Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Colts burst from gate after half

NORTH MARION 42, CITRUS 20: The Hurricanes stay close until the third quarter does them in.

By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 19, 2002

INVERNESS -- Before Friday's game against North Marion, Citrus coach Larry Bishop said the Hurricanes needed to be at their best to have a shot.

He wasn't kidding.

Despite playing near-flawless ball for two quarters, Citrus succumbed to the Colts' superior speed in the second half and fell 42-20, dropping to 5-2, 1-1 in Class 3A, District 3. North Marion (3-4, 1-1) needed to win or its playoff hopes would have been all but lost.

"We played real well in the first half," Bishop said.

It was second half that finished the 'Canes.

With the score tied at 14 at intermission, Citrus had a chance to take the lead early in the third quarter. But after the team drove to the Colts 23 in four plays, quarterback Casey Snyder was intercepted at the 1 by Jermaine Thomas. North Marion, behind four Thomas carries for 51 yards, drove 99 yards on eight plays to go ahead 22-14.

North Marion went 44, 99 and 82 yards on its next three possessions, scoring touchdowns on each.

"In the second half, we started playing a little bit," Colts coach Craig Damon said. "We came out a little flat in the first half and Citrus was pumped up and ready to go. Coach Bishop did a great job having them prepared."

After falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter on one of Mike West's four touchdowns, Citrus responded with a 41-yard touchdown from Snyder to R.J. Cobb to tie it. The Colts went up 14-7 on another West run, but Citrus again answered, this time a 5-yard Cobb run to tie it at 14.

The Hurricanes could have taken the lead, but Keith Zigler's 22-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of the half was blocked.

"That was big," Damon said.

Behind West's 112 rushing yards and Seth Watts' 169 yards passing, North Marion had 22 first downs and 550 yards. Snyder was 10 of 19 for 150 yards for Citrus.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright