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Gulf Finally Gets Opening Win

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 6, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The first three years Jay Fulmer was at Gulf, he lost his opening game.

Not this year.

Behind the strong running duo of Tevin Gamble and Adrian Golden, the Buccaneers kicked off their season with a 34-7 victory against Mitchell on Friday at W.D. "Des" Little Stadium.

"I never wanted to be 1-0 any more than I wanted it tonight," Fulmer said. "I'm just so tired of starting out in the hole. It really helps you get started on the right foot. There's no way you're not going to win a game now. That first one is the hardest."

Golden, who finished the game with 80 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns, has been the talk around Gulf since he transferred from Ridgewood at the beginning of practice in August. But cramps in the third quarter limited his playing time and gave Gamble an opportunity to shine.

Gamble rushed for 143 yards on 14 carries.

"They're both good kids. It's a good 1-2 punch," Fulmer said. "Tevin is really comfortable with us because he's been with us and is comfortable with our play-calling. He knows where the breaks are going to be. I think Bubba's Golden still trying to figure that out. He runs real hard but he hasn't quite figured out how to hit those lanes yet. He did get a good cut once but it was called back on a penalty."

He actually had two long runs called back, including a 35-yard touchdown run.

It looked like Mitchell was going go on top first as Marcus Hicks took the opening kickoff and returned it 52 yards to the Gulf 28. Two plays later, the Mustangs had first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, but a motion penalty, a fumbled pitch, a sack and an incomplete pass left Mitchell with a 35-yard field goal attempt, which was short.

"That might have made the game," Fulmer said. "I think that gave our kids the lift they needed."

The play that probably was the turning point was at the end of the half. With the Bucs on top 14-0, Mitchell recovered a fumble at the Gulf 25 with 1:32 left but four plays later the Mustangs fumbled the ball and Gulf recovered in the end zone with 34 seconds left.

From its own 20, Gamble had runs of 5 and 40 yards and then quarterback Madison Burr found David Ramirez for a 35-yard touchdown with 7.6 seconds left.

Mitchell scored its only touchdown with 36 seconds left in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Ricky Trinidad.

"We couldn't throw the ball. But it wasn't that we couldn't get into rhythm - we took the opening kickoff down to the 1-yard line and didn't score. You can't do those things," said Mitchell coach Scott Schmitz.

Trinidad finished with 80 yards on 14 carries but junior quarterback Cody Van De Boe failed to complete a pass in seven attempts.

G - Golden 11 run (pass failed)

G - Ramirez 35 pass from Burr (Skelton kick)

M - Trinidad 3 run (Vasquez kick)

G - Burbridge 7 run (kick failed)

G - Burr 1 run (Burbridge kick)

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