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Land O' Lakes surge leads to 48-30 win

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By EDDIE DANIELS edaniels@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - In the span of two minutes, Land O' Lakes went from a tight dogfight to coasting to a 24-point lead Friday night against Gulf.

Courtesy of a 63-yard Stephen Weatherford bomb to Alex Robinson, a Tyler Peak 13-yard TD reception and a fumble return for a score by Will Irwin, the Gators took a 48-30 victory.

"I give a lot of credit to (Land O' Lakes defensive coordinator Jason) Hatcher. They made a lot of adjustments at the end, Gators coach Matt Kitchie said. "No matter how you look at it, a district win is a district win, and I'm going to be real honest, that was a tough game."

Gulf started out running most of its plays with an empty backfield and quarterback Madison Burr in the shotgun. It was evident the Bucs (3-2, 0-2 Class 3A-District 7) wanted to jump on Land O' Lakes (4-0, 2-0) early.

On their third possession, Burr threw a strike to Tom Polito for a 5-yard pass at the 5:54 mark of the first quarter.

On Gulf's ensuing possession, Will Burbridge caught a 13-yard pass, putting the Bucs ahead, 14-0. Burr ended the night 15 of 45 for 220 yards, three passing scores, one rushing TD and an interception.

Land O' Lakes' initial score came on a punt block and a 29-yard return by Jackson Cannon with 8:41 left in the first half. That cut the deficit to 14-6.

On the Gators' next possession, Weatherford threw a perfect pass down the sideline to Irwin for an 18-yard score.

Gulf started losing its grip on the game when Land O' Lakes capped a 5-play drive with a pass to a wide-open Jason Tello with 2:33 left in the first half. The 2-point conversion failed, but Land O' Lakes snatched the lead, 19-14, and never relinquished it.

Late in the third quarter, a 6-yard Burr sneak drew Gulf within reach at 26-24, but Land O' Lakes quelled any hopes of a Gulf win two plays later.

Weatherford found Robinson along the visiting sideline for a 63-yard score. On its next possession, Peak caught a 13-yard pass for the score and Irwin capped the Gators scoring with his fumble recovery.

Weatherford was 11 of 19 for 168 yards and four TDs. Peak ran for 119 yards on 17 carries, catching a TD pass and running for another.

G-Burbridge 13 pass from Burr (Jehs kick)

L-Cannon 29 punt block return (kick fail)

L-Irwin 18 pass from Weatherford (Wegener kick)

L-Tello 15 pass from Weatherford (Weatherford pass fail)

L-Peak 53 run (Stack kick)

G-Jehs 26 FG

G-Burr 6 run (Jehs kick)

L-Robinson 63 pass from Weatherford (Taylor pass from Weatherford)

L-Peak 13 pass from Weatherford (Wegener kick)

L-Irwin 33 fumble return (Stack kick)

G-Ramirez 44 pass from Burr (Burr pass fail)

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