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Gaynor rushes to record

The Central running back rolls up 260 yards as the Bears dominate Hernando 21-6.

By GREG AUMAN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 22, 2001

BROOKSVILLE -- Central's Tim Gaynor rushed for enough yards against Hernando on Friday night to set a school record with nearly a quarter to play, but by guard Willie Winslett's standards, the junior tailback came up a bit short.

"I had told Tim that he's No. 2 and I wear No. 70, so between the two of us, we're good for 270, but this is close enough," Winslett said after helping Gaynor rush for 260 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears' 21-6 win against Hernando.

The Bears (3-1) dominated Hernando on both sides of the ball, rushing for 391 yards and keeping the Leopards' offense off the scoreboard while beating their crosstown rivals at home for only the second time in six tries.

"This is a game I had marked from way back," said senior center T.J. Hedick, who recovered a fumble on Hernando's second offensive play. "I've never beaten the purple and gold before. Last time we played them here, it was 33-0. We remember stuff like that."

Gaynor had 73 yards on the opening drive, capped by a 21-yard touchdown run, and after Hedick's recovery, the Bears scored again on a 15-yard Gaynor run, giving them a 14-0 lead in the first five minutes. Gaynor, who finished with 31 carries, had 182 yards by halftime and broke Darrell Scott's school record early in the fourth quarter.

Hernando's only points came on Art Starks' 60-yard punt return, but the Leopards (1-3) were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, forcing them to try a two-point conversion from the 18-yard line. The conversion failed, and the Bears defense wouldn't allow them any closer to the end zone the rest of the way.

"They took it to us," said Hernando coach Bill Browning, whose team was swept by its county opponents for the first time in five years. "I don't think there's a question they controlled the offensive and defensive fronts. We couldn't run the ball consistently and couldn't stop them consistently, and when that happens, you're in for a rough night."

Central led 21-6 at the half and allowed the Leopards to cross midfield just once in a scoreless second half, grinding away the clock with long, sustained drives that kept Hernando's offense off the field.

"Our big thing was that we dominated on the offensive line," coach Steve Crognale said. "We weren't too happy about the way we played the last time we were here."

Central stays home next week to play for the county championship against Springstead, while Hernando travels to Hudson for a district game.

Gaynor wasn't the only Bears runner with an easy day behind Central's senior-laden offensive line. Jamie McElfresh had 77 yards on 13 carries, and Steve Martin had 44 yards in the fourth quarter alone.

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