Healthier HHS Faces Gulf

So after two weeks, and two very different results, which Hernando High team will show up for tonight's 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Gulf High?

Will the Leopards play like they did in an encouraging debut for Head Coach John Palmer two weeks ago, a 16-7 win over Central, or like they did in last week's 33-3 loss against Hudson that more resembled the struggles of recent years?

"We've got a lot to learn in terms of how to prepare and how to practice and go about things on a daily basis to be a good football team and that's where we're at," Palmer said. "We're a work in progress. The kids are trying and I think they learned a little bit from what happened there."

Hudson star quarterback Zack Wynn shredded the Leopard defense for 292 yards and three touchdowns, while Hernando struggled to move the ball minus injured running back Alvin Delaine.

The sophomore Delaine, who rushed for 145 yards and two scores versus Central, sprained his ankle last week and played sparingly.

The Leopards' backfield was already without senior Clay Kessler, the headlining transfer from Hernando Christian Academy, who has been nursing a hamstring injury since the preseason.

The good news: Palmer reported that both are expected to play tonight, which should help the Leopards in their attempt to rebound from the Hudson debacle.

"When we graded the film and everything, the kids were disappointed in their performance," Palmer said. "We did some things that weren't conducive to winning football games. I think the kids are trying to regroup and get a lot better."

SCOUTING GULF

Last year Gulf had the indignity of being one of the two teams Hernando defeated, 29-26, when the Buccaneers attempted a winning touchdown rather than a short game-tying field goal.

This season the Bucs have gotten off to a strong start, downing Mitchell and River Ridge by a combined 78-14.

"They've got a big front, their offense is multi-faceted," Palmer said. "They give you a lot of looks offensively and defensively. They really do a good job running to the football and playing run defense especially. They look like a well-coached team.

"We're trying to improve our pass defense. We did a decent job with the run. We're trying to stick to fundamentals."

With a win, Hernando would improve to 2-1 for the first time since 2003, the last time the program had a winning record even this late in the season.

"The key for these games," Palmer said, "is not allowing big plays and trying to control the ball a little better than we did last week offensively."

BY THE NUMBERS: HERNANDO VS. GULF
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

Hernando leads 36-10-1

Year        Site         Result
2007        Home      W 29-26
2002        Home      W 42-26
2001        Away     W 41-0
1988        Home      W 42-14
1987        Away     W 31-7
1986        Home      W 44-13
1985        Away     W 28-27
1980        Home      W 30-0
1979        Away     W 9-7
1978        Home      W 16-0
1977        Away*   W 32-2
1976        Home      W 9-0
1975        Away     W 20-14
1974        Home      W 26-0
1973        Away     W 7-0
1972        Home      L 7-8
1971        Away     W 48-19
1970        Home      W 26-0
1969        Away     L 12-16
1968        Home      W 44-0
1967        Away     W 13-6
1966        Home      W 22-0
1965        Away     W 19-0
1964        Home      W 15-0
1963        Away     L 0-7
1962        Home      L 0-6
1961        Home      W 37-6
1960        Away     W 13-0
1959        Away     L 6-18
1958        Home      L 0-25
1957        Away     L 0-27
1956        Home      W 41-6
1955        Away     W 44-6
1954        Home      W 38-19
1953        Away     W 40-6
1952        Home      W 37-14
1951        Away     W 34-6
1950        Home      W 14-0
1949        Away     W 25-6
1948        Home      W 19-0
1947        Away     L 0-13
1946        Home      L 0-19
1944        Home      L 0-31
1943        Away     W 32-0
1941        Away     W 7-2
1940        Home      W FF^   
1939        Away     T 6-6

* Game played at Tampa Jesuit
^ Game won by forfeit