Cobras off to strong start

By FRANK PASTOR
Published October 1, 2005

HUDSON - Coach Mark Nash wasn't kidding when he said Hudson has a balanced offense.

"If it isn't evident by now, I don't know," Nash said. "It's not just cliche on this team."

On a night when quarterback Kyle Hatcher and tailback Vince Ferlita started slowly and receiver Royce Simonds largely was absent from the offense, Hudson rode fullback Ryan Attaway to a 40-13 victory over Pasco on Friday.

Attaway rushed for 100 yards to loosen up the defense for Ferlita, whose three touchdowns between the second and third quarters turned a six-point lead into a 26-point advantage.

One season after a district shootout loss kept it out of the playoffs, Hudson (5-1 overall, 1-0 district) took its first step toward a possible Class 3A, District 9 championship.

"I think pretty much everybody's nerves were on edge, because this was a huge game," Attaway said. "This was mainly the season for both teams, so both teams came out and played, and I guess we outplayed them."

Pasco (1-5, 0-1) dropped its fourth consecutive game in its first appearance since learning quarterback Tony Smith had been dismissed from the team.

"They're a better football team than us, a lot better," coach Dale Caparaso said. "Coach (Nash) does a great job with them, he really does. They're bigger, they're stronger, they're quicker."

Pasco's defense kept it in the game in the first half, but a minute-and-a-half stretch during the second and third quarters changed the complexion of the game.

Hudson led 13-7 late in the first half when Ferlita caught a throwback screen from Hatcher and weaved 41 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.

Then a Pasco player caught the second-half kickoff and stepped out of bounds at the 2-yard line. After a punt, Hudson gained possession at the Pasco 25 and needed just four plays to take a 27-7 lead on Ferlita's 11-yard run up the middle.

Roger Hill had an interception and one of four fumble recoveries for Hudson, which defeated Pasco in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1978-79.

"I said it after last season, everybody questioned what we had coming in," Nash said, "and I knew we'd be better this year."

[Last modified October 1, 2005, 01:46:16]