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Gaither Claims Playoff Berth

By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: October 25, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - Mark Kantor didn't sound like a football coach whose team just strengthened its odds at a playoff run Friday night.

Despite Gaither's 32-22 victory against Class 5A-District 5 foe Wesley Chapel, which gives the Cowboys a 2-0 district record with one district opponent remaining on the schedule, Kantor was peeved.

"It was just one of those things," Kantor said. "We still have to put four quarters together. We're making errors on special teams that we've coached since Week 1. We can't do that. Wesley Chapel's a good football team and we made errors that kept them in the game."

Those points of frustration came in the form of two blocked point-after attempts, a missed attempt following a penalty, as well as a crucial fake punt conversion on fourth-and-9 by Wesley Chapel.

As it turns out, Gaither (4-4, 2-0), along with Wharton (6-2, 2-0) clinched playoff berths Friday night.

What Kantor can smile about is the fact his team remained resilient despite the loss of running back Jarvis Giles to a crushing blow to the head in the second quarter and the return of starting quarterback Kamren Hawkins. Kantor said Giles, who stayed on the sideline and was coherent the remainder of the game, would be fine.

With their star on the sideline, Cary White, Jordan Cooks and Yemi Oyegunle took over rushing responsibilities.

Gaither scored on its first two possessions - a 3-yard run by Giles and a 2-yard Hawkins-to-Justin Lattimore strike in the first quarter.

Wesley Chapel's Keenan Reynolds put Wesley Chapel (3-5, 0-2) on the board at the 9:06 mark of the second quarter by cutting into the Gaither lead, 12-7.

The Wildcats were hit with 13 penalties for 109 yards.

Cook's 1-yard score with 6:43 remaining ensured a Cowboys victory and a playoff spot.