Preps

Gaither 34, Wesley Chapel 9

By DON JENSEN, Times Correspondent
Published October 19, 2007

TAMPA - The Gaither Cowboys are a lasso's throw away from winning a district championship.

Running back Jarvis Giles rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns to reach the 1,000-yard mark, and defensive back Will Joseph set up scores with two interceptions as Gaither blitzed Wesley Chapel for a 34-9 Homecoming victory on Thursday night.

It was the sixth consecutive win for Gaither (6-2, 2-0), which remained undefeated in Class 5A, District 5 play. The Cowboys can clinch the title by defeating Wharton on Nov. 2. Wesley Chapel dropped to 4-4 and 0-2.

After falling behind 9-0 in the first quarter, Gaither held Wesley Chapel scoreless on its final nine drives. The Cowboys forced four turnovers and allowed only 42 second-half yards. Alan Sampson also had an interception and Eduardo Farias recovered a fumble that led to Gaither's final touchdown.

"After the first quarter, we really sucked it up," Gaither linebacker Josh Hurtado said. "This is really big. We're 2-0 in district with one big game left."

Wesley Chapel quarterback Greg Jenkins said Gaither's linebackers changed the game.

"I had good looks, but (Gaither) started to blitz," Jenkins said. "The secondary did a heck of a job and took advantage of some bad throws."

Giles increased his season totals to 1,034 yards and 16 touchdowns. He scored on runs of 57, 32 and 23 yards on a 20-carry night. Quarterback Kamren Hawkins completed his only two second-half passes for touchdowns to Yemi Oyegunie and Justin Lattimore.

Wesley Chapel scored on its first two series as Juan Salguero kicked a 33-yard field goal and Hunter Joyer scored on a fourth-down run from the 1. The touchdown was set up by Sebastian Pinckney's fumble recovery.

[Last modified October 18, 2007, 23:55:44]