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Hernando Today

Pirates Spoil HHS Homecoming

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Hernando High’s Alvin Delaine (2) high steps around the left side for part of team-high 106 rushing yards during Friday night’s Homecoming Game against Dade City-Pasco. Though Delaine tallied the Leopards only score, the Pirates won, 21-7.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: November 15, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Low and behold in a week filled with headlines about sportsmanship – or the lack thereof – arrived a ray of sunshine Friday night at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium.
Of all the unlikely programs, Dade City-Pasco exhibited what kind of a classy program they've become under second-year skipper Tom McHugh.
The Pirates, who finished 6-5 last fall, improved 9-1 behind its fifth straight regular-season win.
More importantly, the Red and Black-clad Pirates notched their ninth straight series win over archrival Hernando, 21-7.
The game's final play, however, took center stage in the post-game discussion.
Before McHugh took over, Pasco High's previous two mentors, Perry Brown and Ricky Thomas, were extremely successful mentors between the lines, but were soundly criticized by opposing coaches, fans and their own administrators for their player's often erratic behavior.
But times must be changing.
With Pasco ahead 21-7, the Pirates faced a fourth-and-goal at the Leopard 1 with less than 1:20 remaining. HHS, however, stiffened and did not allow the Pirates' fourth rushing touchdown of the night.
But two plays later, HHS junior quarterback Kall Daniel suffered the team's only turnover of the night, fumbling the center exchange at the Leopard 2. With the game clock winding down inside 30 seconds, any of the past Pirate teams would have simply run off another play without blinking. I mean what's another touchdown?
Coach McHugh, however, instructed his quarterback, senior Harold "D.J" Clower to step back four yards behind the line and simply take a knee. Game over. Class act.
The final Pasco snap left a huge indelible impression on the Leopards' first-year Head Coach John Palmer. Palmer's club could not pull out a Homecoming Game win as HHS finished 3-7 overall, dropping their final three games.
"On the last kneel down, Coach McHugh showed a lot of class," explained Coach Palmer. "I've been in his shoes before, it's very easy to go back out there and score at that point."

Positives?

The Leopards, who were out gained 337-130, were restricted to one first down in the second half after only trailing 14-7 at the intermission.
HHS dented the scoreboard first as sophomore halfback Alvin Delaine zig-zagged 62 yards for a touchdown on the Leopards' second offensive snap.
Delaine had not scored a rushing touchdown since scoring twice in week No. 1's upset over Central.
Delaine accounted for 85 percent of the Leopards' rushing offense with 16 carries for 106 yards.
Senior place kicker Josh Harvey followed with an extra point boot with 9:05 left in the first quarter.
Pasco answered as senior tailback Jamail Haynes, who came in with over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns, went 68 yards for a touchdown with 1:21 left in the first quarter. Haynes finished with a game-high 139 yards on 15 carries.
Thanks to a bobbled snap, holder Chaise Dunn was tackled by Hernando's Clay Kessler on a failed two-point conversion.
The East Pasco County squad went 42 yards in 11 plays to retake the lead with 6:23 left in the second quarter on Clower's third rushing touchdown of the season from two yards out.
Dunn hauled in Clower's ensuing two-point pass, 14-7.
After Kessler blocked junior Brennan Allen's 38-yard field goal attempt on the Pirates' opening possession of the second half, Pasco drove 68 yards in six plays with senior Dominique Wilson scoring from a yard out. Allen, who blasted three touchbacks on the evening, converted his lone PAT attempt with 4:20 left in the third to close the scoring.
After Delaine's score, the Pasco defense paced by Jamie Byrd, Jarrod Carmody, Mark Christmas and Zack Faza took over.
The Pirates eventually sacked Daniel three times. Daniel finished with seven carries for a minus-20 yards.
How solid was the Dade City defense?
After Delaine's touchdown, HHS punted seven times and fumbled once.
"We did some good things," explained Coach Palmer. "Delaine ran well and our defense had a couple goal line stands. We flew around to football all night and we blocked a field goal (Kessler) and nearly had a couple interceptions.
"We've just got to make some plays after we get some opportunities," lamented Palmer. "For us, we have to make those plays (to win)."

Overall?

"This senior class has had a lot of adversity with three different head coaches," remarked Palmer. "A lot of their teammates are not here. I'm glad they stayed and we will do everything we can to help any player who wants to play at the next level get there."
What's the primary goal now?
"Our top priority is weight room and the classroom," said Palmer. "We've got to get stronger and we can't lose kids to grades. There are kids in this school that could help us, but they have to also do it in the classroom first."
Any regrets?
"Winning is a habit," insisted Palmer. "It's learned at practice. We're still in the learning stage. We got to take what we've done so far and build on it. When you do the right things on and off the field, winning will take care of itself."

Pasco 21, Hernando 7
Qtr. Scoring     1   2   3   4
Pasco 6   8   7   0 --21
Hernando 7   0   0   0 --7

Individual Scoring:
HER – Delaine 61 run (J. Harvey kick)
PAS – Haynes 68 run (Dunn run failed)
PAS – Clower 2 run (Dunn pass from Clower)
PAS – Wilson 4 run (Allen kick)
 
    PAS HER
First Downs   14   4
Atts./Rushing Yds.  39-248   36-125
Comp./Pass Atts./Int.  7-18-0 1-3-0
Passing Yds.   89 5
Total Offense   58-337   39-130
Fumbles/Lost   3-0 2-1
Return Yards   7-69   1-13
Punts/Avg.   3-31.3   7-29.3
Penalties   11-70   6-44

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

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