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Chamberlain Gets Victory Despite Turner's Absence

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By GREGG BECNEL, Tribune correspondent

Published: September 22, 2007

TAMPA - Something was noticeably different about the Chamberlain sideline during the Chiefs' 28-0 win against Blake on Friday.

For the first time in nearly half a century - the past 28 years at Chamberlain - Billy Turner missed a game as a coach.

Turner, the winningest active coach in Hillsborough County, was hospitalized Friday afternoon with respiratory problems and will undergo a catheterization procedure on Monday. He has fluid in his lungs and only 40-50 percent of his heart is working, said Brian Turner, Billy's son and the Chiefs' assistant coach.

'He's been coaching high school and college for 48 years and he's never missed a game before Friday,' Brian said. 'We dedicated this game to him. Everybody was giving 100 percent out there. He's like a father to a lot of these kids.'

The elder Turner wasn't completely in the dark during the game, however, as an assistant coach called periodically with updates on the Chiefs' performance.

Quarterback Dontae Aycock said the team played with a heavy heart after finding out Turner wouldn't be on the sidelines.

'We found out right after school and everybody was mad and sad because we wanted Coach with us,' said Aycock, who threw and ran for a touchdown. 'He's been in a bad situation with his heart lately so we wanted to come out and have a good game. We didn't do it for us, we did it for him.'

Chamberlain (2-2), which hadn't scored in its past seven quarters going into the contest, snapped a two-game losing streak.

The Chiefs stretched their scoreless streak to eight quarters before Aycock hooked up with Francisco Llanos for a 9-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter.

Kenny Allen ran in from 15 yards on a statue-of-liberty play in the third quarter and Justin Bell ran in from 12 yards after a high snap on a field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter. Aycock finished the scoring with a 3-yard plunge.

Dating back to last year, Blake (0-4) has lost 10 of its past 11 games. The Yellow Jackets haven't scored more than eight points in a game this season.

Despite the win, an emotional Brian Turner was thinking of his father.

'I'm having a hard time right now,' he said, fighting back tears. 'It's just not the same without him.'

C-Allen 15 run (Pullaro kick)

C-Bell 12 run (Pullaro kick)

C-Aycock 3 run (Pullaro kick)

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