Gulf quarterback Jeff Blanchette suffers a concussion, but others will be out longer.
By STEVE LEE and JAMAL THALJI
Published October 19, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY - What a headache playing quarterback has been for Gulf's Jeff Blanchette.
He suffered what coach Keith Newton termed "a mild concussion" on an 8-yard run in the second quarter of Thursday's 24-7 loss to Hudson. He was taken to North Bay Hospital where, Newton said, X-rays were negative.
"He probably got home before us," said Newton, adding that the senior might play Friday against Wesley Chapel.
"He's going to have to take two or three days off," Newton said Friday afternoon. "Obviously, he can't get hit."
Blanchette has had at least one concussion in each of the past three seasons. Backup Willie Rogers took over and struggled against Hudson. He fumbled once, lost 6 yards on three carries and completed 1-of-5 for no yards. Rogers will take most of the snaps in practice this week, Newton said.
Gulf is not alone. Injuries are piling up for Pasco County teams late in the season.
River Ridge's 20-17 win over Ridgewood proved costly for both teams. The Knights lost defensive starters David Onorato and Zach Huffmon while the Rams may have lost their best lineman, two-way starter Bryan Presley.
Onorato (broken leg) and Presley (dislocated hip) suffered season-ending injuries, according to their coaches. As for Huffmon (ankle sprain), Knights coach Mike DeGennaro said the lineman could play Friday at St. Petersburg Catholic.
"The main thing is having (Huffmon) back in two weeks for Mitchell," DeGennaro said of that Class 4A, District 7 matchup for the runner-up playoff spot.
"We'll take it easy on him all week," DeGennaro continued. "If he's healed up we'll let him go. If not we'll wait for another week."
On a brighter note, DeGennaro expects lineman Phil Combes, out since the second game with a knee injury, to play Friday.
"We really kind of need him back with Huffmon possibly out this week," DeGennaro said.
Land O'Lakes won 13-6 Friday night without sack leader Brett Ruvolo, who the team hopes can return from a strained Achilles' tendon and bruised knee next week. A knee injury ended the season of split end/running back Chris Harvey, who had surgery Friday. Cornerback Justin Weber also could be lost to a knee injury pending an MRI examination.
Mitchell lost running back/defensive back D.J. Crosby to a dislocated shoulder in the preseason. With just three weeks left in the season coach Scott Schmitz said he may sit Crosby for the year even if the sophomore is cleared to play by the last week.
Friday night, defensive tackle Casey Smith sprained his ankle on the first series and didn't return. Offensive tackle Bryan Littlejohn aggravated a shoulder injury and missed the last quarter, while guard Kyle Hagerty played on a 3-week old ankle sprain.
