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Golden Breaks Single-Season Pasco Rushing Record

BUCCANEERS 22, EAGLES 21

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST

A swarm of East Lake defenders try to bring down Gulf running back Adrian Golden.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: November 14, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Move over Byronell Arline, there's a new Pasco County single-season rushing king in town.

Only a year removed from the Ridgewood bruiser's record-breaking 2,188-yard campaign, Gulf's Adrian Golden set a new standard of excellence Friday night by charging for 201 yards on 23 carries in the Buccaneers' 22-21 homecoming win over East Lake. The mark he now owns stands at 2,193.

"It was hard," Golden said of reaching the milestone. "I just had to make it for myself. It's real special and I'm only a junior, so I get another chance to break it again next year."

The victory also ties Gulf (9-1) for its best single-season win total in school history, matching the record of the 1941 Bucs team.

Neither Golden's record nor the victory came easily. East Lake's physical defensive front held the explosive back to only 49 yards in the first half and Gulf found itself mired in a 21-6 hole with less than a quarter to play.

Momentum quickly shifted to the Buccaneer sideline with less than 6 minutes remaining when Golden broke off a game-saving 59-yard touchdown run on fourth and 6, cutting the Eagles' lead to 21-14.

After forcing East Lake (3-7) to go three and out, Golden and quarterback Madison Burr engineered an 11-play, 81-yard scoring drive capped by Burr's 1-yard plunge across the goal line. Instead of going for the tie with the score now 21-20 East Lake, Bucs coach Jay Fulmer put the game in his star tailbacks' hands and Golden answered the call with a 2-point, game-winning run.

The situation was eerily similar to last week's 21-20 loss at Pasco when Gulf had an extra point blocked in the game's waning moments.

In fitting fashion, Golden sealed the victory seconds later by picking off East Lake backup quarterback Blake Robles with time expired.

"If you give Bubba a crack, he's going to keep you in the game," Fulmer said, referring to Golden by his nickname. "That first half he just wasn't getting it. But now we've had three really tough games in a row and I think we're battle tested going into the playoffs."

Gulf travels to Orlando St. Cloud next Friday for its Class 3A region quarterfinal game.

NOTEABLE STATS:

East Lake running back Derek Hunter led the Eagles' offensive attack with 107 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.

Gulf tight-end Leon Orr snared four of Burr's seven completions, totaling 32 yards.

Buccaneers defensive back Trevor Williams also had an interception and big runback in the first half.

SCORING:

East Lake; 7; 0; 7; 7; - 21
Gulf; 0; 6; 0; 16; - 22

EL - Byrne 4-yard run. PAT kick (Mullin) – 1st Quarter
GU - Burr 8-yard run. 2 pt. pass failed – 2nd Quarter
EL - Hunter 9-yard run. PAT kick (Mullin) – 3rd Quarter
EL - Hunter 3-yard run. PAT kick (Mullin) – 4th Quarter
GU - Golden 59-yard run. 2 pt. pass (Burr to Burbridge) – 4th Quarter
GU - Burr 1-yard run. 2 pt. run (Golden) – 4th Quarter

TEAM STATS:

---------------EL---------GU
First Downs-----15-----12
Atts./Rushing Yds.-----36-163-----38-221
Comp./Pass Atts./Int.-----6-13-2-----7-14-0
Passing Yds. -----55-----70
Total Offense-----218-----291
Fumbles/Lost-----2-0-----2-0
Punts/Avg.-----2-40.5-----3-34.3
Penalties-----9-74-----3-25

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS:

RUSHING
EL – Hunter (21-107, 2 TD), Byrne (9-31, TD).
GU – Golden (23-201, TD), Burr (8-26, 2 TD).

PASSING
EL – Shaffer (4-8 for 35, INT), Robles (2-5 for 20, INT).
GU – Burr (7-14 for 70).

RECEIVING
EL – Franz (6-55).
GU – Orr (4-32), Burbridge (2-47).

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

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