HERNANDO 28, CC CATHOLIC 13: Quarterback Geoff Craig is lost in second half with a shoulder injury.
By JOHN SCHWARB
Published September 13, 2003
CLEARWATER - This was a good home opener for about three minutes.
Clearwater Central Catholic effortlessly drove down the field on its opening drive against Hernando, but the euphoria was short-lived in a 28-13 loss.
The Marauders fell behind in the second quarter as a Leopards running back ran roughshod through their defense, then quarterback Geoff Craig was lost in the third quarter with an injury.
Rod Roberts was Hernando's leading man all night, rushing for 192 yards on 13 carries and scoring three times. From his cornerback spot, he blanketed star receiver Chip Brinkman - the senior had one catch in the fourth quarter - and put Craig out with a vicious hit.
On the third play of CCC's opening drive of the second half, trailing 21-7, Craig scrambled to the left for a first down. When he reached the sideline, Roberts leveled him.
"It didn't really hurt at first that much, when I started to get up I started to feel my shoulder," said Craig, who suffered a mild right shoulder separation. "I was trying to get out of bounds."
Colin McCarthy replaced Craig and led the Marauders (1-1) to first-and-goal situation from the Leopards' 7-yard line, but CCC backtracked with a fumble and two penalties. The Marauders had to settle for a 31-yard field goal try, which was blocked.
Hernando (1-1) took over and iced the game on the subsequent drive, with Roberts notching his third touchdown from 31 yards out.
Paul Raven was the lone bright spot for CCC, rushing for 142 yards on 18 carries and scoring on the opening drive. Bobby Floyd scored on a 1-yard run late.
The Leopards rushed for 319 yards and did not pass for any.
Craig completed 4 of 12 passes for 21 yards. He caught his own pass when it deflected off a Hernando lineman but dropped it for a 14-yard loss.
