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Pinellas Roundup: Defense Keys Packers Victory

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A Tribune staff report

Published: October 4, 2008

Updated: 10/04/2008 12:35 am

DUNEDIN - In a clash of one of the state's top running backs, rivals.com four-star tailback Adarius Bellamy of Dunedin, and arguably Pinellas County's top defense in Largo, it was the defense that won this round.

Led by linebacker Mike Marry and strong safety/linebacker Michael Lang, the visiting Packers (4-0) held Bellamy, who has verbally committed to South Florida, to 45 yards on 10 carries and no touchdowns. Bellamy had just one double-digit run, a 10-yarder near the end of the first half.

"People said we couldn't stop Bellamy, but I see we were able to accomplish that," Packers linebacker Sean Holte said.

Early in the second half, Largo began to pull away from Dunedin (3-2). Holte took a screen pass from quarterback Ryan Eppes and squirted up the middle for a 48-yard score and a 12-0 Largo lead.

"I was tired, but all I saw in front of me was green grass," Holte said.

Largo extended its regular-season win streak to 14 games.

Lee Diekemper

CARDINAL MOONEY 31,

ST. PETE CATHOLIC 25

SARASOTA - In a game of big plays, host Cardinal Mooney got the last one. Nick Conforti returned a kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown to give Sarasota Cardinal Mooney the victory over St. Petersburg Catholic.

The Barons (0-5) took a 25-24 lead when Richard Waddell caught a 7-yard pass from Chris McKay in the front right corner of the end zone with 8:44 to play.

Conforti returned the ensuing kickoff to give the Cougars (4-1) the lead 14 seconds later.

PALM HARBOR 37,

DIXIE HOLLINS 19

PALM HARBOR - Senior quarterback Sean Shelton ran 12 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 121 yards and a touchdown to lead Palm Harbor to victory on homecoming.

Junior running back JaTyuan Landing rushed 15 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns as the Hurricanes took a 21-0 halftime lead. Landing also caught two passes, while senior tight end Mike Guju reeled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Shelton early in the third quarter.

While their offense was able to move the ball easily, the Hurricanes defense stifled the Rebels, recording five sacks, including a fourth-quarter safety. The Hurricanes also forced a fumble and had an interception.

Aaron Cline Hanbury

ST. PETERSBURG 17,

BOCA CIEGA 2

ST. PETERSBURG - St. Petersburg's Ben Sams scored two touchdowns on the ground, and the Green Devils tallied two of the three safeties in their victory against Boca Ciega.

After a scoreless first quarter, Ben Sams scored on runs of 4 and 2 yards to put the Green Devils ahead. St. Petersburg got its first safety when Pirates quarterback Shaquille Bradford recovered a high snap in his end zone, giving the Green Devils a 15-0 halftime lead.

Steve Sims

TARPON SPRINGS 15,

COUNTRYSIDE 14

TARPON SPRINGS - Tarpon Springs' Danny Chaisson scored on a 1-yard run, and Zac Melendez added the 2-point conversion with 46 seconds to play as the Spongers edged Countryside in a defensive battle.

Countryside took a halftime lead on a 65-yard touchdown run by Todd Shorter, but Tarpon Springs tied the game in the third quarter as junior Josiah Fisk scored on a 3-yard run.

Another long touchdown run allowed Countryside to regain the lead as Jalen Goodloe scored on a 68-yard run for a 14-7 lead. But the Spongers remained undefeated, as Coach George Kotis gambled and won on Melendez's conversion after Chaisson's touchdown.

Shaunna Trudelle

GIBBS 34,

CLEARWATER 20

ST. PETERSBURG - Gibbs quarterback Josh Rembert threw three touchdowns to three different receivers, and Gibbs held a big lead after the first quarter against Clearwater.

Rembert found David Washington on a 29-yard touchdown pass and John Reynolds on a 20-yard score, while Marc Edwards scored on a 1-yard run to give the Gladiators a 22-0 lead after the first quarter. The Gladiators maintained their advantage after Terrance Jackson scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns and Mike Kendrick returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown.

Luke McEachron

EAST LAKE 59,

PINELLAS PARK 6

TARPON SPRINGS - East Lake quarterback Sam Shaffer threw two touchdown passes and ran for another to lead the Eagles to an easy win over Pinellas Park. Shaffer got the first touchdown of the night with a 7-yard run and threw touchdown passes to Stephen Nunley for 19 yards and Jonathan Wang for 8.

INDIAN ROCKS CHR. 21,

VICTORY CHRISTIAN 14

LARGO - Tyler Ostheim's 11-yard reception from Blake Farver put the Golden Eagles (5-0) up for good. Trailing 7-0, IRC got a pair of long rushing touchdowns from Jonny Sitton, 68 and 56 yards, to give IRC a 14-7 lead in the first half.

FORT MEADE 43,

CLEARWATER C.C. 7

FORT MEADE - Clearwater Central Catholic found itself down 29-0 in the first half and never recovered. An 11-yard run by Micah Poole proved to be the lone score for the Marauders.

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