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North Suncoast prep football roundup

By Times staff writers and correspondents

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 25, 2000

Jesuit 14, Crystal River 0

CRYSTAL RIVER -- Citrus coach Larry Bishop was asked this week if he thought Crystal River could beat Jesuit. "Yes," he said. "But only if it plays perfect and doesn't make any mistakes."

As it turns out, he was exactly right.

Crystal River went toe-to-toe with Jesuit for the better part of four quarters, but a handful of costly mistakes led to a 14-0 Jesuit win in the Class 3A, Region 2 semifinal game. The teams were, for the most part, evenly matched, but three Crystal River turnovers, two of which came deep in Jesuit territory, helped the Tigers advance to the regional final for the second time in three years.

"Anytime you get a win in the playoffs it's great," Jesuit coach Dominick Ciao said.

Jesuit (11-1) plays at Titusville Astronaut (10-2) next week in the regional final. Astronaut beat the Tigers 33-14 last season in the regional semifinals.

Crystal River (10-2) outgained Jesuit 250-190, had more first downs (14-7) and ran more plays (55-47). But it also had two more turnovers than Jesuit and each came in Jesuit territory.

"Whenever we were driving, something would happen," Crystal River coach Jere DeFoor said.

Something bad.

Crystal River's effort was not a problem. Despite giving up nearly 100 pounds per person up front, the Pirates actually had the better interior play. Crystal River held Jesuit to 66 yards and four first downs in the first half, but trailed 7-0 at the break thanks to a 14-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Severino to Derek Carter with 1:17 left in the first quarter. Carter's score came 11 plays and 58 yards after the first serious Pirates miscue, a fumble by Ryan McNally.

"They beat us up front and they ran to the football," Ciao said.

In the third quarter, it was more of the same.

Crystal River moved the ball well at times, but kept coming up empty. Jesuit's offense, meanwhile, kept doing very little. Jesuit had two third-quarter possessions, both three-and-out series. Crystal River gained 27 yards on one series and drove to the Jesuit 30 on another, but turned it over on downs.

Crystal River got a major break with 8:16 left in the game when Jesuit tailback Aaron Fryer fumbled and the ball was recovered by Pirates cornerback William Bunch, who returned it to the Tigers 36. After a 5-yard run on first down by McNally, Crystal River quarterback Clayton Trenary was intercepted by Eric Conway at the Jesuit 11.

Still, Crystal River had its chances.

The Pirates forced a Jesuit punt with 4:19 left, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty kept the Tigers' drive alive. On second-and-9 from the Crystal River 44, Fryer, who finished with 112 yards on 20 carries, broke loose for a 41-yard run to the Crystal River 3. Two plays later, A.J. Schneider scored on a 1-yard run to seal Crystal River's fate.

"They're a good team," Fryer said. "Obviously they watched a lot of film on us because they knew what to do. But we knew what we had to do." -- KEITH NIEBUHR

Titusville Astronaut 16, Jefferson 16-10

TAMPA -- Mike Gibson waved his arms frantically on the game's final play. He was open in the left corner of the end zone, all alone as Jefferson threatened to score on fourth down in overtime.

Gibson seemed to wait forever, but he never got a chance to be the hero.

Quarterback Matt Glavich was pressured and his pass fell far short as Titusville Astronaut defeated Jefferson 16-10 Friday night in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.

Astronaut (10-2), which also eliminated Jefferson 21-0 last year, will entertain Jesuit on Friday. The Dragons finish at 10-2.

"It was a great high school football game," Jefferson coach Mike Simmonds said. Astronaut quarterback Rashad Williams' 10-yard touchdown run on the first play of overtime gave the War Eagles a 16-10 lead. The suspense developed as Jefferson blocked Jeremy Williams' point-after kick.

Then the Dragons had their chance. A first-down pass was incomplete, then Glavich was sacked for a 17-yard loss by Demiah Freeman. A 17-yard pass from Glavich to C.J. Janis-Smith moved the ball to the Astronaut 10, setting up a fourth-and-goal.

Jefferson called a timeout to set up the final play, which led to Gibson breaking free in the end zone. But Astronaut coach Randy Hallock also had made a decision that proved to be the difference.

"We put some quick kids in the game who were pretty fresh," Hallock said. "Our intention was to rush the quarterback and put as much pressure on him as we could. We sent six (players on the blitz)."

Jefferson had taken a 7-3 lead on Glavich's 1-yard run with one minute remaining in the first half. A costly Jefferson roughing-the-passer penalty on a War Eagle third-down incomplete pass attempt gave Astronaut a key first down at its 30 with six minutes remaining in the game. On the next play, C.J. Lewis ran 55 yards on an end-around to set up a 1-yard TD run by Jurrel Elmore (174 yards on 22 carries) for a 10-7 lead.

But Jefferson forced overtime on Juan Matta's 24-yard field goal with 12.5 seconds remaining as Glavich drove the Dragons 79 yards in 10 plays. -- DON JENSEN

Armwood 28, Haines City 21

HAINES CITY -- Armwood overcame several big plays by Haines City and avenged an earlier loss to the Hornets with a 28-21 Class 3A state playoff win Friday night.

The Hawks (10-2) advance to their first regional final.

"We knew they were capable of big plays," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said. "We just tried to keep them down, keep working the middle, and try to wear them down in the second half."

After an early Armwood fumble, the Hornets (9-3) wasted no time converting the turnover into points. Quarterback Eugene West slung a 33-yard pass to Larry Kendrick for a touchdown on their second play.

Armwood countered, however, with an 80-yard drive on nine plays. Keyed by the running of Carl Jones, who had nearly 100 yards in the first half and finished with 168, the Hawks drove down the field and scored on a 1-yard plunge by Carl Robinson.

Then things got really interesting. After a big return by Jaron Fountain to the Armwood 42, the Hawks stuffed the Hornets on three straight plays.

On fourth and 19, however, Armwood had a personal foul, which gave the Hornets fourth and 4. Fountain took a pitch and rolled out, finding Willie Hughley on a halfback option 34-yards to the 2.

On first and goal, Ricky Johnson fumbled, and Armwood's Antwan Allen recovered.

In the second quarter, the teams exchanged big defensive plays. Armwood lineman Barry Davis sacked West twice, but Hornets safety Chris Blaine intercepted quarterback Ron Buskey.

Powered by more tough running from Jones and a 37-yard catch from Buskey to Chris Murray, the Hawks set up a 2-yard dive by Jones with a minute remaining before halftime.

In the third quarter, Armwood continued to grind out long drives. Haines City used the quick strike.

Armwood receiver Leonard Anderson, in only his second game back after suffering a broken jaw in the earlier Haines City game, caught a 33-yard pass from Buskey and reached the 4. One play later, Buskey took it in.

On the ensuing kickoff, however, Fountain returned it 75 yards for a touchdown. -- JEREMY RASMUSSEN

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