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'Big Blue Machine' opens up win for CentralBy GREG AUMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, BROOKSVILLE -- Central's offensive line has had three years on varsity together, and on Friday night, they finally beat Hernando. What better time to unveil a cool nickname? "We're the Big Blue Machine," said senior center T.J. Hedick after the Bears piled up 391 rushing yards in a 21-6 defeat of their crosstown rivals. "Our goal all week was to dominate, to physically overpower them." They did just that, marching the Bears offense down the field with ease. Central went to third down just twice on their three scoring drives, outgaining Hernando 218-68 in the process. "The line was very good -- they got it done," said tailback Tim Gaynor, who rushed for a school-record 260 yards, including 182 in the first half. "They make it real easy for me." The Bears lost yardage on just three of 58 offensive plays, with the line pushing far enough downfield that even when Hernando's first tackler made a stop, Central was gaining 3 or 4 yards just by falling forward. "I've never seen bigger holes than tonight. They were huge," said Jamie McElfresh, who rushed for 77 yards and five first downs. "The line was awesome tonight." Late in the game, with Central up by two touchdowns, coach Steve Crognale sent a message out to the line with tackle Doug Crowley: This is your time to finish the game off. The Bears got the ball with 4:15 left and rattled off runs of 15, 12, 14 and 10 yards in a five-play span, allowing Central to run out the clock and clinch its largest victory against Hernando in 12 years. The Bears' previous three victories had been by a combined 12 points, and only once before had Central beaten Hernando at home. The game was especially rewarding for senior guard Willie Winslett, who said last year's upset loss to Hernando hurt him badly enough to make him cry after the game. "My senior year, I told them it's on," Winslett said. "I can't even explain in words what I'm feeling right now. It's great. I only wish my father (in a Brooksville nursing home) could be here to see it. I dedicated my senior year to him, and I was glad to have my mother and brother here to see this." The team's offensive prowess Friday was matched only by its defensive intensity, which kept Hernando's offense from scoring. Led by a slew of seniors with vivid memories of the 33-0 shutout the Leopards handed them on the same field two years earlier, the Bears hoped to send a message with Friday's result. The Bears don't have much time to celebrate: next week brings a tough challenge in Springstead, a game with county championship and district implications on the line. The homestand doesn't let up after that, with Crystal River and Land O'Lakes visiting the Bears Den in the first two weeks of October.
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From today's Hernando Times |
