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Aycock Leads Chiefs To Win

Tribune photo JAY NOLAN

Alonso's #24, Kory Strassberg catches a touch-down pass in the first half against Chamberlain.

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2008

Updated: 10/25/2008 12:22 am

TAMPA - Despite playing without one of the top running backs in Hillsborough County, Chamberlain's offense finished with 424 yards total yards en route to a 35-21 Class 5A-District 6 victory against Alonso on Friday.

The win clinched a playoff berth for the Chiefs, who improved to 8-0 on the season.

With senior running back Kenny Allen serving a one-game suspension, quarterback Dontae Aycock more than did his part to pick up the slack, ending the game with 175 rushing yards and four touchdowns along with 105 yards through the air.

Aycock also threw two interceptions and fumbled twice, but didn't let the errors disrupt his performance.

"We came kind of shaky in the first half and we knew we had to play better," he said. "When we came out in the second half, we just told everybody we need to get it clicking on both sides of the ball, and in the second half that's what we did."

With the score tied at 14, Alonso went into the locker with momentum after blocking a 27-yard field goal attempt by Chamberlain as time expired. Aycock already had fumbled twice and threw an interception.

In the third quarter, however, Alonso turned the ball over on the second play of the half when senior defensive back Rico Valdez picked off a pass from Ravens quarterback C.J. Bennett, his first of two on the night. Later in the quarter, Alonso decided to go for it on fourth-and-10 while inside Chamberlain's territory, but the pass fell incomplete. Chamberlain capitalized off the turnover on downs when Aycock gave his team a 28-14 lead with a 22-yard score.

"We knew that if we won this game it would play a big part in us winning the district," Aycock said. "We still have one more district game left and that's against King. I think we have the ability to beat King, but we just have to take it one game at a time."

"It was a good win because they're a lot better than people think they are," Chamberlain coach Billy Turner said. "Our season's not over, though. We still have two more games."

Senior running back Lamond Scott added 145 yards on the ground for Chamberlain and was also the leading receiver with 40 yards off three catches.

Bennett led Alonso (6-2) with 229 passing yards, two interceptions and one touchdown and one rushing touchdown. Senior wideout Kory Strassberg caught five passes for 50 yards with one touchdown while sophomore running back Cody Verelli had 63 yards rushing with a touchdown. The defense recovered three fumbles, caught two interceptions and sacked the quarterback once.

"We weren't making a couple of plays and we made a couple of bad reads, throwing that interception early, and after a while Aycock runs that option so well that's awfully hard to stop him," Alonso coach Mike Heldt said. "But we're going to get back at it. Hopefully we can get back in it and get into the playoffs see them again in the later rounds. But we're a good football team. Don't count us out either."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848

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