TC's McCloud Could Hold Key

Fast and elusive, Gulliver Prep has left many a defense gasping.

Consider last week's Class 2A state quarterfinal against Miami Archbishop Carroll, a 47-30 victory that marked the eighth time this season the Raiders have scored more than 35 points.

The usual Raider suspects piled onto their gaudy season stats, including quarterback Michael Strauss (2,817 passing yards, 29 touchdowns), wideouts Conner Vernon (60 catches, 1,140 yards), Daniel Rodriguez (50 catches, 738 yards), Justin Mills (41 catches, 589 yards) and Tacoi Sumler (30 catches, 485 yards), and running back Darius Mallary (131 rushes, 1,602 yards and 14 touchdowns).

So, with all that in mind, what's the best way for Tampa Catholic (9-3) to beat the high-octane Raiders (11-1) in Friday's Class 2A semifinal at TC?

Why not start with Henry McCloud?

McCloud may not be the biggest guy (5-foot-8, 170 pounds), but he's among the toughest (never missed a game, workout or practice) and most productive (225 carries, 1,124 yards and 13 touchdowns).

TC coach Bob Henriquez said if McCloud has a big game on Friday, then it's likely TC will have success.

"If Henry is running then that means Gulliver's offense is on the sideline," Henriquez said. "And that is exactly where we need Gulliver's offense."

McCloud said that after watching tape on Gulliver, he believes some holes will open in his favor, partly because TC's offensive linemen weigh 20 to 30 pounds more than Gulliver's defensive linemen.

"I think we can wear them down," McCloud said. "We believe we can."

Goals? McCloud makes a list of them before every game. This week he wrote the following: Rush for 150 yards and score three touchdowns.

"Then I'll look at the goals over and over until game time," McCloud said. "Writing it down gets me more focused."

This is not to say that Friday nights rule McCloud's world. Far from it.

Truth is, McCloud, who has a 3.75 GPA, has written down a lot of goals, with one in big, bold letters at the top of the list: Become a neurosurgeon.

"I read this book a while back about Ben Carson, the first African American to successfully seperate twins who were attached at the head," McCloud said. "After that I knew that's what I wanted to do. So that's why neurosurgery is No. 1 and football comes somewhere after that."

Except, that is, for Friday night.

On Friday, McCloud said he will think of little other than running, and, hopefully, running some more through Gulliver's defense.

"I know one thing," Henriquez said. "Henry will be focused. And hopefully, that means we'll watch a lot of Henry running and a lot of Gulliver's offense standing on the sideline."