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Hernando Today

'Canes Go West to Win

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Hernando High junior halfback Champ Lumsden overcame a fumble to rush 21 times for a game-high 110 yards and one touchdown in Friday’s 28-9 loss to visiting Citrus High.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: November 8, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Normally, when any defense limits a team to the century mark in rushing yards, it stands a terrific job of winning.
Host Hernando High's maturing defensive unit – led by linebackers William Aldermann and Thomas Bronson -- limited visiting Citrus High to 107 yards rushing Friday night at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium.
Only oft-injured tailback, senior Antoin Scriven, had any measurable success with 11 carries for 96 yards.
Yet, the Golden Hurricanes (2-7 overall, 2-2 3A-6) were able to snap a 4-game losing skein by taking advantage of what was presented.
First of all, Hernando's most versatile player, sophomore halfback Alvin Delaine, was in street clothes. He was serving a 1-game suspension for an in-school matter.
Next, CHS took advantage of three Leopard turnovers (two lost fumbles, one interception), a game-high 12 penalties for 104 yards by the Purple and Gold, and rode the red-hot passing of senior quarterback Cameron West.
West, who came in with 1,356 yards and 11 touchdowns against eight interceptions, carved up Delaine-less Leopard secondary completing 16-of-23 aerials for a game-high 208 yards, three touchdowns against zero swipes in pacing a 28-9 win.

Go West

West connected on a pair of first-half TD passes.
On the game's opening series, CHS navigated 74 yards in six plays. Scriven's 35-yard scamper helped set up the score.
West found senior tight end Lexton Steed from 11 yards. Senior place-kicker Michael Watkins followed with the first of four perfect point-after touchdown boots with 9:20 left, 7-0 'Canes.
The Leopards, who out rushed CHS 238-107, immediately answered journeying 66 yards in 13 plays as junior halfback Champ Lumsden scored from two yards out.
Lumsden finished with 21 carries for a game-high 110 yards.
Unfortunately, after Lumsden's fourth touchdown of the season, Citrus senior defensive lineman Miles Underhill blocked Josh Harvey's ensuing PAT attempt with 3:35 left, 7-6.
The teams traded punts before CHS navigated 80 yards in 11 plays. West engineered the drive clicking on 4-of-6 passes including a 30-yard hitch to Scriven. Four plays later on fourth down-and-6 from the Leopard 27, West connected with Scriven for a clutch 27-yard yard TD pass with 4:27 left in the opening half, 14-6.
In the third quarter, West helped break the game open with a 43-yard pass to his favorite target, senior WR Derek Paquette. On the next play, Scriven notched his third rushing touchdown of the season diving in from a yard out, 21-6.
Lumsden lost the handle in traffic with 10 minutes left in the game and CHS's Christian McIntyre recovered.
Three plays later, West threaded a pass to Steed, who scored from 16 yards out with 7:46 left in the game, 28-6.
With less than a second remaining, Harvey drilled his fifth successful field goal of the season from 37 yards out to close the scoring, 28-9.
The win maintained Golden Hurricanes' Head Coach Rik Haines' perfect record against Hernando at 5-0.
Meanwhile, the loss sealed Hernando High's sixth consecutive losing season. HHS heads into its Homecoming Game next week against 8-1 Dade City-Pasco at 3-6 overall (1-3 in 3A-6).

No moral victories

From the home sideline, first-year HHS skipper John Palmer was quick to note the difference in the game.
"Their quarterback (West) played a great game. He was the difference. We were a little short handed in the secondary. We didn't have Chubbs (Delaine) and Sam (Adams) went out midway after a helmet to helmet hit.
"And Scriven ran their counters real well," added Palmer. "Several times he had huge holes. Give credit to them (Citrus) they made some good adjustments in the second half."
What about all the mental mistakes?
"When we get our experienced players getting penalties, that really hurt," commented Palmer. "The penalties and fumbles took us out of drives."
Positives?
"We were physical at the line of scrimmage," pointed out Palmer. "And even though our quarterback (Kall Daniel) did not complete a pass (0-for-6) he did a good job of running our offense. He made several good decisions. The penalties go back to coaching. I apologize for that. We've got to a better job there."
The other bright spot for the Leopards was senior halfback James Stephens. Stephens, who complemented Lumsden with 16 rushes for 72 yards, returned three kickoffs for 87 yards.

Citrus 28, Hernando 9
Qtr. Scoring     1   2   3   4
Citrus 7   7   7   7 --28
Hernando 6   0   0   3 --9

Individual Scoring:
CIT – Steed 11 pass from West (Watkins kick)
HER – Lumsden 2 run (J. Harvey kick blocked)
CIT – Scriven 27 pass from West (Watkins kick)
CIT – Scriven 1-run (Watkins kick)
CIT – Steed 16 pass from West (Watkins kick)
HER – J. Harvey 37 FG
 
    CIT HER
First Downs   10   14
Atts./Rushing Yds.  22-107   49-238
Comp./Pass Atts./Int.  16-23-0 0-6-1
Passing Yds.   208 0
Total Offense   45-315   55-238
Fumbles/Lost   2-1  4-2
Return Yards   5-44   4-72
Punts/Avg.   2-37.0   4-33.0
Penalties   5-39   12-104

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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