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Hillsborough 41, Alonso 14, Final

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TBO.com staff report

Published: September 12, 2008

Through just two games this season, Hillsborough's offense is quickly resembling a lineup stacked with power hitters - nothing but home runs.

When you have the "Fantastic Four" at your disposal, why would you opt for anything else?

Tarean Austin completed 10-for-18 passes for a career-high 317 yards and three touchdowns, and the Terriers' used four long scoring plays to rout visiting Alonso 41-14 Friday.

"We've got the fastest receivers in Hillsborough County. They're all on the track team so we call them the 'Fantastic Four,'" Austin said. "With those guys, we feel that nobody can stop us."

Austin threw a pair of touchdown passes to Charles Lovett, including a 68-yarder on the game's first play, and Lindsey Lamar turned a draw play into a 78-yard back-breaking touchdown just 30 seconds before halftime.

"We wanted to come out and jump on their butts early and take any hope away from them," Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia Jr. said. "We wanted to get Lindsey in and out of there as quickly as possible, because he hadn't practiced all week. His run was a big play for us on a night of big plays."

Hillsborough's quick strikes offset an Alonso offense that relied almost exclusively on the pass. C.J. Bennett finished 32 of 56 for 264 yards, but except for a 19-yard scoring strike to Jesse Anaya, was unable to mount a scoring threat when the game was still close.

Leading 24-7 at the half, Hillsborough (2-0) closed any thoughts of a comeback with Austin's final touchdown pass of the night - a 34-yard dump-off to Lamar on which the speedy back broke several tackles. Lamar finished with 110 yards on just eight carries as the Terriers rushed for 212 yards and gained 529 overall.

Lovett finished with four catches for 165 yards and two scores.

Still, for Austin, it was the first pass to Lovett that he said was indicative of the Terriers' offense, not just for this game, but possibly the entire season. "We've got a lot of playmakers and we get the ball to everyone, but this offense is going to go only as far as our line takes us," the junior quarterback said.

Asked how far the Terriers could go this season, Austin replied, "Only as far as I take us."

H - FG Colborne 32

H - Lovett 40 pass from Austin (Colborne kick)

A - Anaya 19 pass from Bennett (Rodriquez kick)

H - Lamar 78 run (Colborne kick)

H - Lamar 34 pass from Austin (Colborne kick)

H - FG Colborne 36

A - Legette 6 run (Rodriquez kick)

H - Floyd 52 run (Rodriquez kick)

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