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Hernando Today

Perfection on the Line?

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By MARTY MILLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: October 17, 2008

With Hernando Christian Academy having gone through more than half of its current football schedule unbeaten, Lions Head Coach David Raley is now talking to his team about finishing the job.

Tonight in a road game that begins at 7:30 p.m., the 6-0 Lions face the 1-3 Ocala-St. John Lutheran Saints in a prep football game that on paper is leaning again toward the visitors.

LIONS RULE
HCA is 6-0 on the season, coming off a 52-6 drubbing of Leesburg-First Academy. In that game, HCA senior quarterback David Rotteveel completed his first five passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns before leaving the game in the first quarter with a with a bruised kidney.

"He's fine now," said Raley. "He spent Friday night in the hospital and got out Saturday morning. But he's seen the doctor since then and it was a bruised kidney."

With Rotteveel possibly not 100 percent, Raley will lean even more on his running game. Last week against First Academy, Jeremy Knight ran for three touchdowns as HCA rushed for over 200 yards for the fourth time in six games.

The Lions' ground game is led by Knight, who has gained 693 yards and scored nine touchdowns this year. On the season, the Lions average 247 yards rushing and 317 yards on total offense.

Meanwhile, St. John Lutheran averages just 49 rushing and 123 of total offense as they lost last week to Mt. Dora Bible, 49-23.

But Raley said after watching film of the game that the final score did not indicate how the game went.

"That game was a lot closer than the score indicated," he pointed out. "St. John was within seven points of Mt. Dora before they had two interceptions run back for touchdowns, a fumble run in for another score and gave up a safety. They moved the ball; they just made too many mistakes."

With his team at 6-0, Raley was asked if he was beginning to worry about something happening that could upend that perfect record.

"In a lot of ways, that could be true, although I haven't given much thought to it," said Raley. "I know I've talked to the guys and told them they have to be better at things.

"I'm fastidious about little things and paying attention to details and I want them to play perfectly."

One of those things Raley stresses is being able to run the ball.

"Besides being and old option quarterback, I would rather run it than anything else," Raley said. "And having a good senior line makes a big difference."

Going to the Game?

Take Emerson Road from the school and turn right. Take State Road 50 and turn right. Go to I-75 and turn left, follow I-75 47 miles to Exit 350 (State Road 200), turn right. Go two miles to FL. 441 (South Pine Ave.) turn right. Go to SE 31St Ave., turn left. Go to Lake Weir Ave., turn left. The game will be played at Brick City Park. Parking is available at St. John Lutheran High School just past the park.

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