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Pirates Pull Away Late For Victory Over Cobras

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By BART O'CONNELL, Tribune correspondent

Published: September 22, 2007

DADE CITY - Just before wide receiver Chase Dunn dropped a few gallons of ice water on the black dress shirt of Tom McHugh, the first-year Pasco High football coach realized he had a team that believed in him.

In the aftermath of last week's loss to Wesley Chapel, the Pirates left more than a few doubts about how much different they really were from the 2006 squad that began 0-5.

But Friday, they showed the improvements that McHugh expected them to make, beating Hudson 39-34 in a wild Class 3A-District 8 opener that was filled with big plays for both teams at W.F. Edwards Stadium.

'You know what? It's not the same old Pasco,' McHugh said, still soaked. 'I don't want these kids to think it's the same old Pasco, because it's not. We work hard not to make this the same old Pasco.'

Instead of drowning themselves in penalties and squandering a chance to win, the Pirates (2-2, 1-0) erased a nine-point fourth quarter deficit with three consecutive touchdown drives against the Cobras (1-2, 0-1).

Momentum began to swing after center Chris Burgos caught a deflected pass behind the line of scrimmage from quarterback D.J. Clower and rumbled into the end zone from 5 yards out, a rare receiving touchdown for an offensive lineman.

Running back Jamall Haynes, limited to 6 yards on his first seven carries, kept it going after a stalled Hudson drive. He broke though with a 53-yard touchdown run with 9:13 to play to give Pasco its first lead since midway through the second quarter. He finished with 142 yards on 23 carries.

Then, on Pasco's next possession, all-purpose threat Josh Johnson had his own 53-yard touchdown run, slashing past Cobras defenders to make it 39-28. Johnson had 99 yards rushing, 42 passing, 31 receiving and two scores (one passing).

In the first half, it was the Cobras who were making all the big plays. In the second quarter, fullback Sean Scott (15 carries, 127 yards) rushed 75 yards up the middle, using his arm to brace his fall 20 yards into the run. Everyone in Pasco colors thought he was down, but the referee's whistle never blew, and he was finally chased down at the Pasco 1. He scored his first of two touchdowns on the next play.

After Pasco responded with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Clower to Demetrious Larry (four catches, 91 yards, two touchdowns), Hudson's JoJo Cimino scooted through a huge hole up the middle and ran by everyone for a 77-yard touchdown.

P-Larry 14 pass from Johnson (kick failed)

P-FG Allen 27

H-Scott 1 run (Jordan pass from Scott)

P-Larry 26 pass from Clower (Allen kick)

H-Cimino 77 run (Germano pass from Wynn)

P-FG Allen 38

H-Scott 4 run (kick failed)

P-Burgos 5 pass from Clower (Allen kick)

P-Haynes 53 run (Allen kick)

P-Johnson 53 run (kick failed)

H-Solis 17 pass from Wynn (pass failed)

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