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Pasco sideline

"Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Since 71-6, since 71-6." - JOHNNY PEYTON, Pasco receiver, when asked how long he's been waiting for Thursday's Pasco-Wesley Chapel game. Wesley Chapel won 71-6 in 2001 and has outscored Pasco 135-35 in two losses.

What is it with quarterbacks shining on defense this season?

Zephyrhills senior Keith Ostermann, pressed into significant playing time on defense with safety Bryan Thomas out with a knee injury, came up with three crucial plays in the Bulldogs' 21-18 victory against Mitchell.

The first foiled a 13-play Mustangs drive in the first quarter, on a botched fake field goal from the Zephyrhills 9. Holder Chris Watts' desperation pass was intercepted by Ostermann.

It wouldn't be the only scoring opportunity he'd stop. When Mitchell rallied to within 21-16 in the fourth, the Mustangs went for two hoping to pull within a field goal. Mitchell's Spencer Brown, who rushed for a game-high 119 yards, ran around the left end, but Ostermann brought him down a yard short of the goal line.

Three plays later, Ostermann threw a pass that was intercepted by Mitchell's Steve Riley, who ran down the Mustangs sideline. Ostermann tracked Riley down and stopped him at the 15, saving a touchdown that would have given Mitchell the lead.

Gulf senior quarterback Jeff Blanchette can do more than just pass.

Blanchette rushed for 58 yards on 12 carries and helped the Bucs defense get its first shutout in nine years in a 17-0 victory against Tampa Catholic.

With Gulf outside linebacker Bobby Harmer out with an injury, Blanchette played free safety. Blanchette was around the ball all game and came up with an interception in the end zone on fourth and goal in the fourth quarter.

Blanchette, who was named homecoming king at halftime, also rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, making up for a subpar passing game in which the senior threw for only 24 yards and had two interceptions.

"He has wanted to play defense for two years, so we gave him a shot and he did a great job for us," Gulf coach Keith Newton said. "We will probably put him back there from time to time in the future. Jeff is always a threat when he has the ball in his hands."

Gulf's last shutout came in 1994, a 21-0 win against Clearwater Central Catholic. Newton said it was the team's first win on homecoming in his 19 years at the school.

Wesley Chapel's Nigel Bryant returned Friday after being sidelined for one game with an ankle sprain. In limited duty, the junior fullback carried seven times for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

"It was nice to see Nigel running again," Wesley Chapel coach John Castelamare said. "He's been doctoring that ankle. He said he was ready to go and he made some nice runs."

River Ridge welcomed back two of its own on homecoming night.

Former Royal Knights T.J. Tucker and Ryan Benjamin accompanied captains David Onorato, Anthony Daugherty, Steven Johnson and Jordan Hoolihan of River Ridge and Mike Noyes, Richie DelValle, Dustin Kupcik and Darnell Craig of Central to midfield for the coin toss before the Royal Knights' 31-17 victory.

Tucker, a former River Ridge quarterback and Parade All-American kicker, pitches for the Montreal Expos. Benjamin, a defensive end with the Royal Knights, is the longsnapper for the Super Bowl champion Bucs.

Hudson senior John Caruso, a starter at guard and defensive tackle, dislocated his left knee in the third quarter of Friday's 50-8 win over Lecanto.

Trainers from both teams attended to him on the field, and after about 20 minutes Caruso was taken by ambulance to a hospital.