Spectacular plays are the norm for Gaither’s Perello

Posted Dec 1, 2011 by Katherine Smith

Updated Dec 1, 2011 at 01:14 PM

Carlo Perello’s game-winning touchdown against Tampa Bay Tech in the Class 7A-Region 2 semifinals became the talk of the town last week.

It was the kind of catch and run that would make Tampa Bay Bucs running back LeGarrette Blount proud. Perello caught the ball over the middle on a crossing route, shed a Titans tackle, then hurdled a Tech player and finally juked two Tech defenders on the way to the end zone. The result – a 71-yard touchdown, which secured a spot in tonight’s 7A-2 final against Lakeland.

Of course, his Gaither teammates and coaches are used to seeing the senior wide receiver do something spectacular with a football.

“The kid just makes plays,’’ Gaither coach Jason Stokes said. “He’s got golden gloves. We just trust him. If we throw it his way, he’s going to do something special with it.’’

Perello’s touchdown marked the second-consecutive week the Cowboys rallied from behind in the fourth quarter. The play pretty much summed up Gaither’s season of resiliency and the Cowboys never-give-up attitude.

“We’ve preached all year that we’re not asking them to win by 50 points. We just want them to find a way to win,’’ Stokes said. “Our kids have found a way to do that and they’re just determined not to go home yet.’’