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Pasco And Zephyrhills Go At It For 51st Time

Tribune file photo by FRED BELLET

Pasco High School's Tim Saylor (33) attempts to stop Zephyrhills Alex Paniagua (35) who's followed by Quentin Amos (77) and Tyler Guy (15) during the 2007 version of the 9-Mile rivalry, which the Bulldogs won, 14-7.

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2008

DADE CITY - For a moment Monday afternoon, Tom McHugh had to divert his attention to a handful of freshman.
They were being, well, freshman.
A short, terse sentenced from the Pasco football coach neutralized the horseplay and things simmered down quickly.
If only figuring out Zephyrhills was that easy.
Pasco (4-1) will host the Bulldogs (2-3) in the 51st meeting of the 9-Mile rivalry between the schools 7:30 p.m. Friday at W.F. Edwards Stadium. Making this matchup more interesting is the fact it's a Class 3A-District 8 showdown.
Gulf, Pasco and Zephyrhills are each 1-0 in the district.
Although the Pirates lead the series 34-16, Zephyrhills has won five of the last seven meetings.
"Coach [Tom] Fisher does a great job with what he has," McHugh said. "He makes great plays with the players and does a good job with smaller teams. It's always when we play them you can expect it.
"It's like Wesley Chapel [Zephyrhills beat the Wildcats 28-0 last Friday] the other night was an unexpected thing to happen to them."
Zephyrhills opened the season, losing its first three games and in those three contests, the Bulldogs managed just 18 total points.
In that three-game stretch, Zephyrhills went from surrendering 35 points in the season opener against Miami Gulliver Prep to holding both Mitchell and Land O' Lakes to 11 points each. In Week 3, they beat Sunlake, 21-9 for their first victory of the season.
Than came last week's shutout win against Wesley Chapel. It was the first time the Wildcats had been shutout since its inaugural varsity season in 1999. That year, Clearwater Central Catholic collected a 38-0 victory.
Bottom line, Zephyrhills is one of those teams opponents should never underestimate.
"He's different probably every week, which makes it really hard to plan for them," McHugh said, "but we'll do the best we can."
Zephyrhills has made its improvements, while patching up holes at key positions due to injury. They lost receiver Gage Hayes and starting center Duke Morrison to a knee injuries. Several other injuries along the offensive line has made that unit one pieced together quite carefully.
That said, Pasco still has its hands full.
The Pirates must stop Bulldogs running backs Alex Paniagua and Michael Peterman, keep receiver Alex Sampson in check and not allow their big quarterback, Tyler Guy, to get comfortable.
The Pirates have their own weapons with which Zephyrhills will have to contend.
Receiver Josh Johnson, who injured his right shoulder late in Pasco's 18-17 loss to Nature Coast, had the shoulder examined that night and is expected to play Friday. Pasco's leading rusher Jamall Haynes is likely seething after being held to 54 yards on 16 carries against the Sharks. That was his lowest output of the season.
There's also mobile quarterback D.J. Clower, who has racked up 98 rushing yards in addition to his 635 passing yards and eight touchdowns.
Either way you chalk it up, it won't be an easy night for anyone wearing red or orange.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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