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Pasco Remains Calm In Face Of Wesley Chapel Comeback

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2008

Updated: 09/22/2008 01:54 pm

WESLEY CHAPEL - If there was any panic along either sideline inside Wildcat Stadium on Friday night, it didn't emanate from the Pasco portion of the stadium.

As the minutes clicked off the clock in the Pirates' 21-20 victory against Wesley Chapel, it was that composure which allowed the squad to run its record to 3-0.

At the 8:49 mark of the fourth quarter, Wesley Chapel quarterback C.J. West took a 1-yard quarterback sneak into the end zone, slicing into Pasco's lead to 21-20. All that was needed was the extra point.

As the score threatened to add a new set of circumstances to the conclusion of the game, the Pirates sideline didn't lose faith. Nor did it expect the game to slip from its reach.

"This team doesn't do that any more," Pasco coach Tom McHugh said. "I was on the sideline and when they scored, it was, 'Let's go now. We get the ball back. There's eight minutes. We get the ball back.'
"These guys don't do that any more. I didn't hear one peep of that. Everybody's head was up. We got the ball back, we've got 8 minutes, 49 seconds. That's what they were saying. They don't do that any more. That's over."

As the Pirates sideline geared up for a true struggle, Wesley Chapel's point-after attempt was blocked by Jarrod Carmody.

"That would have been tough and then we would have went to overtime," Pasco running back Jamall Haynes said. "I liked that he blocked that."

Haynes led all rushers with 134 yards and two scores, while Wesley Chapel's Hunter Joyer had 99 rushing yards.

Pasco's offense took over, but on the second play, quarterback D.J. Clower (5-for-14, 94 yards, TD) was hit by Sebastian Pickney on his second-and-7 pass attempt, which was picked off by John Ayers.
The Wesley Chapel (1-2) possession came to an abrupt halt when, on the sixth play of the drive, Tim Saylor intercepted West's pass.

Then came the absolute sigh of relief.

"That was good," Haynes said laughing. "We just had too many missed blocks downfield. Other than that, it was good. I've never seen him run that fast before. He was getting it."

The Wildcats had a final possession that came with 57 seconds remaining, but failed to get beyond its 19 on a four-and-out drive.

For the second consecutive week, Wesley Chapel had problems holding on to the ball. Against Land O' Lakes in Week 2, Wesley Chapel fumbled six times, losing five of them. Friday night, it fumbled twice.
Despite the outcome, which put Wesley Chapel into a two-game skid, Wildcats coach John Castelamare is confident his group is ready for the remainder of its schedule.

"I'm real proud of our guys and our coaches are too," Castelamare said. "We had opportunities. We shouldn't have missed the extra point, but what are you gonna do? I think our team played well enough to know we can be contenders now."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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