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Crystal River must make a 350-mile trip and outlast potent Milton to advance in the playoffs.
By CAREY FREEMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 16, 2001
CRYSTAL RIVER -- The first challenge is surviving the 350-mile trip through the heart of the Florida Panhandle.
Perhaps even more daunting than the longest playoff journey in Crystal River history is what awaits at the end -- Milton (9-2), the Pirates' opponent tonight in a Class 3A, Region 1 semifinal.
The Panthers are coming off a 66-14 victory over Dunnellon and await with perhaps the most potent offense -- and quarterback -- Crystal River (10-1) will see this season.
"They've got a good football team. But I feel like everyone that is left (in the playoffs) has a good football team," Pirates coach Jere DeFoor said. "They've got an excellent quarterback who runs the option well and throws a lot. He's a double threat, and it seems that's what hurts people."
His name is Bruce Hall, and he is the guy Crystal River will have to contain.
Hall is explosive and efficient. He has completed 57 percent of his passes for 1,428 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has rushed for 457 yards (second on team) and six scores. Last week, Hall torched Dunnellon for 214 yards (130 passing, 84 rushing) and 3 touchdowns in a 66-14 first-round victory.
Hall seems perfectly suited to Milton's multiple-threat, spread offense. Although he is just a junior, the 6-foot, 185-pounder has the speed, arm strength and smarts to get the ball to all the right places. "Bruce is a very unselfish person who distributes the ball effectively to different people, and that makes our offense go," Panthers coach Mike McMillion said.
"He runs the option very well, he throws well and he's a good runner," McMillion said. "But he also knows how to read defenses and get the ball to the man who is open in our different schemes. And sometimes he gives it to himself."
DeFoor and the Pirates have taken notice. They're aware of what they must do to neutralize the gifted Hall: Keep him on the sidelines.
"We've got to make them drive the distance of the field and try not to give up big plays," DeFoor said. "We've got to make them take time driving the ball.
"We like to think that if we can run the ball, we can wear the other team down some as the game goes along and take control."
To do that, Crystal River will have to achieve the kind of offensive balance it had in last week's win over Live Oak Suwannee.
That means contributions from running backs Ryan McNally (1,559 yards, 24 touchdowns) and Chianta Smith (608 yards, 11 touchdowns), who combined for 231 yards and two scores a week ago. It also means more big plays from quarterback Clayton Trenary, who rushed for 65 yards and a 50-yard touchdown and threw for touchdowns of 31 and 73 yards to Scott Miller in the 35-22 victory.
"We got a little more balance last week with Chianta, McNally and Clayton running the ball and in the passing game too," DeFoor said. "We threw against North Marion but just didn't make the connection. Last week, we were able to hit those, and we had good protection too."