Mitchell Battles In Loss

TRINITY - As he walked off the rain-soaked field at Mustang Stadium on Friday night, Mitchell coach Scott Schmitz wasn't entirely disappointed with the end result of the Mustangs' district loss to Gaither.

He had just watched his quarterback - Tate Humphrey - hobble on one leg and throw for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He saw his top defensive back - Tyrone Hendrix - chase down one of Hillsborough County's top running backs - Jarvis Giles - from behind to save a touchdown.

And he witnessed his entire team battle through pelting rain and fierce wind to give the Cowboys a serious scare.

Though the end result was a 30-14 loss, Schmitz has seen enough to believe the Mustangs (2-3) still could contend for a playoff berth despite their 0-1 start in Class 5A, District 5.

'Our kids ... the one thing we did Friday that I don't think we've done in any of the games we've played so far, I thought we fought,' he said. 'That's a very good football team we played.'

Trailing 14-0 early in the second quarter, and struggling to run the ball, Humphrey led two touchdown drives to tie the game, finding Hendrix (eight catches, 87 yards) and Jesse Dustin (five catches, 71 yards) through the air for scores.

Though his arm proved to be just fine, it was Humphrey's mobility that was clearly affected by his sprained right ankle. Normally a threat to run for 100 yards a game, the senior had just 2 yards on six carries Friday, his first game in three weeks.

'There were some chances that he had to take off and run,' Schmitz said, 'and normally that happens.'

One of those instances was in the third quarter, after Mitchell opened the half with a perfectly executed pooch kick by Ivan Korda that was recovered by Hendrix. Humphrey drove the Mustangs inside the Gaither 5, but a false start penalty and short completion to Hendrix set up a fourth down and goal from the 4.

Schmitz passed on a 21-yard go-ahead field goal attempt and went for the touchdown. Humphrey took the shotgun snap and had three defenders in his face. He slipped a tackle but couldn't get away from the others, and a desperation pass was deflected out of his hand incomplete.

Humphrey was 13-for-18 for 184 yards and two touchdowns with the wind, and 5-for-12 for 58 yards and an interception throwing into it. His night ultimately ended when he re-aggravated the ankle injury on the Mustangs' final series. He was replaced by Yaz Grabowski.

Schmitz was not sure if Humphrey would be available next week.