Pasco and quarterback Cory Filley show their maturity in a 21-0 win against Land O'Lakes.
By JAMAL THALJI
Published October 12, 2003
LAND O'LAKES - Pasco quarterback Cory Filley took the snap, dropped back and quickly scanned the field for his receivers. Sensing the pressure and unable to find a target, Filley threw the ball away.
No, really.
"Who taught him that?" was one of the sarcastic remarks uttered on the Pirates sideline. Pasco coach Dale Caparaso, who last week begged Filley to throw the ball away instead of taking sack after sack, showed just a hint of a smile.
It was just one of many moments that symbolized Pasco's maturation in Friday night's 21-0 Sunshine Athletic Conference victory over Land O'Lakes.
The Pirates finally got it.
It could be Caparaso's complicated offense or smash-mouth defense. Or it could just be the the path he set when he arrived in February.
On a night when first-half drives died under the weight of penalties, when the Gators defense actually held the Pirates' productive running game in check, when Filley was sacked five times and star wideout Johnny Peyton was held scoreless, Pasco (5-1) somehow put together perhaps its best half of the season.
"Our guys are starting to grow up, and they're starting to get it," Caparaso said. "They're starting to understand the concepts we've been trying to teach."
It started up front, where the offensive line of center Jerry Carter, right guard Jared Castro, left guard Chris Taylor, right tackle Tony Fiscarelli, left tackle Tom Brunk and "jumbo" formation blocker Roy Rodriguez took over. Before the game, Caparaso sat the players on the unit down and told them they were "the heart and soul" of the team.
They proved it in the second half. Filley, when protected, matured as a passer. Instead of focusing on Peyton, he spread the ball around. He completed 15 of 22 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns, hitting four different receivers. Peyton and Donte O'Neal each had 117 yards.
Filley also moved to end on defense and helped pressure Land O'Lakes quarterback Drew Weatherford into a 5-for-22 performance for 74 yards. Without suspended starter Lester White, the Pirates got their first shutout since 2001 to end a four-year losing streak against the Gators.
"I'll keep this young man for the rest of my life," Caparaso told a television crew after the game, his arm draped over Filley.
Pasco matured just in time for Thursday's showdown at undefeated Wesley Chapel (6-0). The Class 3A, District 9 the SAC titles will hang in the balance. Filley transferred from Wesley Chapel in the offseason, and the team has beaten the Pirates by a combined 135-35 in the last two meetings.
"That's the game of my life right there," Filley said.
