Preps

Hillsborough: News and Notes

By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published October 14, 2007

Statitude

Tampa Catholic quarterback Christian Green had four touchdown passes in his first 64 attempts this season. Friday night against Trinity Christian, he had three TD strikes on only 15 attempts. They covered 9, 59 and 4 yards.

Quoteworthy

"I've never seen anything like it before in my life." Mike Fenton, Jefferson coach commenting on a play during the Dragons' loss to Chamberlain in which his team's punter appeared to miss the ball while kicking. The Chiefs scored on the play.

By the numbers

40 Yards Friday night for Chamberlain through three quarters.

133 yards in the fourth quarter for Chamberlain.

Anonymous no more

In the words of Tampa Catholic coach Bob Henriquez, the Crusaders have been "flying under the radar."

After Friday's 35-21 win against Jacksonville Trinity Christian, that probably will change.

Against a Trinity Christian team ranked No. 3 in Class 2B, the Crusaders moved the ball, slowed down a high-powered offense led by heralded running back Jamie Harper and were solid on special teams.

"All around, we played great under tough circumstances on the road in a hostile environment," Henriquez said. "The offense is really coming around and our defense made them earn every yard. That was an incredibly explosive team we played. They probably had the best tandem of backs I've ever seen."

Tampa Catholic (5-1) has won four straight.

"I had a special feeling (about this team) all along," Henriquez said. "I thought we had a chance to be pretty good."

Just to be safe

Jefferson was without a key player during crunch time of its 21-14 loss to Chamberlain on Friday. Linebacker Gorby Loreus, who suffered dizziness after making a tackle in the second quarter, played only one second-half series before trainers removed him for precautionary reasons.

"Their guy caught a ball and was shaking around near the sideline," Loreus said Friday. "I ran over and made a full-on collision when I hit him. My helmet came off. I kind of busted my lip and my vision went blurry."

Despite being in pain, Loreus, a probable Division I-A recruit, hated missing the action.

"I really wanted to be out there," he said. "It was hard to sit on the sideline. But in the long run, (the trainers) made the right decision."

When contacted Saturday, Loreus said he felt much better.

Isn't that special

Justin Bell has been a special-teams terror.

Through seven games, the Chamberlain senior has blocked four punts and two field goals. Friday night against Jefferson, he made two plays crucial to his team's win.

First, Bell blocked a 27-yard first-quarter field-goal attempt.

Later, he scooped up a fumble in the second quarter (moments after Jefferson appeared to whiff a punt) and sprinted 30 yards for a score.

"There's not a better football player around than Justin Bell," Chiefs assistant Brian Turner said.

Keith Niebuhr Times staff writer

[Last modified October 13, 2007, 21:36:45]