5-31/2 senior, persuaded to try out by teammate, has 93 yards receiving and TD in Orange and Black game.
By GREG AUMAN
Published May 28, 2003
ZEPHYRHILLS - Year after year opponents look at the size of the Zephyrhills roster and underestimate the Bulldogs. This fall, the same might be true for Jason Wood.
The diminutive rising senior, all 5-foot-31/2, 125 pounds of him, was the star of Zephyrhills' Orange and Black game Thursday afternoon, catching four passes for 93 yards and the only touchdown in the Black squad's 6-0 victory.
"I played in the (Pasco Police Athletic League) until I was 15, and my friends told me to go out here," said Wood, a Golden Gloves boxing champion who was convinced to try out by tailback Bryan Thomas, who threw him the winning touchdown.
Wood came up with a 30-yard catch in the second quarter on a pass from Joe Burgess that bounced off two players. As a scoreless tie persisted into the final minutes, he came up with two catches that showed the first was not a fluke. The first was a 39-yard pass from Burgess, and the second came on fourth and 10 from the Orange 18. Thomas took a pitch to the right side, then fired a pass between two defenders that Wood caught for the winning touchdown.
"I was asking him all last year to come out," Thomas said. "His size would make you think he's nothing, but size isn't everything. It's the heart that counts, and he has a lot of that. He can help us out a lot."
Coach Tom Fisher said he was impressed by Wood's play, though he'd like to see a better commitment in the fall from a player who missed a few practices this spring.
"Hopefully he'll take this seriously," Fisher said. "He's one of the smallest players I've had here. If he can adjust to the regimen, he can definitely help us."
The game was largely uneventful as it's difficult for Zephyrhills to field two viable teams with 35 total players in spring drills. Noticeably absent was receiver Tony Smiley, a Division I college recruit who is academically ineligible this spring. Smiley said he has improved his grades significantly and will be eligible to play this fall.
Senior Keith Ostermann, who will take over for James Adamo at quarterback this fall, went 5-of-9 for 28 yards with an interception, though he is recovering from a shoulder injury. Burgess, quarterbacking the Black squad, went 6-of-15 for 120 yards, with most going to Wood. Burgess also intercepted an Ostermann pass in the end zone to thwart the Orange squad's best scoring opportunity.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Tailbacks Sydney Williams and Thomas, who combined for 1,018 yards last season, will be back competing for carries as a junior and sophomore, respectively, this fall. Williams shined running the ball, rushing six times for 44 yards, while Thomas' best plays were halfback passes of 28 and 18 yards, the latter for the game's only touchdown. Thomas failed to gain yards on any of his four rushing attempts behind a patchwork line.
UP NEXT: Zephyrhills will have a preseason game against Palmetto the week before the Bulldogs open the 2003 season at home against Land O'Lakes on Sept. 5. In addition to eight games against county opponents, the Bulldogs also have a game at Mulberry and a home game against perennial Citrus powerhouse Crystal River.
