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Hernando Today

Old Rivals Clash at Homecoming

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: November 13, 2008

What better team for Hernando High to face for its homecoming than its oldest rival? After all, no match-up can conjure up more memories than the Brooksville bunch versus the crew from Dade City.
A less than memorable campaign for the Leopards (3-6) will come to a close tonight at 7:30 p.m., with a homecoming game at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium against Pasco High (8-1).
This marks the 60th meeting all-time between the two long-standing schools. Hernando leads the series 35-23-1, but hasn't beaten the Pirates since 1999.
"We know Pasco-Hernando is a rivalry that goes back a long time," Hernando Head Coach John Palmer said. "It's a great rivalry. It's been a great game throughout the years. There have been great memories from both teams that have produced outstanding games."
Palmer knows firsthand, having grown up in Brooksville and played in this rivalry for the Purple and Gold. He believes his players are aware of it as well, noting the relationships that span both towns.
"It's something the kids grew up with," Palmer said. "They know about it, they've heard about it. That's where this rivalry is based."
However, on paper this one doesn't look like much of a contest this time around. The Pirates are headed to the playoffs thanks to last week's 21-20 victory over Gulf that decided the Class 3A, District 8 crown.
Pasco has performed like one of the most dominant teams in the area, losing only to Nature Coast last month, 18-17. However, Head Coach Tom McHugh doesn't see his club looking ahead.
"I think the kids have been even-keeled all year long," McHugh said. "They don't get too excited about any one game; they don't get too lethargic about any one game.
"…We have things we need to concentrate on, mistakes we need to alleviate when we go into the game, especially this time of year."
Though McHugh doesn't have the long-term connections to the rivalry like his counterpart Palmer, he recognizes the tradition.
"It's one of those things we hope will be a fun thing for the kids and how it turns out, it turns out," McHugh said.

Opposites on offense

The Pirates sport a potent offense led by senior running back Jamall Haynes (1,127 yards, 11 touchdowns) and junior quarterback D.J. Clowar (56-of-105, 938 yards, 13 touchdowns, two interceptions).
Conversely Hernando has struggled mightily all season to put points on the board, having scored a total of 10 touchdowns.
With running back Alvin Delaine suspended last week, the Leopards managed just nine points against a one-win Citrus team allowing 38.9 points per game.
Delaine will be back in the lineup tonight, as Palmer indicated he'll have a full compliment of players.
Yet even with the season coming to a close, Palmer said that for the sake of the seniors, his team couldn't start looking toward next year.
"Every time you go out you'd like to win but it's important to still go out with the desire to win and show improvement," Palmer said. "That's important. That's what we're looking for from our guys, that and a winning effort.
"…We're going to need to hold the ball, be able to drive the football and not let them get the ball time and time again. We've can't give them short fields. They've blocked several punts, so we have to be good in the kicking game.
"We've got to keep them off balance and not turn the ball over. Keep the ball away from them and make them have to chase."
As for the homecoming festivities, combined with the short week because of Veterans' Day, Palmer admitted typical worries for a coach but hoped his team would stay focused.
"Hopefully the kids realize their homecoming begins at 7:30 Friday," Palmer said. "It's not the same as for the kids who aren't playing."

BY THE NUMBERS: PASCO VS. HERNANDO
Hernando leads series 35-23-1
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO
DATE                     SITE       RESULT                
11-09-07 Home      W 27-14
11-03-06 Away     W 42-33
11-04-05 Home      W 42-28
09-24-04 Home      W 62-6
09-26-03 Away     W 17-13
09-20-02 Home      W 40-23
09-15-01 Away     W 15-6                  
09-15-00 Home      W 35-7
09-17-99 Away     L 21-27
11-06-98 Home      W 7-0
11-07-97 Home      L 14-28  
11-04-94 Home      W 61-7
11-05-93 Away     L 7-13
10-30-92 Home      W 28-10
11-01-91 Away     W 28-21 (OT)
10-12-90 Away     W 10-0
10-13-89 Home      L 0-21
11-11-88 Home      L 21-35
11-13-87 Away     L 6-34
11-21-86 Home      W 13-7
11-22-85 Away     L 26-27
11-09-84 Home      W 33-14
11-11-83 Away     W 14-13
11-12-82 Home      L 0-9
11-13-81 Away     L 6-26
09-26-80 Home      L 14-30
09-21-79 Away     L 12-24
11-17-78 Home      L 16-47
11-18-77 Away     L 7-26
11-19-76 Home      L 14-24
11-21-75 Away     L 0-7
10-18-74 Home      L 12-55
10-12-73 Away     L 8-28
10-13-72 Home      W 20-12
10-15-71 Away     L 0-22
10-16-70 Home      W 26-13
10-17-69 Away     W 21-7
10-19-68 Home      L 13-21
10-15-67 Away     L 7-38
12-10-48 Home      W 34-6
10-10-47 Home      W 25-0
10-11-46 Away     W 26-0
10-12-45 Away     W 6-0
10-27-44 Away     L 0-7
11-25-43 Home      L 0-43
10-15-43 Away     L 0-45
11-20-42 Away     L 16-53
11-21-41 Home      L 0-6
10-11-40 Home      L 19-20
10-13-39 Away     L 6-12
11-23-38 Home      L 0-31
09-30-38 Away     L 0-47
10-06-37 Away     L 7-38
10-09-36 Away     L 0-14
10-11-35 Home      L 0-26
10-05-34 Away     L 0-22
10-20-33 Away     L 6-13
10-14-32 Home      T 0-0
10-14-25 Home      L 0-20

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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