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Hernando Today

Tigers Win Coin Toss; Not Much Else

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Parrott's Darren Hambrick (55) hauls in the first of three first-half touchdown passes thrown by quarterback Tyrail Hawkins Tuesday night at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium against Fox Chapel

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: October 14, 2008

Updated:

BROOKSVILLE - Perhaps Tuesday night's pregame coin flip was an ominous omen for visiting Fox Chapel against host Parrott Middle School at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium.

Though the Leopards had outscored their opponents 148-0 coming into the game, Fox Chapel's football captains won the coin flip and deferred their choice to the second half. That selection put their defense on the field first against the high-octane Parrott offense.

Sure enough, on the game's opening snap, Parrott's seventh-grade fullback Jeremiah Jackson reeled off a 65-yard touchdown run. So after 17 seconds, the Leopards led 6-0.

Two plays later, another seventh-grader, Nicholas Brewer, pounced on the first of three Tiger fumbles at the Fox Chapel 19.

In two plays, eighth-grade Parrott quarterback Tyrail Hawkins lofted a perfect lob to wide-open tight end Darren Hambrick for a 16-yard touchdown pass.

Eighth-grade tailback Quentin Adams followed with the first of four converted two-pointers just 1:56 into the game and the rout was officially on, 14-0 Parrott.

The Leopards never let off the accelerator scoring seven first-half touchdowns to dispose of the Tigers (2-2), 56-0.

SWEET 16

The win was Parrott's 16th in a row. It was also the Purple and Gold's sixth consecutive shutout.

Parrott's defense muzzled the Tigers to 19 first-half plays for minus-7 yards and a 50-0 lead at the intermission.

All told, Parrott limited the first-year Head Coach Kelly Stacy's Tigers to 24 plays for minus-16 yards.

While the Leopards played mistake-free football, Fox Chapel lost three fumbles, two recovered by Brewer, the other by O'Mar Hawkins to open the second half.

"We definitely had a game plan for this team," expressed Coach Stacy. "But we had to use some different personnel due to behavior issues. Maybe we could have used some of those guys, but honestly a couple of people wouldn't have made that much of a difference tonight.

"When it comes down to it we didn't execute," he added. "And they did."

Positives?

"None tonight," he replied. "The kids have to understand you have to be a student/athlete first. I'd rather keep the high standard. Right now, next week has already begun."

From the home sideline, ex-Gator standout Dwayne Mobley was perplexed with Fox Chapel's pregame choice.

"I took it (coin flip decision) as a slap in the face, you send your defense out first," he remarked. "I guess they thought they'd stop us pretty easy."

What was the difference?

"Our readiness," replied Mobley, who climbed to 45-11 lifetime and has not lost Fox Chapel since 2001's 8-6 setback at Springstead. "Our coaches got our guys ready to play. We knew they beat Challenger so I stressed to our guys to be ready to play from the first whistle."

Positives?

"At least in a game like this, we can play a lot of our younger kids," added Mobley.

LEOPARD STANDOUTS

Parrott reeled off 18 plays for 291 yards.

Adams, who paced the team in rushing last week against Powell with 110 yards on 11 carries, rushed only twice for a game-high 99 yards and scored twice (68, 31 yards). The touchdowns were his fourth and fifth of the season.

Jackson added 68 yards on two carries, highlighted by his 65-yard score - his fifth of the year.

Seventh-grade backup quarterback Brennan Ertl carried four times for 14 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season from 10 yards out with 2:01 left in the game.

Tyrail Hawkins completed 3-of-4 passes for 73 yards and three scores - all to Hambrick, who had never scored an offensive touchdown.

"You gotta give credit to our O-line first," said the 14-year-old Hambrick. "The blocking up front was real good. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have the time to throw and I wouldn't have made the catches. He (Tyrail) threw the ball real well."
Eighth-grade center Jake Johnson, a three-year starter, praised fellow line mates Andrew Timmons and Canaan Swackard up front. "We got a great push tonight. We kinda got 'em on their heals."
What about the win?
"It's real big," added the 14-year-old Johnson. "It gives us more momentum going into the Challenger game (next week)."
Brewer was asked what he liked most, the two fumbles recoveries or his first-ever touchdown when he picked up the second fumble in the end zone.
"Both," smiled the 14-year-old Brewer. "It was real exciting. Words can't define what I feel."
And the stout defense?
"A shutout for us means less running," added Brewer. "It's another step for the team. We've got one more team to play before the playoffs."

Parrott 56, Fox Chapel 0
Qtr. Scoring     1   2  3  4
Fox Chapel    0  0  0  0 -- 0
Parrott          34 16 0  6 -- 56
 
Individual Scoring:
PAR – Jackson 65 run (Adams run failed)
PAR – Hambrick 16 pass from Tyrail Hawkins (Adams run)
PAR – Adams 68 run (T. Hawkins run)
PAR – Hambrick 41 pass from T. Hawkins (Adams run fails)
PAR – Adams 31 run (T. Hawkins run fails)
PAR – Hambrick 16 pass from T. Hawkins (Jackson run)
PAR – Brewer fumble recovery in end zone (A. Brown run)
PAR – Ertl 10 run (Holland run fails)

FC PAR
First Downs   1  1
Atts./Rushing Yds.  15-(-24)   14-218
Comp./Pass Atts./Int.  2-9-0 3-4-0
Passing Yds.   8 73
Total Offense   24-(-16)   18-291
Fumbles/Lost   3-3   0-0
Return Yards   8-22   2-32
Punts/Avg.   3-22.0 0
Penalties   3-30   3-30
 

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

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