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Preps

Friday night rewind

By Times staff writers
Published October 9, 2005

QUOTABLE

"The boys play hard. They are a great bunch of kids. I don't like the score. I'm not as happy as I was. My kids executed. They just didn't score."

- STEVE JOHNSON, Hernando Christian coach

"They came out a lot tougher than what I thought they would. They played with a lot of heart."

- KENNY BEEKER, Springstead linebacker, praising Hernando's effort.

WALTER HOWARD, CITRUS: The senior quarterback was pressured all night, getting sacked three times, but completed 8 of 14 passes for 101 yards.

JUSTIN ROLPH, CRYSTAL RIVER: The junior has quickly become the workhouse back, and he refused to quit Friday - even when the Pirates trailed by double digits. He finished with 64 yards on 15 carries, gaining 25 yards after halftime. He also apologized to his teammates after fumbling early in the second quarter.

RICHARD CHANEY, LECANTO: The senior running back rushed for 172 yards on 23 carries and caught three passes for 17 yards.

JOSH ORTIZ, NATURE COAST TECH: The junior scored two touchdowns, rushing and receiving, and he plays neither running back nor receiver. The Sharks' starting quarterback lined up at receiver on the team's first possession, hauling in a Stephen Paleaz pass for a 50-yard TD. Coach Jamie Joyner said he decided to us Ortiz at receiver because of his athleticism. He was in that position last year.

BRANDON WHITE and JAMES CRAWFORD, HERNANDO: The defensive linemen were bruising forces against Springstead. Crawford had two sacks, and White nabbed one. When they weren't sacking John Hogeland, they were pressuring the Eagles QB or tackling a running back behind the line of scrimmage.

SETH METZ, SPRINGSTEAD: The little guy was a load. He carried the ball 14 times for 87 yards and provided the block that opened a hole for the winning touchdown.

The Hurricanes have shown they can score but haven't been able to stop the run or block against the blitz. It's a reason quarterback Walter Howard was sacked three times and Lake Weir's Robert Taylor recorded 192 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries.

Crystal River kicker/punter Coty Shaffer may get overlooked after lopsided losses, but he's been surprising opponents with his punting ability. Three of his five attempts Friday traveled more than 40 yards.

Hernando Christian Academy ran into Calvary Christian quarterback Chad Hodges on the wrong evening. He threw for three touchdowns and kicked a 32-yard field goal. He even intercepted a pass, returning it for a score. The TD was called back because of an illegal block. On top of all that, Hodges was chosen homecoming king at halftime.

After his team's win over Poinciana, Nature Coast Tech coach Jamie Joyner said the Eagles' field was one of the worst he had seen. A postgame walk on the water-logged turf backed him up. With little drainage, the conditions were, at best, marshy. Perhaps that's why there were 11 fumbles combined.

Chaney ran for 123 yards on 11 carries in the second half and keyed an impressive 17-play, 79-yard scoring march. He totaled 73 yards on the drive, which consumed 8 minutes. Lecanto followed the touchdown by recovering an ensuing onside kick, but The Villages held.

Springstead receiver Jeff Haynes was laying on his stomach, motionless, as a trainer tended to him. Teammates and opponents anxiously kneeled. He had a shoulder-stinger that resulted from a midfield collision. About 10 minutes later, his brother, Jason, helped Jeff up, and he walked off the field with just a few seconds remaining in the first half. Then, on the Eagles' opening possession of the third quarter, Jeff - who looked as though he might miss some action - reeled in a 7-yard touchdown toss from John Hogeland. Apparently, Jeff was just fine.

- BRIAN SUMERS, and DAWN REISS, Times staff writers; and RICHARD BURTON, Times correspondent

[Last modified October 9, 2005, 01:27:46]