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Three decades worth of memorable players

By IZZY GOULD
Published August 22, 2006

LAND O'LAKES - John Benedetto buried his face in his hands and traveled 30 seasons into his past. The deeper he went, the clearer his thoughts.

He began shouting the names of his former great players and described some of their best moments at Land O'Lakes.

Given enough time he could have filled a playbook.

Benedetto's coaching journey began in the early 1970s before Land O'Lakes was built. He coached elementary and middle school students. When those players were ready for high school, they were shipped to Pasco.

"That was the closest," Benedetto said. "Because they were bussed so far a lot of them never played football. They were known to Dade City people as 'Lakers.' "

Some pushed for the name "Lakers" when Land O'Lakes was ready to open. Gators still is the official name chosen because of the link to alligators living in the lakes.

"It was special then for the 'Lakers' to have their own school," Benedetto said. "We fielded a team in 1975 and we struggled. Finally, we had kids who were Land O'Lakes kids part of the new school. It took us a while."

The first district title came in 1978 during Benedetto's second season as head coach. The Gators were led by an offensive line known more for getting straight A's than their athleticism.

Buddy Smith, who missed the final three games with a separated shoulder, returned the opening kickoff against Tarpon Springs for a touchdown to help win the district title 17-12. Tim Harvey was a standout receiver and named the Gators' most valuable player. Steve Guerns was the quarterback.

And Darrell Croteau still owns a restaurant locally called The Breakfast Nook on U.S. 41. The senior class had been with Benedetto since 1971 when they were a bunch of fifth- and sixth-graders. The Gators fell in their first playoff game 19-0 to Bartow.

Their second and third district titles came in 1987-88. Players such as Tommy Sweet and Chad Luth contributed and were fondly referred to as "the Bookends" by coaches.

Land O'Lakes' first undefeated regular season came in 1999, highlighted by Justin Geisler's 59-yard field goal to help the Gators to a 20-7 win against Zephyrhills. Another standout kicker came in 1983, when Robert Shirmohammad kicked four field goals (29, 35, 45, 47) in a 33-0 win over Hudson.

The most prolific running back was Godfrey Pestana, who once was the county's all-time leading rusher with 4,057 yards.

No Gators have played in the NFL, Benedetto said, but many have earned college scholarship.

Perhaps the most well-known name to play in Division I is Drew Weatherford, Florida State's starting quarterback. He threw for more than 7,500 yards and 79 touchdowns during four seasons at Land O'Lakes. He also led the Gators to back-to-back region finals and a 10-0 regular-season mark in 2002.

Weatherford was joined this season at FSU by tight end Caz Piurowski, who could be the best combination tight end/defensive end to play for the Gators.

Who does Benedetto consider his best players of all time?

Weatherford, Piurowski, Develin Robinson at receiver, Pestana and Joey Tuttle at linebacker.

And who was his favorite? Giovanni Benedetto, his son.

"I have to mention him because even though he's far from being the best ...he's definitely my favorite all-time player," Benedetto.

This is the first in a series of stories previewing John Benedetto's 30th season at Land O'Lakes.

[Last modified August 22, 2006, 07:02:09]