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Land O' Lakes Capitalizes On Opportunities

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By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 13, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - If the Wesley Chapel football team was looking for the Land O' Lakes squad that struggled mightily last week against Pasco, it wasn't there.

Instead, the Gators pounced on five of Wesley Chapel's six fumbles and offensively dominated the Wildcats, securing a 45-27 victory at Wildcat Stadium.

This was the fourth consecutive victory for Land O' Lakes against Wesley Chapel, and the most points scored by one team in the series' 10-year history.

"The good thing about tonight's game is the fact that we got our confidence back after getting beat pretty badly last Friday night," Land O' Lakes coach John Benedetto said. "Our kids didn't quit, they practiced hard and we came back and played well, so I'm happy about that."

Wesley Chapel (1-1) fumbled away the momentum to Land O' Lakes (1-1) on its first play from scrimmage.

Land O' Lakes needed four plays and one minute, 27 seconds to make Wesley Chapel pay. Collin Robinson finished the 20-yard drive by powering through several defenders for the first of his two scores on the night.

On the second play of Wesley Chapel's ensuing drive, the offense fumbled again, this time giving the Gators the ball at the Wildcats' 23. One play later, Stephen Weatherford hit Alex Robinson up the visiting sideline for the score and a 14-0 advantage.

"You can't spot a team 14 points like that," Wesley Chapel coach John Castelamare said.

Wesley Chapel's next drive - a 10-play affair - ended with Hunter Joyer plunging into the end zone at the 4:14 mark of the first quarter.

The Gators answered with a 37-yard screen pass to Jamerson Davis at the end of the first quarter. Alex Spock's extra point pushed the advantage to 21-7.

Weatherford, the Land O' Lakes sophomore quarterback, finished 14-of-23 for 201 yards, two scores and an interception.

In addition to Wesley Chapel's five turnovers, they were hit with eight penalties for 66 yards.

Before the game, Benedetto was perturbed over the fact he and Wesley Chapel didn't exchange film. Land O' Lakes' Week 1 game was broadcast on Catch 47.

When asked if he really needed to see film, he held back a wry smile, answering, "I guess not."

L-A. Robinson 23 pass from Weatherford (Spock kick)

WC-H. Joyer 1 run (West kick)

L-Davis 37 pass from Weatherford (Spock kick)

L-Peak 20 run (kick blocked)

WC-Reynolds 36 run (West kick)

WC-Duncan 52 pass from West (West kick)

L-C. Robinson 1 run (Spock kick)

L-Tello 47 run (Spock kick)

L-FG Spock 20

WC-DeGroot 4 run (kick fail)

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