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By CAREY FREEMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 16, 2001
DUNNELLON -- Tropical storm Gabrielle delayed the game a day, but it couldn't delay the inevitable.
Paced by fullback Ryan McNally (139 yards and a touchdown) and two touchdown catches from tight end Will Bleakley, Crystal River rolled 28-0 over Dunnellon on Saturday night, its 16th straight win over the Tigers (2-1, 0-1 in Class 3A, District 6).
As in recent years, Dunnellon mounted a spirited effort early only to be doomed by mistakes -- in this case, three lost fumbles and two interceptions.
The first miscue, a fumble at the Pirates' 4-yard line, ended a chance to take the lead on the first drive.
Dunnellon kept the Pirates (3-0, 1-0) off the scoreboard most of the first half, but finally succumbed on the final drive of the half.
Crystal River marched 79 yards in five plays in less than two minutes, taking a 7-0 lead when McNally scored on a 15-yard run.
Crystal River set up its second score when Robbie Thompson (sack, interception) recovered a Dunnellon fumble at the Tigers' 29-yard line. The Pirates took a 14-0 lead six plays later when Clayton Trenary connected with Bleakley from 20 yards.
The Pirates held Dunnellon on downs on the ensuing series, then marched 65 yards in eight plays, taking a 21-0 lead when Trenary found Bleakley -- who made a leaping grab over two defenders -- from 35 yards.