Pasco’s collective head back in the right place

Posted Sep 28, 2009 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Sep 28, 2009 at 04:09 PM

Entering their Sept. 18 football game at Bushnell South Sumter, Pasco coach Tom McHugh knew his team was living in the clouds. No one could blame the Pirates after they knocked off a very good Plantation American Heritage team in its season-opener.

A week later that bubble crash landed when South Sumter handed the Pirates a 32-7 loss. In the process of the beating, Pasco turned the ball over five times and didn’t breach the end zone until the final minutes of the ballgame.

“I said before, you start thinking you’re a little bit better than you are, sometimes you need to get your comeupings,” McHugh said. “When that happens, you need to learn to focus, stay focused and have patience and do what you’re supposed to do. I guess that’s my job as a coach to makes sure these teenagers don’t get unfocused and I guess I didn’t do my job the week before.”

Apparently he did a pretty good job Friday night when Pasco beat Wesley Chapel, 45-6. Janarion Grant proved to be the star of the night, scoring on two runs, a pass reception and a kickoff return.

McHugh is indeed proud of Grant, but he’s also the Pirates defensive coordinator. And as any DC would have it, his group got in the end zone, too.

Safety Jamie Byrd returned a fumbled 25 yards, while defensive back Gus McLaughlin picked off a pass, returning it 71 yards for a score.

“To be able to score defensively,” McHugh replied when asked about a highlight of Friday’s win against Wesley Chapel. “I think when Jamie Byrd scored on a fumble defensively and we played a pretty good pass coverage. We were able to stop their best runner, (Jon) Mahan. Just not one incident over another, but being able to constantly stop their best kid from doing what he does. I know (Chris Pierre-Charles) probably had a lot more yards, but you have to give something to take something.”

That all leads to Friday night’s 52nd installation of the Nine-Mile War against Zephyrhills. During this series, which began in 1941, Pasco (2-1, 1-0 Class 3A-District 7) has gone 34-17. Sounds good, but last season’s victory for the Pirates was their first since 2004.

McHugh understands his crew must have their focus about them when they face Zephyrhills (0-3, 0-1), which is coming off a 14-0 loss to Land O’ Lakes.

“It’s a big rivalry. You have brothers and cousins and uncles and aunts and everybody, so it’s a big deal,” McHugh said. “And it’s been a big deal for over 50 years. You never know in a big rivalry like that. It’s not always the best team that wins. It’s just the team that plays the best. We have to do what we do and try to focus and stay patient and stop them from what they do best.”