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2005 Cobras are a team to remember

By IZZY GOULD
Published November 29, 2005

	[Times photo: Lance Aram Rothstein]
	Hudson's Matt Raimo, left, and Mile Wilinski helped the Cobras to their first postseason win in history.

SPARR - Hudson coach Mark Nash couldn't contain the breech in his eyes.

He fought back tears as players, family and friends consoled one another after the Cobras' 42-0 loss at North Marion on Friday in the Class 3A region final.

An unprecedented season raced through Nash's head in those final 48 minutes.

"They handled themselves like warriors," Nash said. "They're great kids. They battled against the odds. They've done it all year."

A win would have sent Hudson (10-3) to Fort Lauderdale and the Final Four.

Instead, the end was very quick and very painful.

The Colts (10-3) scored on four of their first five possessions for a 28-0 lead in the second quarter.

The Cobras' last push to make it a game came with 3:27 left in the first half. Hudson running back Vince Ferlita attempted to leap over his offensive line on a fourth-and-goal less than six steps from North Marion's end zone.

Instead, the Colts defense held firm to force a turnover on downs and extinguish any potential comeback.

The final buzzer marked the end of 19 Hudson football careers. Many of those will never again wear a helmet or pads.

Handshakes at midfield pulled the curtain on one of the best runs in Pasco County postseason history. Only four other teams have advanced to the third round: Pasco in 1983 and 1992 and Land O'Lakes in 2002 and 2003.

Only the Pirates' 1992 state title team went farther.

Hudson's 2005 district championship team will be remembered for so many things.

It was the first to win a playoff game and just the second Cobras' team reach the postseason. Hudson's 1979 team fell 12-7 to Oviedo.

The '79 team helped celebrate the school's first postseason victory after Hudson's '05 team defeated Orlando Bishop Moore, 28-14 in the region quarterfinal at Cobra Stadium. Hudson quarterback Kyle Hatcher led the way, completing 15 of 24 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns.

Hudson continued to renovate its reputation by winning 10 games for the first time in history with a 20-12 win against Williston in the region semifinal.

Ferlita led the Cobras with 126 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Hatcher threw for 195 yards and another score. And Roger Hill logged two sacks and collected a fumble that sealed the Cobras second playoff win.

"They were a lot of fun to coach," Nash said. "We'll be back in the weight room (this week) to start working on next year. That's what coaches do."

--Contact Izzy Gould at 813 909-4612 or sportsjournalist@gmail.com

[Last modified November 29, 2005, 02:15:28]