At Dade City
Pasco 17, Land O’Lakes 7
Spring game-breakers: Playing in his first football game since his freshman year, Pasco defensive end Sherwin Emmanuel was disruptive. The 6-foot-6 senior-to-be forced a fumble and tipped passes all night. …Pirates quarterback Grant Starling only played one week of spring football because of an extended baseball run. He finished 9-of-14 passing for 117 yards and two scores. …Pirate athlete Brandon Ray caught a 41-yard touchdown pass, diving over the pylon for the score. He also punted well, had an interception and kicked a 25-yard field goal. …Recruiters from Miami, USF and others were present and buzzing about Pasco lineman Jamal Mention, a 2016 recruit. …Miami commit Bowman Archibald spent time at tight end and linebacker and rushed for 50 yards. …Tyree Austin also caught a TD pass. …Land O’Lakes quarterback James Pensyl threw for the Gators’ only score — a pretty 7-yard pass to Ethan Weilant. Pensyl was 13-for-31 for 91 yards. …JoVon Parrish had an interception and a tackle for a loss for the Gators. …Darryus Lowe drew strong praise from Land O’Lakes coaches. …Alexander Ligocki had a fumble recovery for a Gators D that forced four turnovers through the first three quarters.
Audible 1: “We had to find out if he was a basketball player that’s going to play football or a football player that plays basketball. …If he gets into the weight room, the potential is enormous. Enormous.” — Pasco coach Tom McHugh on breakout defensive end Emmanuel, a converted basketball player
Audible 2: “They got after it tonight. They did a lot of nice things.” — Gators coach Brian Wachtel of a defense that held Pasco to only 17 points