Preps

Gibbs 26, St. Petersburg 7

By EMERY SKOLFIELD, Times Correspondent
Published October 6, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Sluggish in the first half and playing without two of its top backs, Gibbs' offense came alive midway through the third quarter and ran away with a Class 5A-District 10 win over the host Green Devils.

Gladiators senior Devon McCullough, hobbled by a high ankle sprain all season, rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries as Gibbs (4-2) moved to 2-0 in district play and bounced back from last week's loss at Clearwater.

"On offense, we had to move a lot of guys around," said Gibbs coach Yusuf Shakir, who was without backs Kevonta Brown, the team's leading rusher, and Anthony Kincy. "We were trying to establish the rushing game in the second half, because we know we're going to have to do that."

Gladiators senior Matt Cabassa, who entered the game with no yards on three carries this season, had 63 yards on seven second-half rushes - including an 18-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

McCullough added 84 yards on seven carries after halftime, including touchdown runs of 29 and 3 yards, as Gibbs piled up 220 rushing yards against the winless Green Devils (0-6, 0-2).

"Every week, (McCullough is) getting more and more healthy," Shakir said. "That's the best he's looked this season."

St. Petersburg scored on the game's opening possession when Dontrell Townsend sliced in from 7 yards out. Mike Wilson had a 60-yard carry during the drive and finished with 111 yards on nine attempts. Green Devils quarterback Robert Lemon was 4-of-14 for 25 yards and three interceptions.

[Last modified October 6, 2007, 00:39:07]