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Celebration leads Matt Kitchie to adulation

Staff photo by FRED BELLET

Land O’ Lakes upended Mitchell, collecting its 13th consecutive playoff berth.

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2009

TRINITY - Amid the celebration and feelings of accomplishment Friday night, first-year Land O' Lakes coach Matt Kitchie paid homage to the program's architect.

By way of a 21-17 victory against Mitchell, the Gators' consecutive streak of playoff appearances remains alive and has grown to 13.

"I have to be honest," Kitchie said. "When you follow a legend like John Benedetto, the man has close to 200 victories, he has numerous playoff (appearances) and look at all the great players that have come through this program. I have to be honest, it's just special to be part of that tradition.

"Land O' Lakes has opened their hearts to me and made me a part of their family and it really is special. It's not lost. The little things are not lost."

Benedetto, who coached his last season in 2008, led the Gators for 32 seasons and in that time helped a total of 17 of those teams reach the playoffs. He also collected 13 district titles, six Sunshine Athletic Conference titles and two appearances in the regional finals. Benedetto's reign ended with a 196-149 overall record.

This season's Gators (8-1, 6-1 3A-7) will begin its playoff journey at Jefferson, the Class 3A-District 8 champion, November 20.

"It means everything," Kitchie, the program's third coach, said of keeping that playoff streak alive. "The pride that runs through Land O' Lakes is unbelievable and the pride that runs about Land O' Lakes football. Everyday I'm just blessed to be a part of it. Everyday I go to work with a smile on my face. To deal with these kids and the community, it's a special place."

For a time Friday night, that playoff streak seemed to stand on unstable ground. Despite holding a 7-3 advantage for the first three quarters, Mitchell took the lead for the first time with 9:48 remaining in the game.

Making matters worse, the Mustangs (8-2, 5-2) offense began to conduct grinding, time-consuming drives.

En route to Mitchell's first lead of the night, the squad converted five third downs, chewed up 8:51 on the game clock. That drive started with 6:39 remaining in the third quarter and ended at the 9:48 mark in the fourth when Ricky Trinidad ran in from 3-yards out.

It took just four plays for Land O' Lakes to answer back when Stephen Weatherford hit Will Irwin for a 78-yard score. The Gators retook the lead, 14-10.

"When you have a kid like (Weatherford) who believes he can run through a wall, he'll run through the wall," Kitchie said. "But it's not just Stephen. There were so many kids – from our offensive line and Patrick Kronk –all of the five guys up front. They're all important. No one guy is better than the other. The thing that's really special about this, our offense especially, is each week someone has a great game and steps up and does something special. It's not just Stephen Weatherford, it's not just Alex Robinson, it's not just Will Irwin. All of them."

Mitchell answered that score with another long possession. This time the Mustangs used 14 plays, punching the ball in on a 5-yard Trinidad score. Mitchell jumped ahead again, 17-14.

After taking their final possession with 2:10 remaining in the game, Weatherford, who finished the night 10 of 16 for 248 yards and two touchdowns, made two huge plays.

On second-and-10, the pocket collapsed, forcing Weatherford to dash forward into the line and then back out. After scrambling to his left, Weatherford set his feet and arched a 45 yards pass to Robinson up the visiting sideline. On the next play, Weatherford hit Irwin on a post – just over two defensive backs – for the game-winning touchdown.

And that's how you keep Pasco County's longest playoff streak intact.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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