Pasco 21, Gulf 20

DADE CITY — Adrian Golden slid across the end zone with the football tucked tightly in his arms as the referees signaled another touchdown.

Gulf's prolific running back had taken the Buccaneers as far as he could Friday — 17 carries, 165 yards, three touchdowns and within a point of forcing overtime with 56 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Gulf's coaches didn't hesitate to line up the Bucs for a shot at two points and possibly the win.

Pasco's defensive huddle erupted with memories of a loss this season to Nature Coast in similar fashion. Pasco called timeout, and Gulf suddenly got conservative, attempting the kick.

When that sailed wide left, Pasco had a 21-20 win and the Class 3A, District 8 and Sunshine Athletic Conference titles.

"We couldn't let that happen again," Pasco senior Tim Saylor said. "That's how football goes. It became our luck today."

Pasco (8-1, 5-0) busted out of the gate to take its opening drive 74 yards capped by a dazzling 43-yard touchdown from D.J. Clower to Josh Johnson.

Gulf (8-1, 4-1) answered with an 18-yard pass to Leon Orr and two fourth-down conversion attempts, but did not score.

The Pirates took their next drive 64 yards, and Clower punched in a 1-yard run for a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.

That was when Golden reminded the Pirates why his image had hung in their lockers all week. He capped an 80-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown.

In the third quarter, Pasco pushed the pace with an 11-play, 64-yard drive finished by senior Dominique Wilson's 4-yard touchdown run and a 21-7 lead.

Golden answered on the first play of the ensuing drive thanks to a perfectly executed blocking scheme that allowed him to run untouched for an 80-yard score.

"It was a momentum changer," Gulf coach Jay Fulmer said. "He's just a backbreaking kid. … This was a great ballgame. … It should come down to the last play, and it did."

The Pirates used a multidimensional attack with running back Jamall Haynes (30 carries, 148 yards), Clower (5-for-9 passing, 110 yards, one rushing touchdown) and Johnson (four catches, 92 yards, one touchdown).

Izzy Gould can be reached at izzygould@me.com or (727) 580-5315.