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Second-half swoon sinks 'stale' Zephyrhills

The Bulldogs, after dominating in the first half, allow Orlando Olympia its first-ever victory.

By JAMAL THALJI

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 21, 2001

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- In the end, they looked just like any other tourist fleeing the Magic Kingdom: broke, hungry, tired and just plain frustrated.

And they didn't even get to see the fireworks.

Zephyrhills lost a 21-17 heartbreaker to Orlando Olympia in the final minutes of Thursday night's contest at the swank Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

The Bulldogs (2-1) dominated the first half against the Class 6A Titans and took a 10-point lead, but collapsed on offense and special teams in the second half, allowing 14 unanswered points as the first-year Titans (1-3) won their first ever game.

Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher used several unflattering words to describe how his team looked in the second half after 13 days since their last game: "Stale, sloppy, out-of-synch" and "out of shape."

"The kids thought they were coming over here for a picnic, I guess," Fisher said. "That's my fault for not getting them ready, but thank goodness it's not a district or conference game. That's the only good thing about it."

The fourth quarter decided it all. Olympia's Kenny Turner shed an ankle tackle and broke free for a 56-yard touchdown reception, and Dustin McCourt ran back a punt down the sideline for a 48-yard touchdown return to take the lead with 1:41 left.

Zephyrhills quarterback James Adamo tried to rally his team with a late drive. Justin Whitworth caught a 27-yard pass, Michael Moody made a leaping 32-yard reception and Whitworth gained 9 yards to convert fourth-and-8 at the Olympia 28 with 20 seconds left.

But while diving into the end zone, draped by two defenders, Shawn Stewart was called for offensive pass interference -- his second such infraction of the half. The game ended when Adamo was sacked for a second time on that drive.

Justin Cobb's 3-yard scoring plunge put Zephyrhills up 7-0 in the first, and Stewart's 37-yard touchdown reception from Adamo gave the 'Dogs a 14-0 lead. Olympia's Turner broke free for an 88-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Kyle Briscoe's 32-yard field goal gave Zephyrhills a 17-7 halftime lead.

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