TAMPA - Outgaining Temple Heights 413-211, Berkeley Prep rolled to a 49-6 preseason classic victory.
Bucs junior quarterback Derek Hatcher was 5-of-7 for 101 yards, hitting senior Kevin Bexley for two touchdowns. He also rushed three times for 57 yards and two touchdowns.
Ryan Zirkle, Josh Matzkin, and Pat Hughes scored the other Bucs touchdowns, Zirkle's a 60-yard run during the third quarter.
"I thought Derek Hatcher did a good job for us," Berkeley Prep coach Frank Sullivan said. "He made some big plays and directed our attack well. Our defense and special teams played well, too."
Tailback Jonathan Miller, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, was the workhorse for Temple Heights, carrying 20 times for 106 yards.
"He's a gamer," Eagles coach Steve Lewis said. "This is a new position for him, and I thought he did very well. But we simply did not tackle well enough, and we made too many mistakes early."
After the Bucs took an early 14-0 lead, Temple Heights came back with an 85-yard drive sparked by Luke Easterling's two 26-yard completions to Nathan Barber. That set up Miller's 16-yard touchdown run.
Berkeley answered with a quick touchdown. And when the ensuing Temple Heights drive ended at the Bucs 33 with three incompletions, the momentum shifted to and stayed with Berkeley Prep.
"I am going to look at the tape (today) and then give the kids three days off," Lewis said. "We'll be ready to start next week. These kids will bounce back. You'll see."
Hernando hassles star QB
BROOKSVILLE - Drew Weatherford, who last season led the state with 39 touchdown passes, threw for touchdowns on the opening drives of each half.
In between, he was plagued by seven dropped passes and worked on his scrambling as Hernando beat Land O'Lakes, which reached the Class 4A region final last year, 40-14.
Weatherford, who has orally committed to Florida State, left the game after the first series of the second half with Hernando leading 34-14. He completed 12 of 25 passes for 112 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
"This is the best thing that could have happened to us," he said. "It's a wake-up call.
"Now (my teammates) realize they're going to have to step up and make some plays. I'm not going to make all the plays, and (running back) Chris Perez isn't going to make all the plays.
- Times staff writer Steve Lee contributed to this report.
