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Gaither RB adds 281 for career rush record

By ROD GIPSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 25, 2000

TAMPA -- Delray Beach Atlantic coach Verryl Floyd wouldn't call Lydell Ross the best running back he has ever seen.

He said he has seen plenty, and Ross is "one of the best, but not the best."

That may be because Floyd's team was on the wrong side of Ross' runs Friday night. The senior Gaither running back ran for 281 yards on 32 carries and scored four touchdowns as the Cowboys broke open a close game to win 34-25. The 11-1 Cowboys are headed to the Class 5A region finals and Ross continues to rewrite the Hillsborough County record books.

He already passed Fred Reid's single-season mark. Then came the career record of 4,591 yards, held by Tampa Catholic's Earl Reeves. That number is now in Ross' rearview mirror as the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder passed the 5,000-yard plateau against the Eagles. Ross is now at 5,052 yards in his career with at least one more game to go.

"It's because of a lot of hard work," Ross said of his yardage milestone. "By myself and all of the offensive linemen and my teammates. And I always thank them for that."

They may want to thank Ross this time.

Leading 13-12 against Atlantic, Ross turned an average outing into a spectacular one with second-half effort, scoring three touchdowns mostly on individual effort to turn the game in the Cowboys favor. Ross scored on runs of 22, 35 and 14 yards, taking the wind out of the Eagles comeback hopes each time.

"He's fabulous," said Gaither coach Howie DeCristofaro.

"He just gets better and better and that's what he did in the second half tonight."

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