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By STEVE LEE, Times Staff WriterA recent injury convinces Gators quarterback Joe Weatherford it is time for him to hit the weights.
LAND O'LAKES - Quarterback Joe Weatherford learned a lesson after being knocked out of Friday's playoff loss with a broken left clavicle.
He needs to put some muscle on his wiry frame.
"I guess (the injury) was a little sign for me to do it," Weatherford said of his plans to bulk up. "I knew I needed to do that, even before this happened."
Admittedly, the 6-foot-3, 170-pound junior does not lift weights during the season. That will change.
"As soon as I get better," Weatherford said of his year-long weightlifting plans.
Weatherford also hopes to rejoin the basketball team in January. He played for Land O'Lakes' junior varsity as a freshman and last season on the varsity. He is not as optimistic about attending a football combine in Texas that month, saying, "I may have to cancel."
Weatherford entered Friday's first-round playoff game against Chamberlain as the county's leading passer (1,945 yards, 14 touchdowns), but was injured while smothering a fumble on the Gators' second series. His - and as it turned out, his team's - season ended soon after.
"As much as I wanted to I wouldn't have been able to go back in the game," Weatherford said. "It was not an option."
Without Weatherford, the Gators offense had few options against Chamberlain.
Backup quarterbacks Mike Kirinsky and Develin Robinson, a split end who led the county in receiving (49 catches, 1,029 yards, nine touchdowns), went a combined 6-for-12 for 78 yards.
Brad Patton was on the other end of Land O'Lakes' most dramatic play. Robinson appeared to head for the right sideline on a reverse, but stopped and threw 47 yards downfield to Patton in the end zone.
When the ball left Robinson's right hand, there was no Chamberlain defender within 20 yards of Patton, whose catch cut the Chiefs' lead to 24-6 in the final second of the first half.
"I was just making sure I was going to catch that thing," said Patton, who firmly planted his feet shoulder width in the end zone and held out both hands. "I just let the ball come to me."
Patton's first touchdown reception was his third score this season. He also ran for touchdowns against Mitchell and Wharton.
Land O'Lakes bowed out of the playoffs in the first round for the second straight season, but not before extending its postseason streak to nine appearances.
"I think we're going to be better next year," Weatherford said.