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On the field, Wiregrass Ranch’s timing is perfect

Delays before the game can’t delay the inevitable: the Bulls had every edge against St. Petersburg.
 
Wiregrass Ranch's Grady Clower (12), left, celebrates a pass reception for a touchdown with Rocco Becht (3), right, on Friday night at St. Petersburg.
Wiregrass Ranch's Grady Clower (12), left, celebrates a pass reception for a touchdown with Rocco Becht (3), right, on Friday night at St. Petersburg. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Published Sept. 12, 2020

St. PETERSBURG — A late bus from Wiregrass Ranch followed by a lightning delay led to a start more than an hour after Friday night’s scheduled time at St. Petersburg High.

For the Bulls, coming off four straight playoff berths, the wait was well worth it as they prevailed 50-10 before a sparse crowd. Pinellas County limits attendance to 25 percent of a stadium’s capacity during the current coronavirus pandemic. A running clock ensued late in the third quarter, and fans were instructed to leave quickly after the game ended.

“It’s strange,” Wiregrass Ranch coach Mark Kantor said. “It’s like we did three weeks of practice and had a spring football game.”

The Bulls dominated on defense, racking up four sacks of sophomore quarterback Evan Jacobson and intercepting him three times. Sophomore Bryson Rodgers returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown and senior Larry Gibbs, who also picked off a pass, later scored on a 90-yard punt return.

“They played fantastic,” Kantor said of his defense. “If they would do that more often I wouldn’t have to call offense.”

The host Green Devils, who only had a safety up until the waning minutes of the game, finally got into the end zone when Jacobson found Mario James down the left sideline for a 73-yard passing play.

Despite his struggles on offense, Jacobson passed for a game-high 207 yards with Omarie Sherrod hauling in 10 of those throws for 109 yards.

Wiregrass Ranch quarterback Rocco Becht, son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Anthony Becht, threw scoring passes to Grady Clower and Nate Kidd. The Bulls also got two touchdown runs from Kenny Walker (game-leading 140 yards), and another scoring run from Andrew Salum.