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Bears dive into Gulf for relief from upset

Central recovers from last week's defeat by hammering the Bucs.

By STEVE LEE

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 30, 2000

BROOKSVILLE -- Many teams like to have a lesser foe for homecoming.

Gulf played that role to the hilt Friday night in Central's 48-6 win at the Bears Den.

Hernando didn't do the Buccaneers (1-4) any favors by beating Central last week.

The Bears, who opened the season with three straight victories, got back on the winning track with a dominating performance.

Central (4-1) racked up 430 yards on offense -- all rushing as quarterback David Egan's lone pass fell incomplete. The Bears limited Gulf to 132 total yards.

"Last week was a tough one," Central head coach Steve Crognale said. "I think we responded well. We had the character to bounce back and play well."

Leading the Bears' onslaught was Tim Gaynor, their so-called No. 3 rusher who turned into a No. 1 -- at least for a night.

Gaynor atoned for a bad game against Hernando (three fumbles, two of which were lost) with a career game against Gulf. He rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns.

Asked if he ever had scored three times in a game, Gaynor shook his head, smiled and said, "No."

Homecoming King Jerry Daniels scored on a 40-yard reverse, off a handoff from Gaynor, and Steve Martin and Shawn Dunker ran for touchdowns.

Crognale went to his bench before halftime, utilizing seven running backs and resting most of his starters in the second half.

"Very aggressive, very physical," is how Gulf coach Keith Newton described Central's stable of running backs.

The Bucs, the loser in 10 of their last 11 games, averted a shutout with Sidney Gibbs' 78-yard run with 3:28 left.

David Pirman and Ed Tracy recovered fumbles for Gulf, which failed to capitalize.

The Bucs came close on Pirman's fumble recovery, but Ryan Kaller's 43-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

Gaynor had two 13-yard runs on the Bear's opening drive and spun out of a tackle on a 67-yard scoring jaunt on his team's second possession. His third TD, an 8-yard run, helped stake Central to a 34-0 lead in the third quarter.

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