Gators reverse their fortunes

Wesley Chapel bites on a fake handoff in overtime, giving Land O'Lakes the 23-20 win.

By STEVE LEE
Published October 13, 2006

WESLEY CHAPEL - Risky play-calling and a ball-hawking defense helped Wesley Chapel force a tie at 17 in regulation of Thursday's Class 5A, District 5 matchup.

Land O'Lakes, however, saved the best trick for last. Mike Torro ran around the left side on a fake reverse for a 15-yard touchdown and a 23-20 win, the Gators' second in overtime this season.

"That was kind of sweeter," Land O'Lakes coach John Benedetto said, comparing Thursday's win to a 28-22 overtime defeat of Pasco. "We outfoxed them."

Wesley Chapel struck first in overtime with Jon Heiser kicking a 19-yard field goal on fourth down.

Heiser's first field goal, a 36-yarder, tied it at 17 midway through the fourth quarter. Those three points marked the lone score in the second half after Land O'Lakes rallied from a 14-point deficit with 17 unanswered points to lead by three at halftime.

But all of that paled in comparison to overtime, which did not bode well for a Land O'Lakes team facing first and 15 after a 5-yard penalty for 12 players on the field.

On the ensuing play, Torro took a handoff from Joe Weatherford and ran to his left, holding the football out toward split end Develin Robinson coming around from the back side and headed toward midfield. Torro kept the ball, the defense pinched in to chase Robinson and the Gators had a win.

"Most eyes on the defensive side of the ball are on Develin Robinson," Benedetto said. "That's the attention Develin gets."

Robinson had three catches for 90 yards and Joe Weatherford passed for 236 yards, but neither figured in the scoring.

Wesley Chapel 3-4, 0-3 took a 14-0 lead on Greg Jenkins' 37-yard touchdown pass to Chis Soto and Jenkin's 1-yard quarterback keeper. Both scores came on turnovers.

Land O'Lakes (6-1, 2-0) came back on scoring runs of 1 and 6 yards by John Weatherford and Brad Patton. In between those scores, Alex Spock kicked a 25-yard field goal.

[Last modified October 13, 2006, 00:39:45]