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Pasco Pirates attempt to make district standing clear

Staff photo by FRED BELLET

Friday night, the Pasco defense recovered two fumbles and corralled an interception in a 28-16 victory against Land O’ Lakes.

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2009

DADE CITY - This could go in the category of fuzzy math, but we'll try it anyway.

Pasco football coach Tom McHugh is in his third season coaching the Pirates. In his first two campaigns, McHugh's squad has handed Land O' Lakes a loss. They beat the Gators 26-6 in 2007 and followed that up with a 15-10 win in '08.

They did it again Friday night, 28-16, for their third consecutive victory against the Gators (6-1, 4-1 Class 3A-District 7).

Here comes the fuzzy part.

In those previous two seasons, the Pirates (6-1, 5-0) have found themselves hoisting a district trophy by season's end and inevitably hosting a playoff game.

It's not much of a stretch to say the Pirates have primed themselves for a shot at a third consecutive district title under McHugh. And considering their performance Friday night, in which they recovered two fumbles and corralled an interception, the term three-peat can be added to their vernacular.

"It's special. It's something that you had to have," McHugh said in describing the victory against Land O' Lakes. "The kids knew it, I knew it, everyone knew it. … If you want to be in the driver's seat, you have to win the game and it's one of those things that you can't not have. I think everyone knew that."

If you know McHugh, you understand he isn't one to tally any unhatched chickens. He pointed out his team must face and beat remaining district opponents in Mitchell (8-0, 5-0) and Sunlake (3-4, 3-2) for anything to come to fruition.

"You want to be in the driver's seat. You don't want to travel," McHugh said. "If you make the playoffs, you're going to have to travel if you don't win (the district). We know that we have a very good team at Mitchell and a very good team at Sunlake and you have to take care of them one at a time. They're very good teams also."

Mitchell is the next test. The Pirates will travel there Oct. 30 and host Sunlake the following week.

Victories against those two will keep the math clear and a third consecutive district trophy in reach.

Meanwhile, Land O' Lakes coach Matt Kitchie wasn't happy with the night's outcome inside W.F. Edwards Stadium, but he wanted to ensure his players understood, the season continues.

"We will be a better team come Monday," Kitchie said. "We will be one team come Monday. You have to take the good with the bad. I've said from the beginning, this game will not break us, it will not make us. Our season will be defined in the playoffs and that's the tradition Land O' Lakes football has and we are going to continue the tradition."

Land O' Lakes will host Sunlake next Friday and then travel to Mitchell the following week to wrap up its district schedule. Needless to say, victories against those teams are a must.

At this point, the quest for a 13th consecutive - and 18th overall - playoff appearance by the Gators program isn't in peril. Prime example is last season when Land O' Lakes dropped its district opener to Springstead in Week 4. They proceeded to pick off their remaining four district opponents, while Springstead suffered untimely losses. That gave the Gators an unexpected district title.

That recent history hasn't been lost on Kitchie, despite this being his first year guiding the Land O' Lakes program.

"They were a well-coached team and they deservedly came out with a victory," Kitchie said. "I just hope that we get to see them in the second or third round of the playoffs."

At this point, anything is possible.

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

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