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Hernando Today

U2 arrives in town

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: October 22, 2009

You say you heard the rumor that U2 is coming to Brooksville to play at the Bears' Den.
It's not about the lead vocalist of the famed Irish rock band U2, Paul David Hewson, whose stage name is Bono.
It's about the 58-member (featuring 22-seniors) Gainesville High Hurricanes football team venturing into Brooksville for the first time since Oct. 25, 1985 when Head Coach Vernon Turner's Hernando Leopards hosted the 'Canes. GHS won 24-13.
You see, two members of the streaking Hurricanes' team (6-1 overall, 2-0 in 4A-5) are known in Alachua County circles as U2.
The 'Canes' 6-foot-2, 225-pound inside linebacker Kevin Nelson and 6-foot-2, 185-pound cornerback Devonta Davis, have already given verbal (non-binding) commitments to Coral Gables private school, the University of Miami.
Nelson has already notched 88 tackles for Defensive Coordinator Donnell Washington's crew. More importantly, he's a splash play machine by forcing three fumbles, recovering two, while recoding three sacks.
Davis also has stout credentials. He's recorded 41 tackles, forced two fumbles and intercepted a team-leading five passes.
GHS, which finished 1-8 in 2007, and improved to 5-5 when Head Coach Ryan Smith took over in 2008, is riding a current 5-game win streak.
Smith, a former defensive coordinator, watched his team permit an average 25 points per game (ppg) last fall.
This year, GHS has allowed opposing offenses an average of 14.3 ppg and has already captured the Gainesville City Championship for the first time in 21 years by solving archrivals Buchholz and Eastside.
In the process, they've recovered 16 turnovers and have scored five times on defense.
A prime example arrived in last week's 14-9 nod over Buchholz, when Nelson was the hero by returning an interception and fumble for touchdowns.
 
'Cane offense
 
On offense, a unit that averaged 27 ppg last fall has improved to 34 ppg. Coming into the game, GHS is averaging 296 yards of offense, including 131 through the air. Coach Smith's offense demonstrates tremendous balance rushing 56 percent of the time compared to 44 percent through the air.
GHS weapons are spread out across the field.
Take RB Walter Holsey. He's rushed 85 times for 692 yards and scored five TDs. Wide receivers Anquan Gainey and Jordan McFadden have combined 358 yards and four scores.
Quarterbacks Ryan McGriff and McFadden have combined for 919 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. That pales in comparison to Hernando County's combined total of 12 touchdown passes by five schools.
Gainey, McFadden, Troy Campbell and Chris Thompson have all snared three TD passes apiece.
If that wasn't all, McFadden averages 39.2 on punt returns; John Nixon averages 20.5 while Davis averages 31.5 on kickoffs while McFadden averages 27.2 on kickoffs.
Junior place kicker Dallas Stubbs has connected on 30-of-31 point-after kicks and 5-of-8 field goals, including a long of 42 yards.
In essence, the Bears (0-6 overall, 0-2 district) will be hard pressed to compete against perhaps the toughest team they've faced since Sarasota-Booker in 2006.
The Bears are attempting to halt a 10-game on the field losing skein dating back to last year. They've been shutout three times this fall and average 7 ppg while their defense has permitted 39 ppg.
And for the third time in three games, CHS will trot out a new quarterback. Senior RB Steven Read will return to his old position after collecting 62 yards in last Thursday's 35-0 loss at Ridgewood.
With Artie Gartner still out (MCL knee injury), look for senior wide receiver Joe Farace to call the cadence under center Sean Murphy. This will be Farace's first-ever varsity start at quarterback.
 
Expectations
 
Coach Smith explained what he wants to see from his troops on Friday night.
"I want to see us get better; get more efficient on offense, more stingy on defense and make more plays on special teams," he said. "And one thing I think we need to get better at is going in and taking care of business from the get go.
"I don't want to let teams hang around," added Coach Smith, who has never faced a Hernando County team. "Let's go ahead stick the dagger in and finish a team off. Can we do that? We haven't done that yet. We've been kinda a slow starting team."
CHS' fourth-year Head Coach Cliff Lohrey did not mince words at the daunting task at hand.
"They're (Gainesville) immensely talented. To this point, they're the most talented team to come into the Bears' Den since Sarasota-Booker (a 41-0 loss)," remarked Lohrey. "Throw on top of that the fact that they have great athleticism but they're well coached as well. It'll be a great challenge for us shortly."
 
On radio
 
WWJB (AM) 1450 will be carrying the game "LIVE" on its "Game of the Week" format beginning with the pre-game show at 7 p.m. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
 
2009 WWJB (AM) 1450 "Game of the Week" Prep Football Schedule
Play-by-Play Announcer: Tony Castro (19th Year)
Color Commentator: Steve Imhoff
DATE GAME    KICKOFF/RESULT
09-05 Hernando @ Springstead  SPG W 26-25 (OT)
09-11 Nature Coast @ Springstead  NCT W 38-9
09-18  Oviedo-Master's Academy @ HCA MA W 19-12
09-25 Tavares @ Nature Coast   NCT W 15-6
10-02 River Ridge @ Central  RR W 28-16
10-09 Ocala-Lake Weir @ Springstead LW W 40-19
10-16 Leesburg @ Hernando  HER W 41-28
10-23 Gainesville @ Central   7:30 p.m.
10-30 Inverness-Citrus @ Hernando  7:30 p.m.
11-06 Nature Coast @ Hernando  7:30 p.m.
11-13 Hernando @ Central   7:30 p.m.
11-20 1st Round FHSAA State Playoffs 7:30 p.m.
NOTE: Schedule is subject to change.
 

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

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