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HCA Forces Five Turnovers, Beats Bishop McLaughlin, 21-14

Staff photo by DAVE CASEY

Hernando Christian Academy’s Jeremy Knight breaks a tackle Friday from Bishop McLaughlin’s Stephen Clarke in Friday's season opener at Ernie Wever Park.

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By MARTY MILLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: September 5, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE – When Hernando Christian Academy football coach David Raley talked with his team after they defeated Shady Hills-Bishop McLaughlin Friday night in the season opener for both teams, 21-14, the second-year HCA coach could not hide the pride he felt in his team.
"We only have 28 people and we had people dropping left and right all night, but these kids worked and played as hard as I've ever seen a team play."

What deficit?

The Lions, who had the county's stingiest defense in 2007, had to overcome a 14-13 halftime deficit as they intercepted four passes and blocked a punt to earn their first win in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference.
Jeremy Knight returned a first-quarter interception 41 yards for a touchdown. Later, Nate Kaustky, Sam Kautsky and Jake Foster all intercepted Hurricane passes.
On the last play of the third quarter, nose guard Josh Romeo blocked a punt that set up the winning score, a 4-yard touchdown run by Nate Kautsky.
"This was probably the best game I've ever seen," Raley said. "We went into the game with only one running back (Jeremy Knight), and then when he went down due to cramps in the second half, we had to start using offensive lineman as running backs.
"But these kids gave it their all. You know, we don't have many people to begin with, and then it seemed like everyone was coming down with cramps," he added. "But they really worked hard."

Back and forth

HCA started off strong defensively as they opened the scoring when Knight stepped in front of a Bishop McLaughlin pass and picked it off, returning it 41 yards for a touchdown. Kenny Lehman kicked the point-after to give HCA a 7-0 lead 4:41 to go in the first quarter.
Late in the first quarter, a 60-yard punt return by Bishop McLaughlin's Nick Hellman set up the first Hurricane score. Jeff Pope, who finished the game with 103 yards rushing, scored on a five-yard run. Hellman added the PAT to tie the score, 7-7.
Early in the second quarter after Hellman missed on a 35-yard field goal attempt, Knight zoomed 68 yards for the go-ahead score. Lehman missed the PAT, 13-7.
HCA had two other chances to score in the second quarter as Lehman missed on field goal attempts of 27 and 31 yards.
On the next to last play of the first half, Pope capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive to score from four yards out as Hellman kicked the PAT, 14-13 'Canes.
The third quarter was scoreless but on the last play of the period, Romeo burst up the middle to block a BM punt and set the Lions at the Hurricane 39.
Five plays into the fourth quarter, Nate Kautsky ran five yards off left tackle for the touchdown. Romeo ran in the two-point conversion to give the Lions a 21-14 lead with 9:30 left in the game.
It then was up to the Lion defense to hold off the Hurricanes and they did that as Foster and Sam Kautsky intercepted passes in the final minutes to seal the win.
In the end, it was the HCA defense that may have played the biggest part of the opening night win.
Foster, a junior, paced Lion defense with 14 tackles and five assists on the night along with an interception.
Lehman and Romeo also helped out with six tackles apiece as Bishop McLaughlin finished the night gaining 191 yards with five turnovers.
Afterward, coach Raley said the work his team did in the preseason helped them win Friday's game. "We've done a lot of running and these kids have done everything I've asked of them," summed up Raley. "They are a bunch of 'Yes sir. No sir, types.' They worked hard and I'm just so happy and proud of them."

Hernando Christian Academy 21, Bishop McLaughlin 14
Bishop McLaughlin 7 7 0 0 – 14
Hernando Christian Academy 7 6 0 8 – 21
HCA -- Knight 41 interception return (Lehman kick)
BM -- Pope 5 run (Hellman kick)
HCA -- Townsend 68 run (kick failed)
BM -- Pope 4 run (Hellman kick)
HCA -- N. Kautsky 4 run (Romeo run)

BM HCA
First downs 9 8
Yards rushing 36-150 44-142
Yards passing 41 12
Passes 2-11-4 2-5-0
Return Yards 193 145
Punts 3-32.0 5-31.6
Fumbles 2-1 1-1
Penalties 7-45 3-25

Individual statistics
RUSHING - BM: Pope 27-103; Towson 5-(-2); Emmino 4-9. HCA: Rotteveel 8-(-20); Townsend 18-80; N. Kautsky 4-13; Knight 7-27; Foster 2-(-2); Keyes 1-12; Romeo 4-12.
PASSING – BM: Towson 2-10-4; Pope 1-0-1. HCA: Rotteveel 2-5-0.
RECEIVING - BM: Hellman 1-11; Pope 1-30. HCA: Townsend 2-12.

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