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Second effort snaps Terriers' streak

By FRANK PASTOR

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 22, 2001

TAMPA -- Call it a prayer answered.

As King quarterback Michael Brewster leaned into the line Friday at Bill Stewart Stadium, carrying his team's upset hopes with him, running back Raymond Neal pleaded, "Please Lord."

Hillsborough's line refused to give, knocking Brewster backward. But the junior remained upright and scored on his second plunge into the line.

"When he went back in, I said, 'Thank you. Thank you,"' Neal said.

Brewster's 1-yard run with 23.4 seconds remaining gave King an improbable 19-14 victory against previously unbeaten Hillsborough in a Class 5A, District 6 game that has to rank among the most exciting of the season.

When Neal knocked down Ian MacAlister's final desperation pass, King (3-1, 2-0) had not only beaten Class 5A's fourth-ranked team, but snapped the Terriers' 24-game regular season winning streak as well.

As King's players tossed helmets in the air and dropped to the ground in disbelief, Hillsborough's Elijah Dukes, who led his team onto the field at the start of the night, lay on his back, a picture of defeat.

"It's not a good feeling if it's a jamboree, a regular-season game or postseason play," said Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia, whose team last lost a regular-season game in 1998 to Leto. "But this team, I believe, will take this as a wake-up call and come back."

Hillsborough (3-1, 0-1) did just that in 1996, losing at King on the final play of the game, only to rebound and finish the season with a 13-2 record.

But Friday belonged to King.

The Lions used their ball-control offense to keep the Terriers' offense off the field, and their defense did the rest.

Trailing 14-12 and having just fumbled with 4:25 to play, King held Hillsborough to two yards in three plays, forcing a Terriers' punt.

The Lions had little more than two minutes to drive 70 yards.

Neal seized the opportunity, gaining 32 yards on the first play. Brewster's 36-yard completion to Chris Brevi moved the ball to the 3. One run by Neal and two by Brewster netted just one yard. With his team down to its last play, Brewster scored on fourth and 1, putting King ahead to stay.

Neal finished with 165 yards on 22 carries. Brewster rushed for 32 yards and two touchdowns.

"I couldn't be prouder of a bunch of guys," King coach Joe Severino said. "Everybody stepped up tonight."

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