TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Unbeaten Gulf Swamps Hernando, 37-6

ADVERTISEMENT

By ERIC HORCHY

Suncoast News

Published: September 20, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - There was something eerily familiar about Hernando's visit to Gulf's Des Little Stadium Friday night.
A little déjà vu, perhaps.
In Week 2, the Leopards (1-2) picked off Hudson quarterback Zack Wynn during the game's first overall drive and lit the scoreboard with a field goal and the early lead.
The Hernando defense stepped up in similar fashion Friday night, nabbing a Madison Burr pass at the line of scrimmage on, again, the game's first possession. The offense promptly bolted to the lead when quarterback Kall Daniel launched a touchdown pass to Clay Kessler down the right sideline off the first snap, putting Hernando up 6-0 after a failed point after.
Sounds like a heck of a start, but there's one problem. Each represented the last scores Hernando would manage on both respective nights.
The Buccaneers (3-0) wasted no time in responding to the lapse, as running back Adrian Golden took the next drive's first play 80 yards and into the end zone. The score gave Gulf an 8-6 lead after a 2-point conversion pass from Burr to David Ramirez.
It was the beginning of an unanswered, 37-point explosion for Gulf that only the final whistle could stop.
The romp perhaps represented a little payback 36 years in the making. It was the first time Gulf defeated Hernando since 1972.

Golden Show

Golden stole the show with the 80-yard scamper kick-starting his 14-carry, 235-yard and two touchdown performance. For anyone without a calculator handy, that's a dominating 16.8 yards per touch. The Buccaneers put up 478 total yards of offense, with 378 coming via the run.
Golden's backfield partner Tevin Gamble also put up a solid night, rushing for 88 yards on 11 carries and a score.
Following the game, Golden gave some props to his squad's scout team for getting the offense ready for Hernando.
"We gotta give it up to our J.V.," he said. "They go hard against us every week. They make us better as a team."
"When one of us gets rolling, I don't even know," Gamble said, while at a loss for words trying to describe how he and Golden feed off one another and can spark a drive. "When someone makes a big play, then the offense just clicks."
It took a few of those big plays for the Buccaneers to get rolling at full speed. They entered the half leading only 13-6, but proceeded to hit the gas by the third quarter.
The victory was equally due to Gulf's defensive stinginess and tenacity. After allowing the initial 41-yard touchdown pass, the Buccaneer defense would surrender only 90 more overall yards.
In the second half, Gulf (3-0 overall) forced 3-and-outs on each of Hernando's first four possessions and did not allow the Leopards (1-2 overall) to advance any further than their own 33-yard line until the game's final seconds.
Hampering Hernando's options on offensive was the limited availability of tailback Alvin Delaine, who is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered last week at Hudson. He finished with only 23 yards on 10 carries, but was the Leopards' leading rusher.
Daniel had an effective night behind center for Hernando when dropping back, going 6-for-11 with 88 yards and the touchdown. Kessler was the target of choice Friday night, grabbing four of Daniel's six receptions for 63 yards and the initial score.
The Leopards return home next Friday where they play host to Wesley Chapel (1-2).
Gulf stays at home and looks to push their record to 4-0 by welcoming winless Wiregrass Ranch next Friday.

Gulf 37, Hernando 6
Qtr. Scoring:
Hernando 6 0 0 0 -- 6
Gulf 8 8 8 13-- 37
Individual Scoring:
HER - Kessler 41 pass from Daniel (Harvey kick)
GF - Golden 80 run (Ramirez pass from Burr)
GF - Gamble 12 run (Burr run)
GF - Kleiner 19 pass from Burr (Gamble pass from Burr)
GF - Golden 47 run. (Burr pass fails)
GF - Burr 1 run (Skelton kick)

HER                GULF
First Downs                             7                      15
Atts./Rushing Yds.                  41-48               39-378
Comp./Pass Atts./Int.              6-11-0              7-13-1
Passing Yds.                            88                    100
Total Offense                          136                  478
Fumbles/Lost                          2-1                   0-0      
Punts/Avg.                              6-31.5              2-32.5
Penalties                                  5-35                 11-125

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT