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Mitchell Hangs On, Outscores Hudson

MUSTANGS 39, COBRAS 36

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: October 4, 2008

TRINITY - For over three quarters of play Friday night, Mitchell High looked to be well on its way to a comfortable third straight victory and a 3-1 record.

Running back Ricky Trinidad had just broken off his third long touchdown run – a 91-yard display of pure speed – to put the Mustangs ahead of visiting Hudson High 39-15 with under 11 minutes to play.

Then things got interesting – and a lot less comfortable for Mitchell Head Coach Scott Schmitz.

The Cobra defense finally clamped down against Mitchell's running attack and Hudson quarterback Zack Wynn led his offense to 21 straight points in the final period, nearly pulling off a miraculous comeback.

As the final whistle blew, the Mustangs had just enough to hold on to a 39-36 nail-biter when Wynn's last-second, 45-yard sideline attempt to receiver Dylan Buono sailed long.

Schmitz tipped his cap to the effort displayed from the other sideline after the game.

"There's no quit in those kids," he said of Hudson. "I knew that and we talked about it all week. But our kids came out and made a couple of really big plays, too. We just have to learn how to finish games."

The most important of the big plays Schmitz referred to was a defensive hold on a Hudson 2-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter that let Mitchell retain a two-possession lead. After Wynn's third touchdown pass of the night – hauled in on an impressive, one-handed snag by receiver Frank Serrano – Cobra running back Dylan Luke's 2-point run was tripped up a half-yard short of the end zone, keeping the score at 39-29.

Following Trinidad's previously mentioned 91-yard scoring run that gave Mitchell a 24-point lead, the Mustangs would go three-and-out on each of its final three possessions.

In contrast, Wynn quickly guided the Cobras to three-straight touchdown drives and passed for 179 of his 395 yards in the final quarter.

Trinidad finished with a monster night himself, leading Mitchell's run-oriented Wing-T offense by rushing for 255 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Along with his last long scoring rush, the sophomore's second-quarter, 50-yard touchdown run showed off his full repertoire of abilities. After shaking a number of Hudson defenders, Trinidad got to the right, absorbed a hit and tightroped the sideline for a few steps before regaining balance and zipping by the secondary to the end zone.

"I was tippy-toeing that one, ballerina style down there, you know," Trinidad said with a grin about his run. "I was just trying to stay in bounds with the chin strap falling down and everything; it was a good play though. We needed this win, though, to boost up everyone's motivation."

"It was just the line up front opening holes for us, it was wide open," he added about his stellar performance. "And the receivers blocking down field, they were great."

Fellow running back Ryan Gallagher added 60 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, as well.

Wynn ended 24-for-42 passing with 395 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 53 yards on the ground and two trips to the end zone, factoring in all five of the Hudson scores.

He hooked up with Buono 12 times for 238 yards and two of the touchdowns. Hudson receiver Hunter Newton also reeled in seven receptions for 103 yards.

Mitchell (3-1, 0-0) starts up Class 5A, District 5 play by traveling to Gaither High (2-3) next week.

Hudson (1-3, 0-1) will stay on the road next Friday to try and rebound from the close Mitchell loss by taking on District 3A-8 foe Wiregrass Ranch (0-5, 0-1).

SCORING:
Hudson; 0; 15; 0; 21; - 36
Mitchell; 12; 13; 7; 7; - 39
MIT -Van De Boe 11-yard run. PAT kick failed – 1st Quarter
MIT -Lamb 11-yard pass from Van De Boe. PAT 2 pt. pass failed – 1st Quarter
HUD -Wynn 3-yard run. PAT kick (Wynn) – 2nd Quarter
MIT -Trinidad 33-yard run. PAT kick failed – 2nd Quarter
MIT -Trinidad 50-yard run. PAT kick – 2nd Quarter
HUD -Buono 42-yard pass from Wynn. PAT 2 pt. run (Wynn) – 2nd Quarter
MIT -Gallagher 3-yard run. PAT kick – 3rd Quarter
MIT -Trinidad 91-yard run. PAT kick – 4th Quarter
HUD -Buono 35-yard pass from Wynn. PAT 2 pt. run (Luke) – 4th Quarter
HUD -Serrano 5-yard pass from Wynn. PAT 2 pt. run failed – 4th Quarter
HUD -Wynn 1-yard run. PAT kick (Wynn) – 4th Quarter

TEAM STATS:
---------------HUD---------MIT
First Downs-----14-----12
Atts./Rushing Yds.-----18-80-----46-355
Comp./Pass Atts./Int.-----24-42-0-----2-5-0
Passing Yds. -----395-----27
Total Offense-----475-----382
Fumbles/Lost-----2-1-----1-1
Punts/Avg.-----2-38.0-----5-24.0
Penalties-----5-35-----2-10

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS:

RUSHING
HUD – Wynn (11-53, 2 TD), Luke (5-19).
MIT – Trinidad (20-255, 3 TD), Gallagher (17-60, TD), Van De Boe (7-39, TD).

PASSING
HUD – Wynn (24-42 for 395, 3 TD).
MIT – Van De Boe (2-5 for 27, TD).

RECEIVING
HUD – Buono (12-238, 2 TD), Newton (7-103, TD), Serrano (1-5, TD).
MIT – Lamb (1-11, TD).

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

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