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Pirates' Victory Not Perfect, But Convincing

By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 6, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - There wasn't a whole lot that Pasco's football team couldn't do Friday night.

When the Pirates ran, they gained yards. If they decided to put the ball in the air, it was for chunks of yards.

The end result? A convincing 26-6 victory against Land O' Lakes. It is the second consecutive season in which the Pirates (1-0) have opened the season with a victory against the Gators (0-1).

"We made some mistakes," Pasco coach Tom McHugh said. "There were 17 points we left out there because of dumb things by good football players that shouldn't be happening. So I'm upset about that, but 26-6, I'm not looking to beat someone's brains out, but when we make mistakes to take points off the board I'm not happy."

Pasco scored on its first four possessions, building a 19-0 halftime advantage. The Pirates outgained Land O' Lakes 237 yards to 45 in the first half.

Brennan Allen connected on a 26-yard field goal at the 7:14 mark of the first quarter and bookended the scoring in the half with a 34-yard kick in the second.

Between kicks, Jamall Haynes (15-yard run) and Josh Johnson (9-yard run) found the end zone.

Haynes ended the night as the game's leading rusher, with 18 carries for 102 yards and two scores. Pasco quarterback D.J. Clower connected on seven of eight passes for 133 yards and one touchdown.

Land O' Lakes showed signs of life in the third quarter, opening the second half with a six-play drive for its only score of the night.

That was the last time the Gators advanced past the 50-yard line.

"You stand out there and you look out at the way your team is playing, and it looks like they're the worst-coached team in the world," Land O' Lakes coach John Benedetto said. "And that's not a good feeling for a coach to have."