The visitors from Wauchula run their win streak to 36 games.
By CARMINO IMONDI
Published September 17, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG - Wauchula Hardee (4-0) ran its regular-season winning streak to 36 games by thrashing St. Petersburg Catholic 34-10. The Wildcats' juggernaut offense amassed 363 total yards, 269 of them on the ground. Hardee wore down the undermanned Barons' defensive line with the shifty running of Marc Hodges and Jimmy Cimeus, and the power running of fullback Brad Gilliard.
"Hardee just wore us down in the second half," SPC coach Dan Mancuso said. "They are a very tough team who have two very talented running backs."
Hodges ran for 101 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns, one on a 4-yard reception from Weston Palmer. Cimeus contributed 50 yards on 13 carries while Gilliard's 1-yard touchdown run gave the Wildcats a 13-3 lead in the second quarter. Wauchula struck first with five minutes to go in the first quarter on a 4-yard pass from Palmer to Hodges.
Palmer was an effective 6-for-8 for 94 yards and two touchdowns. After Hardee jumped out to a 7-0 lead, the Barons would cut the deficit to 7-3 on a 28-yard field goal by Davis Rodriquez.
The Barons depended on their passing game the entire night. Quarterback David Girardi was 21-for-43 for 210 yards and a touchdown. Jock Sanders was held to 27 yards on five carries, and the Barons as a whole had minus-7 total rushing yards.
The Wildcats blew the game open in the second half on a 12-yard touchdown run from Hodges and a 36-yard scamper by Chris Rich, upping the lead to 27-3 with four minutes left in the third. Girardi found Sanders for a 31-yard Barons (2-2) touchdown with 9:18 left in regulation.
