All-Pasco County Football: Defense

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 25, 2001

DL -- JASON BOYD

Wesley Chapel Wildcats

6-foot, 206-pounds, Sr.

County's best pass rusher leaves with a county-record 35 career sacks; unblockable nose guard racked up 19 sacks, 63 tackles, 28 assists, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 blocked kicks.

DL -- DERRICK GENTLES

Wesley Chapel Wildcats

6-foot-5, 260-pounds, Jr.

Combined with Boyd to wreak havoc on opposing offenses; had 29 tackles and 37 assists; also had 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.

DL -- JOEY MAYO

River Ridge Royal Knights

6-foot, 246-pounds, Sr.

River Ridge's defensive leader was a force inside and tops on team with 42 tackles, 60 assists; from nose guard position racked up 4.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.

DL -- ADAMM OLIVER

Ridgewood Rams

6-foot-4, 220-pounds, Jr.

Defensive end was second on team with 63 tackles, 28 assists; edge-rusher collected 8 sacks; rushed 95 times for 516 yards and caught 9 passes for 115 yards.

LB -- RANDY HICKLE

Wesley Chapel Wildcats

5-foot-100, 200-pounds, Sr.

Intense leader and middle linebacker of county's top unit; his defensive acumen was key to a unit that had 34 sacks and forced 41 turnovers; second on team with 70 tackles, 47 assists.

LB -- JESSE HOOLIHAN

River Ridge Royal Knights

5-foot-9, 165-pounds, Sr.

Second on Royal Knight's defense with 44 tackles, 47 assists; sure-handed tackler and linebacking leader also had 3 tackles for loss and recovered a fumble.

LB -- GARION POPE

Pasco Pirates

6-foot, 160-pounds, Sr.

Wiry, explosive and a fearsome hitter played a variety of positions; led county with 120 combined tackles (79 solo, 41 assists) and had 2 sacks; rushed for 80 yards and 2 TDs on offense.

LB -- CHRIS ROBERTS

Wesley Chapel Wildcats

6-foot, 185-pounds, Jr.

Enjoyed break-out year at outside linebacker position; led county's top defense with 75 tackles, 39 assists; also had 6 sacks, 8 tackles for loss and returned an INT for a TD.

DB -- CHRIS CLARKE

Land O'Lakes Gators

5-foot-11, 156-pounds, Sr.

May be county's top cornerback, combining technique and solid instincts; tough against the run and the pass as opposing QBs avoided him; had 23 tackles, 13 assists, 2 INTS and defensed 8 passes.

DB -- SPENCER HONEYCUTT

Wesley Chapel Wildcats

5-foot-11, 170-pounds, Sr.

Smartest defensive player in the county played safety; led county with 8 INTs, made 32 tackles, 8 assists; starting QB completed 35-of-82 passes for 471 yards, 5 TDs; rushed for 92 yards, 3 TDs.

DB -- LOGAN PAYNE

Land O'Lakes Gators

6-foot-1, 168-pounds, Jr.

Was a force downfield with 5 INTs and 7 passes defensed; 26 tackles and 8 assists; also proved a top wideout in the spread offense, catching 29 passes for 306 yards and team-leading 5 TDs.

DB -- ANTON STANDIFER

Pasco Pirates

5-foot-11, 185-pounds, Sr.

County's top all-around playmaker; had 5 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries; returned 21 kicks for 682 yards; rushed 48 times for 432 yards and caught 7 passes for 194 yards; racked up 1,515 total yards and 10 TDs.

UT -- JUSTIN WHITWORTH

Zephyrhills Bulldogs

5-foot-11, 195-pounds, Sr.

Best clutch player in the county; caught winning TD pass against Pasco, threw winning TD pass against River Ridge, and played emergency quarterback in Ridgewood win; caught 13 passes for 223 yards and had 69 tackles, 18 assists and 4 sacks.

P -- BEN ALFORD

Pasco Pirates

6-foot-1, 180-pounds, Jr.

Versatile athlete was heart of Pirates' team; averaged 30.85 yards per punt; completed 40-of-84 passes for 632 yards, 6 touchdowns; had 2 interceptions on defense.

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