems for Jefferson quarterback Zack Grossi, forcing two interceptions and sacking the senior quarterback twice. The Cowboy defense also recovered a fumble on defense.

'They got after Grossi, they kept coming with the pressure and they were making sound tackles and they kept doing what they've been preaching all week, all season and in the summer,' Kantor said. 'Our defense did a fantastic job tonight.'

Grossi finished the game 9-for-27 for 137 yards and one rushing touchdown. Gaither had one passing attempt.

On the opening kickoff of the second half, Darrell Young returned the kick for a 95-yard touchdown to make it 17-7. Jefferson's defense forced Gaither to punt on the next series and the Dragons drove to their opponents' 3, only to settle for a 20-yard field goal to make it 17-10. The Dragons (1-2) didn't score until late in the fourth quarter on Grossi's run.

'It wasn't pretty,' said Jefferson coach Mike Fenton. 'We shot ourselves in the foot in the first half. I thought we were a little better in the second half. It was just a lot of mistakes and a comedy of errors.'

G-Giles 1 run (Cattoi kick)

G-Cattoi 29 yard kick

J-D. Young 95 kick return (Londono kick)

J-Londono 20 yard kick

G-Giles 14 run (Cattoi kick)

G-Cattoi 44 yard kick

J-Grossi 1 yard run (Londono kick)

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