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Falcons Triumph At Home In 3-Team Playoff, PHU's Surprise Run Ends

FALCONS 12, COUGARS 9; COUGARS 13, HURRICANES 10

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: November 11, 2008

DUNEDIN - After nine, long hard-fought games throughout this 2008 high school football season, the playoff fate's of Palm Harbor University, Dunedin and Countryside came down to a three-team Battle Royale on a chilly Monday evening to decide which two programs would represent Class 5A-District 9 in the regional quarterfinals and who would be going home empty-handed.

When the final whistle blew after two, one-quarter games that each needed extra time to resolve, Dunedin celebrated on their home turf as back-to-back-to-back district champs while Countryside took solace in the fact that the runners-up spot was locked up. PHU players and coaches became the unfortunate group relegated to watching the final game close out from behind the east end zone when Dunedin beat Countryside 12-9 in overtime.

Prior to that game, PHU lost to the Cougars 13-10 and were left hoping for a Dunedin loss that would have given Countryside the title and kept its runners-up chances alive. The three-team playoff was set up as so:

Dunedin (7-2, 4-1) was the top seed by virtue of owning the best overall record.

Countryside and PHU each possessed equal records of 6-3 overall and 4-1 in district and opened the night's action.

Games consisted of one, 12-minute quarter and overtime rules were the same as any other game.

Dunedin clinched the district on Adaris Bellamy's 6-yard charge across the goal line after the Falcons defense held Countryside to a 29-yard William Griswold field goal to begin overtime. How the game ended up needing bonus football was because the night's strangest turn of events. Dunedin jumped out to a quick lead on their first possession when tailback Kim Howard broke off a 29-yard scoring run with 7:40 remaining. Rather than going up 7-0, kicker T.J. Day's point-after was blocked. Almost immediately after the score though, the Cougars answered back with a 67-yard catch-and-run by Jalen Goodloe from Jimbo Chmelik. But on the ensuing PAT attempt, Dunedin's Ali Cheaib returned the favor by reaching up and blocking Griswold's kick, leaving the score tied 6-6.

The Falcons did not throw one pass during the game and rushed for 71 yards on 13 carries. Countryside amassed 108 total yards of offense and Chmelik went 3 of 4 passing for 86 of those yards.

"Three-peat. That's all we were thinking from the time we knew that we had to play this game," Bellamy said afterward. The senior rushed for 13 yards on five carries along with the game-winner. "Everyone in the locker room was live. We were ready for this game. I saw it in their eyes, they saw it in my eyes. I take my hat off to the defense. They played a wonderful game, probably one of the best we played all year because we knew we had playoffs on the line."

"We have like 20 seniors, so basically all of us and all the underclassmen, too, just wanted it. It was in our hearts and it was in our eyes and we weren't stopping at anything but a district championship."

Cheaib stepped up huge throughout the game for Dunedin's defense that Bellamy referenced. Not only did the junior linebacker block the extra point, he also was in on a sack and broke up a potential touchdown pass in overtime.

"It was just the whole team," Cheaib said. "I couldn't help just not making a play for my team when they really needed it, especially in a game like this."

"The best part about it is that we're all together, you know. Every game, we just stuck together and this gives us our reward. This is what we worked hard for all season, right here."

"Let's be honest, that block on the extra point was so special," Dunedin head coach Mark Everett said. "You never ever think those things are going to happen. I don't know what was in our favor on that one, but I don't know how it got blocked when we hadn't blocked one all year."

In the opener, Countryside eked out a victory during a game that PHU appeared to have in hand from the start. The Hurricanes ran 21 plays compared to Countryside's seven during the first quarter, but were able to only match the Cougars' point production - zero. PHU's first drive reached the Dunedin 35 before quarterback Sean Shelton had the ball knocked out of his arms from a hit. The Hurricanes defense forced Countryside into a three and out and regained possession at their own 10. The offense picked up right where it left off on its first drive, marching down to the Dunedin 30. Once again the Cougars defense rose to the occasion, this time forcing a 47-yard field goal attempt by PHU's Max Gallin that missed low.

Both teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime. On PHU's second drive, Countryside's Andrew Davis and Tyler Walker combined for a sack on third down that forced the Hurricanes to settle for Gallin's successful 33-yard field goal. The Cougars needed only two plays to finish the job. Running back Dawrence Roberts busted through the middle for a 6-yard touchdown run that gave the game to Countryside, 13-10.

Roberts rushed for 34 yards and the touchdown on six carries during the opening game and Chmelik added 19 yards and a score with his legs.

PHU's Shelton went for 76 yards and a touchdown on 5 of 9 passing and tailback JaTyuan Landing rushed for 23 yards on seven touches.

The Hurricanes outgained Countryside 118-62 before overtime started.

Dunedin's win earned the Falcons home-field advantage during the first round of playoff action which begins Nov. 21. They'll host District 5A-10 runner-up St. Petersburg High.

Countryside will now have to go on the road to open the playoffs. The Cougars travel to District 5A-10 champ Largo High.

SCORING:

GAME ONE

Countryside; 0; 13; -; -; - 13
Palm Harbor; 0; 10; -; -; - 10

CS -Chmelik 9-yard run. PAT kick (Griswold) – OT
PHU -McNeely 10-yard pass from Shelton. PAT kick (Gallin) – OT
PHU -Gallin 33-yard field goal. – 2OT
CS -Roberts 6-yard run. – 2OT

TEAM STATS:

GAME ONE

---------------CS---------PHU

First Downs-----1-----6
Atts./Rushing Yds.-----9-53-----18-46
Comp./Pass Atts./Int.-----2-3-0-----5-9-0
Passing Yds. -----29-----76
Total Offense-----82-----122
Fumbles/Lost-----1-1-----2-1
Punts/Avg.-----1-60-----0-0
Penalties-----1-15-----1-10

SCORING:

GAME TWO

Countryside; 6; 3; -; -; - 9
Dunedin; 6; 6; -; -; - 12

DUN -Howard 29-yard run. PAT kick blocked – 1st Quarter
CS -Goodloe 67-yard pass from Chmelik. PAT kick blocked – 1st Quarter
CS -Griswold 29-yard field goal. – OT
DUN -Bellamy 6-yard run. – OT

TEAM STATS:

GAME TWO

---------------CS---------DUN

First Downs-----3-----1
Atts./Rushing Yds.-----10-22-----13-71
Comp./Pass Atts./Int.-----3-5-0-----0-0-0
Passing Yds. -----86-----0
Total Offense-----108-----71
Fumbles/Lost-----0-0-----0-0
Punts/Avg.-----2-46.5-----1-36
Penalties-----2-30-----3-22

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS:

OVERALL

RUSHING
PHU – Landing (7-23), Shelton (8-11), McGinty (2-1).
CS – Roberts (12-61, GW TD), Chmelik (6-13, TD).
DUN – Howard (3-37, TD), Bellamy (5-13, GW TD).

PASSING
PHU – Shelton (5-9 for 76, TD).
CS – Chmelik (5-9 for 115, TD).
DUN – (No Pass Attempts).

RECEIVING
PHU – McNeely (1-10, TD), Landing (2-41), Kenyon (2-25).
CS – Goodloe (1-67, TD), Shorter (4-48).
DUN – (No Pass Attempts).

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com

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