Pinellas: Sunday morning quarterback

By BOB PUTNAM and BRANDON WRIGHT, Times Staff Writers
Published September 16, 2007

Top performers

Orhian Johnson, Boca Ciega: The senior threw for 110 yards and three touchdowns, the last coming in overtime to beat Dixie Hollins.

Adaris Bellamy, Dunedin:Bellamy gained 131 yards on the ground and scored once against Osceola.

Victor Perkins, Lakewood:Perkins threw for two second-half scores to help the Spartans rally to beat Clearwater.

Jeff Brinson, Northeast:Sure, he was held to 145 yards rushing, but he also scored three times.

Collin Hoke, Northside Christian: He scored on both sides of the ball, returning and interception 45 yards for a touchdown and getting another on a 25-yard run.

DeJaun Bush, Palm Harbor U.: Bush ran for 117 yards and scored twice to help the Hurricanes to their first win of the season.

Donzel Redding, Seminole: Redding ran for 131 yards and two scores in a losing effort.

Curtis Fisher, Keswick Christian: Fisher found the end zone on runs of 41 and 5 yards in a 37-6 win against Shorecrest.

Marcus Russ, Gibbs:Russ caught a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes, and the second one was special. In the back-right corner of the end zone, Russ went on his toes and caught the high pass with both feet in bounds while being crushed by a Northeast defender.

Northeast's Jeff Brinson was held to 145 yards rushing. Tarpon Springs continued its recent success against its biggest rival, East Lake. And Lakewood and Boca Ciega each rallied late for wins. Check it out as we break down these games and others from Friday night's Week 3 of high school football.

In a rush

Largo's Brynn Harvey and Northeast's Jeff Brinson are each trying to break the county rushing record of 2,490 yards set by former Packer Dexter McCluster. Here are their totals after Week 3.

Brinson

Week 1 385 yards

Week 2 316 yards

Week 3 145 yards

Total 846 yards

Harvey

Week 1 246 yards

Week 2 264 yards

Week 3 Bye

Total 510 yards

McCluster

Week 1 222 yards

Week 2 292 yards

Week 3 Bye

Total 514 yards

Offensive player of the week

A'Darrius Anderson

Dunedin, quarterback

After struggling in his first two games, the Clearwater transfer put everything together against Osceola. Using his improvisational skills to buy time, Anderson picked apart the Warriors, throwing for 141 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those were to Mike Towns.

Defensive player of the week

Nigel Ballard

Gibbs, linebacker

It's not often someone gets praise for being part of a defense that holds a running back to 145 yards. But when that running back is Jeff Brinson, it's well deserved. Ballard seemed to be everywhere Friday, delivering a number of ringing hits and finishing with 13 tackles.

[Last modified September 16, 2007, 01:00:24]