WELCOMING THE CHALLENGE

If someone were to put a mask over Pasco High linebacker Dominique Wilson's face, you still would be able to make out the corners of his mouth. It's a grin that won't fade.

The reason for his joy is the end of a fairly dark period for the Pasco football program. The Pirates will be playing in the second round of the playoffs Friday night, and they haven't been in this position since 1998.

Their 37-20 victory against Orlando Bishop Moore made Round 2 possible.

"It's taking forever. It's like every day goes by slower and slower," Wilson said, still smiling. "I can't wait for Friday night."

Awaiting Wilson and the Pirates (10-1) is crosstown rival Gulf - the team it beat, 21-20, for the Class 3A-District 8 and Sunshine Athletic Conference titles two weeks ago.

Really, there is no secret what either team has planned. Gulf (10-1) wants to impose the will of the county's record-setting running back, Adrian "Bubba" Golden, while Pasco has no intention of allowing the Bucs to hang on to the football.

That method worked wonders in the first half of their Nov. 7 meeting, when Pasco held the ball for 14 minutes, 3 seconds and allowed Gulf one possession in the first quarter. In that quarter, Golden was held to three carries for 11 yards. He ended the first half with 58 yards on eight carries after breaking loose for a 27-yard score.

"Adrian, he's a good back," Pasco coach Tom McHugh said. "They're going to give him the ball, and he's going to touch it 20, 25, 30 times. However many times Coach Jay Fulmer wants to give it to him, and it's our job to stop him.

"The majority of those times, with a back like Adrian, he's going to get his runs, and we have to realize up front that he's going to get his runs. And we have to just stay tough and stop him when we stop him, and hit him when we get the chance to hit him and play defense like we did, and hopefully we don't make mistakes."

In the last meeting, Golden ended up with 168 rushing yards, the most any back has gained against the Pirates this season.

Pasco two-way player Josh Johnson understands what is coming their way Friday night at W.F. Edwards Stadium.

"I know every time I play Gulf, I have to play 110 percent, because I know they're coming at me," said Johnson, who has verbally committed to play for Purdue. "We know Bubba's going to run hard, so we have to give him something. We can't let him get over 100 yards again."

Golden became the fourth back this season to surpass the 100-yard barrier against the Pasco defense.

Pasco faced one set of demons last week, getting over that first-round hump against Bishop Moore. And in the face of such history, the team wasn't fearful.

"When we came out, we came out with power and fire in our eyes," Pasco running back Jamall Haynes said following Friday's victory.

Friday, they will have a whole new set of challenges to overcome.