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North Suncoast Game of the Week: Mitchell 19, Land O'Lakes 7

 
With much fanfare, the Gators take the field. The Mitchell Mustangs lead the Land O' Lakes Gators 12-7 at halftime in High School football action on Friday evening, October 30, 2015.
DAVID W DOONAN | Special To The Times
With much fanfare, the Gators take the field. The Mitchell Mustangs lead the Land O' Lakes Gators 12-7 at halftime in High School football action on Friday evening, October 30, 2015. DAVID W DOONAN | Special To The Times
Published Oct. 31, 2015

LAND O'LAKES — On senior night, the Gators hung tough, holding Mitchell without a point for nearly three quarters of play Friday night.

But the Mustangs put it away when J.J. Lewis caught a deflected 31-yard pass from Larry Dalla Betta with 3:43 remaining. Having already clinched its first district title, Mitchell (8-1, 4-0) won its eighth in a row.

After Mason Castricone's early 60-yard punt return the Mustangs extended the lead on what turned out be a very valuable 63-yard march. Dalla Betta hit Chris Thomas for a 21-yard pass to start, got a key 18-yard connection with Dominic Fiumara on third and 7, then ran in the final 10 yards to make it 12-0 late in the first quarter.

With Darryus Lowe and Greg Smalls anchoring a Gators defense that held Mychael Hamilton to less than half his average (47 yards), the Mustangs had to get it done through the air and Dalla Betta completed 16-of-24 for 195 yards. Fiumara caught eight for 82 yards and Lewis averaged 32 yards on his three grabs.

Hamilton came in averaging 133 yards and with 19 rushing touchdowns but only had 12 carries. Dalla Betta actually had more rushing yards with 50.

Tommy Farmer blocked two kicks, including a field goal that Justin Kren ran with for 30 yards to set up the lone Gator score, a Farmer run to make it 12-7 at halftime. Farmer ran for 50 yards and Kren added an interception.

"Not our prettiest win but we'll take it. Never been undefeated in the district before. Keep making firsts," Mitchell coach Andy Schmitz said.

Land O'Lakes' comeback efforts were hampered by eight second-half penalties, two coming after the Gators (3-6) had gotten near the Mitchell 30 late in the third quarter.

A bright spot for the Gators was senior Rashawn Kindell, who ran for 97 yards and eight carries before leaving with an ankle injury.

For the second week in a row, Land O'Lakes had a player taken to the hospital, as junior defensive lineman Erick Marcel lay still for about a half hour.

"This is a dangerous game and injuries happen. … Erick knows that. He'll be back next year," Lowe said.

The initial prognosis was positive, as school administrators said Marcel suffered a neck stinger. Last week, Bryce Noble was airlifted to a hospital, but was able to make an appearance in the pregame festivities. Noble should be in a neck brace for a little while.