Advertisement

Football: Gulf 35, Mitchell 33

 
Published Nov. 8, 2014

NEW PORT RICHEY — Friday's game was the type Gulf often lost in years past. The Bucs' main offensive weapons were few, they turned it over five times and allowed more than 30 points. But Keshaun Peters and the wide receiver tandem of RaiQwan Hayes and Deandre Hopkins lit up the scoreboard and erased a 14-point deficit spotted to Mitchell in the first quarter. The two receivers combined for 277 yards (Hopkins 7-110 and a TD; Hayes 8-167 and a TD) and the Bucs defense tightened after allowing Mitchell's William Fairbanks to run for 101 yards on just his first four carries including a touchdown. Mitchell allowed 21 unanswered points, until quarterback Larry Dalla Betta got the Mustangs into the end zone and ahead on a 5-yard rush at the beginning of the final quarter. But Peters hit Hopkins to put Gulf back ahead 28-26. Then backed up with their heels to their own red zone, the Bucs fell on a bad snap on fourth down, stifling a Mustangs drive. Just a few plays later Gulf was in the end zone again and putting the finishing touches on a 8-2 regular season heading into a playoff matchup next week against Lakewood.

Key drives: Mitchell turned the ball over on downs on five consecutive drives in which it either crossed midfield or started in Gulf territory. The Bucs converted a third-and-12 play, then got back-to-back first downs on their final drive in which they eventually scored.

Key plays: The Mustangs fumbled on the first play from scrimmage following a kickoff return to midfield immediately following a Bucs touchdown. Shortly thereafter, Hayes' 38-yard touchdown run put the game out of reach.

Stars of the game: Peters was 18-of-30 for 329 yards and four touchowns (three passing, one rushing). Dalla Betta finished with more than 200 all-purpose yards.

Stat of the game: Mitchell held a 244-95 advantage in rushing yards. The teams combined for eight turnovers (five for Gulf). The teams combined for just seven penalties for 45 yards.

Final word: "Just a great football game between two teams that are going to the playoffs that just played their hearts out and that's the first time (since I've been here) that we've actually came back and won. This team is unbelievable and we've had a little bit of everything this year thrown our way. That definitely gives us something to build on heading into next week." — Gulf coach Jason Messamore

Doug Pugh, Times correspondent