By Times staff writers
Published September 25, 2004
WINTER GARDEN - Hernando Christian failed to break its winless and scoreless streaks, but played its best game in Friday's 14-0 loss to Winter Garden Calvary Christian.
Quarterback Stephen Johnson threw for over 100 yards and the Lions ground attack ran for some 90 yards, far better efforts than previous lopsided losses.
"They looked great tonight, they're looking like a real football team," HCA coach Steve Johnson said. "It was a total about-face from last week."
Last week HCA lost 48-0 to Winter Haven All Saints', but Friday hung in despite missing several key players. Nate Dahmer was lost in the first quarter with a sprained ankle, Britt Tafalski was out of town for family reasons and Stanley Miele was ill. All three were starters.
- JOHN SCHWARB
Nature Coast Tech loses shootout against North Port
NORTH PORT - Defense wasn't the first matter of business for North Port and Nature Coast as the Bobcats defeated the Sharks 55-26 in an offensive free-for-all.
North Port's David Sylvester ran for four touchdowns and 155 yards.
Nature Coast started the scoring on the first drive of the game when Billy Hughes connected with Josh Ortiz for a 19-yard touchdown.
Though down by 28 points at one point, Sharks coach Jamie Joyner elected not to run the clock and took this as a learning experience for his first-year varsity squad.
"We just didn't want our kids to give up and they didn't," Joyner said.
Ortiz had three touchdowns for the Sharks and Matt Bostrom had one. The Sharks probably have lost Allen for the season with a injury.
