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Hudson Defense Pitches Shutout

By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 17, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The emphasis all week in practice for Hudson was to avoid the first-half lulls that have plagued the offense in recent games.

And that's exactly what the Cobras did Thursday night against River Ridge, scoring touchdowns on their first two drives and thwarting several Royal Knights threats to win 14-0 at the Jim Valentine Athletic Complex.

While it wasn't the complete performance Hudson coach Mark Nash was hoping for entering next week's Saturday night district rivalry game at undefeated Gulf, the Cobras (2-4) had a solid passing game (16 of 26, 161 yards, one TD from Zack Wynn) and ran the ball for 92 yards.

"We're not a good enough team to be flat early and expect to turn it on late," Nash said. "So, they came out strong this week, but they turned it off in the second half, so I don't know."

After River Ridge (0-6) opened the game by driving eight plays and 43 yards to Hudson's 22-yard line, the Cobras stuffed Knights quarterback Kenny Toce on fourth-and-1. Hudson then went 78 yards on 11 plays for the game's first points. Wynn was 5-for-7 passing on the drive, and Dylan Luke finished it with a 6-yard run.

A Knights punt set up the ensuing touchdown drive, capped by an 18-yard pass from Wynn, Pasco County's leading passer, to Dylan Buono, the county's top receiver. A Wynn 2-point run finished off the scoring in the second quarter.

Wynn did have a second-half scare when he was hit on his surgically-repaired left knee but he expects to be fine.

Though the Cobras had early trouble with running backs Stavros Arianas (17 carries, 80 yards) and Trevor Shoun (13 carries, 59 yards), they made several key stops.