Port Charlotte jumps out to a 17-7 lead before falling, 33-17

By CURTIS WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT

MURDOCK - The Port Charlotte High football team turned in an impressive first half performance Friday night, however, East Lake High rallied in the fourth quarter for a 33-17 spring football victory at Pirates Cove. The Pirates took a 7-0 lead on their first possession of the game. Mikhail Morgan was on the receiving end of a 28-yard scoring pass from Sam Thurston. As it turned out, Port Charlotte's first drive was its best drive of the night -- 71 yards in six plays.

That would be all of the scoring until the Eagles reached the end zone midway through the second quarter. East Lake quarterback Sam Shaffer hooked up with Drew Harwood for a 14-yard touchdown pass.

Thurston continued his impressive performance for the Pirates with two more completions to Patrick Paul for 54 yards, setting up another Port Charlotte score. This time, Sam Costa kicked a 41-yard field goal that gave the Pirates a 10-7 lead at the half.

Both teams scored a touchdown in the third quarter while playing their junior varsity teams. Marcus Hardison's one-yard run gave the Pirates a 17-7 lead before East Lake responded with a touchdown of its own late in the period.

Varsity players returned for the fourth quarter but very few starters saw playing time. Hardison stayed in at quarterback for a couple of series and connected with Hanil Carroll on a 35-yard pass play down the left sideline.

East Lake took advantage of three Port Charlotte turnovers in the final minutes to get their winning margin. Billy Byrne scored on a 14-yard run and Steven O'Neill returned a fumble 21 yards for another score.

Playing only the first half, Thurston completed 7 of 9 passes for 139 yards and rushed for 33 yards on seven carries. Morgan was his favorite target with three catches for 63 yards.

By ERIC McKINNEY

It's 8 a.m. and the Port Charlotte High weight room bustles with energy. The stereo pumps out tunes while the stench of sweat fills the air as Pirate Pride is on the line.

At risk is the right to be classified as elite -- the highest honor within the Port Charlotte football team.

Aside from the obvious bragging rights, elite status also comes with a few perks: your name in the program as "elite," an exclusive "elite" t-shirt, a pair of cleats and, the coup de grace, a steak dinner.

"Yeah, very nice," smiled Pirates senior cornerback Justin Smich, one of three players to earn elite status since second-year head coach Dave Hoffer implemented the program in February.

"It actually pushes kids to want to be elite," Smich continued. "It makes you feel good when you wake up."

The concept is simple -- take weight training, a critical summer activity and building block toward achieving success on the field, to new heights via a goal-oriented system laced with incentives.

"It's based on body weight," Hoffer explained. "You take their squat max, their clean max and their bench max, add it up and divide by their body weight, and it gives them a relative strength rating."

That rating, which is based on standards set by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, determines whether or not a player is elite.

"We have to kind of come up with our own variation because it is high school," Hoffer admitted, adding the NSCA ratings are designed for "Olympic athletes."

But that's not what makes the Pirates program unique, as every football program has an offseason weight training program designed to trim body fat and add muscle. And every team adds its own signature touches, including similar incentives -- which FHSAA assistant compliance officer Mike Colby acknowledged is a tricky subject.

"That would be an amateurism issue, and our rules are very vague on that," Colby said. "In fact, we're in the process of revisiting the book and we've been working on this."

Colby said the fact weight training technically is not included among "interscholastic athletics" clears any potential gift violations.

That means Hoffer's recent trip to Outback Steakhouse is in the clear.

Still, those incentives are not what makes the Pirates program special. It's the fact Hoffer, a computer information systems graduate of Tusculum College in Greenville, Tenn., designs individual worksheets on a weekly basis -- simplifying a rather complicated program, and thusly taking the pressure off the players.

"We tell them how much weight they're supposed to do and how many reps they're supposed to do," said Hoffer, thumbing through Smich's worksheets as an example.

The folder was loaded with statistical information -- height, weight, 40-yard dash time, vertical jump, current rating and total weight lifted, rating and weight needed to be elite and a slew of team averages. It also included weekly worksheets that provided detailed workouts for the parallel squat, speed squad, flat bench, speed bench, incline bench, close-grip bench, power clean and a host of others.

Each week the players turn in their worksheets to Hoffer, who then recalculates everything in order to provide the next week's workouts.

"If you just tell them to do three sets of 10 and don't give them a weight, a lot of times they'll just do whatever is comfortable," Hoffer insisted. "In weight lifting, to get strong, it's not comfortable.

"It's one of those things (where) you've got to basically teach them how to lift, how to lift to get strong and how to lift to maintain," Hoffer continued. "Because a lot of kids, again, will just put whatever weight they want on there because it's comfortable. They'll maintain their strength, but the whole purpose of weight training is to get stronger."

According to senior quarterback Sam Thurston, that's exactly what's happening throughout the team.

"You feel yourself getting stronger, and you see yourself getting stronger," Thurston said. "So that's why it's easy to stick with it. It's definitely hard É (but) it's real nice."

A closer look at the worksheets reveals a much more complicated system. Sure, kids can simply read the weight, number or repetitions and go to work. But the sheets also list each player's maximum weight for each workout and the subsequent percentages for each set's weight. Combined with the provided chart, players so inclined can learn the system and how to apply it to other workouts -- like those the worksheets already provide blank spaces for.

The complicated system suits Hoffer's demeanor, and the results are hard to argue. Following the Pirates' final status tests earlier this week -- about two months since their second series of tests in June -- the team gained an average of 3 pounds per player while increasing their average squat by 45 pounds, clean by 12 and bench by 14.

"Forty-five pounds on squat is awesome," Hoffer insisted. "Our leg strength was something we really needed to improve."

While the team's overall rating increased from 3.58 to 3.89, that's well short of the 5.01 needed to average elite status (based on the team's average weight of 181 pounds).

"That is the ultimate goal. So we've still got a ways to go," Hoffer said. "You've still got to go out and play the game. But at least then you've got the tools to work with."

The 5-foot-8, 153-pound Smich retained his elite status with a 5.56 rating, as well as the title of being the Pirates' strongest pound-for-pound player. Senior running back Joe Bennett also retained elite status with a 5.27 rating.

Senior linebacker Ricky Morgan, who earned elite status along with Smich and Bennett in June, fell 20 pounds shy. Tyshawn Greene, a transfer from DeSoto County, missed by just 10 pounds.

"Once you're elite you think its easy," Morgan said. "But I gained 13 pounds and I've got to keep gaining muscle now. É I'm a lot stronger now, but I'm also heavier."

Morgan, who added 35 pounds to his max squat since February, said having the goal of elite status has motivated every player. He also insisted the Pirates have improved confidence, both as a team and individually, while adding strength.

"Last year you just showed up," said Smich, who admitted he often failed to push himself in past seasons. "Now, you're all hyped up and you can't wait to get here."

True to his word, Smich strolled into the weight room around 8:30 a.m. It didn't matter that defensive backs weren't scheduled to lift for another 2 hours.

By ERIC McKINNEY

MURDOCK -- Justin Smich was an exciting slash-type player for the Port Charlotte Pirates last season. The 5-foot-8, 153-pounder took snaps at quarterback, running back and receiver as the Pirates searched for ways to utilize his athletic ability.

Smich likely won't touch the football much this season, however, as the senior is penciled in as a starting cornerback.

"When you're an athlete like Smich is it's an easy transition," insisted Pirates defensive backs coach Tommy Henry, who started at DeSoto County before playing cornerback at Florida State.

Henry said the Pirates debated moving Smich to the secondary last season. He also said learning proper footwork for the position has been the biggest adjustment.

"It's just a different discipline than quarterback and running back," Henry said. "We just had to tweak him a little bit. He's done well."

The mere mention of Smich brings a smile to head coach Dave Hoffer, who considers the senior a candidate for team captain.

"He's a very calm, hard working young man," Hoffer smiled. "Very coachable."

MORGAN ON THE MEND: Pirates star wide receiver Mikhail Morgan -- who finished with 32 receptions for 388 yards and three touchdowns last season -- sat out much of Wednesday's practice after injuring his knee Tuesday.

"He just tweaked it a little bit," Hoffer insisted. "He'll be fine."

Morgan dressed, but didn't participate in conditioning or position drills. He played catch on the sidelines -- jogging around at times -- and watched as his fellow receivers ran through drills.

When asked if Morgan would participate in today's practice, the first day in pads, Hoffer replied, "I don't know. We'll have the trainer look at it and evaluate it from there."

DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE MAKER: When linebacker Jeremy Brown broke his hand during warmups of the fall classic last season, the Pirates lost their defensive playmaker for the first six games of the regular season.

"He does some things that a lot of guys we have can't do," Hoffer insisted. "He's definitely a playmaker. He does a nice job for us."

That was clear when the Pirates beat Charlotte 28-19 last season, as Hoffer said Brown recorded three sacks, three more tackles for loss and a pass breakup.

Hoffer expects a healthy Brown to help improve Port Charlotte's defense, which allowed more than 300 total yards and 30 points per game last season.

TRANSFER TRACKER: The Pirates added a pair of transfers this season -- senior defensive end Desmond Bowman and junior Tyshawn Greene.

Bowman played at Port Charlotte as a sophomore, but transferred to North Port last season and started at defensive tackle. He shifted to DE shortly after returning to the Pirates.

Greene, who transferred from DeSoto County, could start at fullback or linebacker.

"He's definitely somebody that we're going to look at and put him in the best position to help the team," Hoffer said. "He's got some tools. But he's still got a lot to learn."

PICKING UP THE PACE: The tempo of Port Charlotte practices is slightly higher than it was last season. Entering his second season at the helm, Hoffer feels the team is more comfortable with the Xs and Os of the program and therefore ready to step it up.

"The game is so quick in tempo," Hoffer said. "So we want to simulate the tempo in practice, so when it comes to the game they're not shocked. We started picking it up near the end (last season). We were still teaching a lot of new stuff to a lot of kids, so we had to slow it down. But these guys, I'd say 98 percent of them were with us this spring, so we can pick it up a bit now."

GAME OF MISTAKES: Five turnovers, 27 penalties mar Port Charlotte's first victory of the season

By BRUCE ROBINS CORRESPONDENT

LEHIGH ACRES -= Mikhail Morgan caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Sam Thurston with 9:16 to play, and Port Charlotte held on for a 26-19 victory over Lehigh on Friday night.

The teams combined for 27 penalties and five turnovers, but it was not until the Pirates' Richard Morgan intercepted a Lightning pass with 58 seconds left that Port Charlotte secured the win.

Lehigh had to move only 3 yards for the game's first score after a bad snap on a punt gave the Lightning the ball at the Pirates' 3-yard line. Quarterback Sharod Morse threw the first of his three touchdown passes to Joshua Hollen from 5 yards out.

The second quarter belonged to Port Charlotte, as John Longsworth capped a 59- yard drive with a 1-yard plunge to even the score. The Pirates then took advantage of a 10-yard punt to move 36 yards in five plays for a 14-7 lead on a 3-yard keeper by Thurston.

Port Charlotte would add a safety and a 32-yard field goal by Samuel Costa to take a 19-7 halftime lead. The Lightning were held to 16 offensive plays for minus-1 yard in the half.

But Lehigh came out in the third quarter and marched 80 yards to close the gap to 19-13 on a 33-yard toss from Morse to Mike Curry. Port Charlotte fumbled on the first play after the kickoff, and the Lightning drew even on a 19-yard hookup from Morse to Leon Davis.

The Pirates fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the Lightning the ball at the 35, but this time, the defense stiffened and Lehigh turned the ball over on downs. The Pirates then drove for the winning score, with Morgan hauling in a pass after juggling the ball at the 10-yard line after taking it away from a Lehigh defender.

"I just wanted to make a play and score. We had a tough third quarter," said Morgan, who caught 7 passes for 134 yards. "I saw the ball, and I went up and got it."

"Mikhail did a nice job of staying focused," said Port Charlotte coach David Hoffer.

"Too many penalties was the bottom line for us," said Lehigh coach Matt Perkowski. "We gave them 45 yards on their first 60-yard drive. We just had too many mistakes."

Port Charlotte evened its record at 1-1. Lehigh fell to 0-3.

By ERIC McKINNEY

LEHIGH ACRES – Port Charlotte play ranged from brilliant to completely lost, but they ultimately came out victorious 26-19 over Lehigh.

“We didn’t win the cleanest way but you’ve got to take a win anyway you can get it,” said Pirates senior wide receiver Mikhail Morgan, who finished with 117 yards on six receptions, including the game-winning 36-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. “I think this is good momentum for the next game coming up.”

The game featured a blocked punt, fake punt, five Port Charlotte fumbles, three lost, one Lehigh interception and 27 combined penalties for 207 yards.

The Pirates, mind you, only gained 203 total yards on 55 plays. However, that was significantly better than the 150 Lehigh managed on 52 plays.

“Stats don’t mean anything. We have to win the football game.” Pirates coach Dave Hoffer said. “That’s the bottom line, did we win the game?”

Yes, Port Charlotte did manage its first victory of the season.

But even Hoffer acknowledged the Pirates must play better if they’re to win again.

“I think people forget that these are high school kids. They're not collegiate athletes who spend hours and hours watching film, practicing, meeting, etc.” Hoffer said. “They’re not professional athletes, they’re high school students. They’re going to make mistakes. We just don’t want to make a lot of them.”

Port Charlotte was responsible for 12 of the penalties that totaled 115 yards. But it was the fumbles, each seemingly at crucial times that hurt the Pirates more.

Trailing 19-7 at halftime the Lightning (1-1) marched 80 yards on 14 plays to score their second touchdown in about 5 minutes to open the second half. Following a missed extra point and touchback on the ensuing kickoff, senior running back Joe Bennett fumbled the ball away on first down.

It took Lehigh just two plays to capitalize, tying the game on a 20-yard pass less than a minute after its previous score. The Lightning again missed the extra point, leaving the score 19-all.

But a muffed fair catch on a surprise pock kick gave the Lightning possession. Lehigh penalties spared the Pirates as the Lighting ultimately turned it over on downs following a failed fourth-and-17 attempt.

That’s when Port Charlotte marched 69 yards for the game winner. Of course, even that came on a wacky play as Lehigh cornerback Quamain Codie appeared to have an easy interception at the 10-yard line thanks to an under thrown ball. But when the ball sprung into the air Morgan was there, juggled it, finally gained possession at the seven and lunged into the end zone.

“Coach (Quintel Perkins), my wide receivers coach, he tells me to never give up on the ball,” Morgan said. “So even though he threw it inside I’ve still got to go get it. It was just another play to me. I saw the ball and I just went to go get it.”

While the game featured two more turnovers in the fourth quarter and a crazy multiple-lateral prayer that went just 10 yards on the final play, Morgan’s game winner seemed the perfect way to end just a wacky affair.

PORT CHARLOTTE 26, LEHIGH 19
At Dr. James A. Adams Memorial Stadium (Lehigh Acres)

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	FINAL
Port Charlotte	0	19	0	7	26
Lehigh	7	0	12	0	19

First Quarter
L - Joshua Hollen 5 pass from Sharod Morse (Rangel Policarpo kick), 6:44

Second Quarter
PC - John Longsworth 1 run (Sam Costa kick), 11:15
PC - Sam Thurston 3 run (Costa kick), 6:05
PC - Sharod Morse tackles in end zone for safety, 5:14
PC - Costa 32 field goal, 58.0

Third Quarter
L - Mike Curry 34 pass from Morse (kick failed), 6:51
L - Leon Davis 20 pass from Morse (kick failed), 6:02

Fourth Quarter
PC - Mikhail Morgan 36 pass from Thurston (Costa kick), 9:16

JUMP START: Joey Bennett's 75-yard kickoff return sets tone for Port Charlotte

By CURTIS WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT

ENGLEWOOD - Senior Joey Bennett returned the opening kickoff 75 yards and followed that up with three touchdown runs in leading Port Charlotte High to a 38-14 victory over Lemon Bay High Friday night at Veterans' Stadium.

Port Charlotte (2- 2) jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed. Bennett's kickoff return gave the Pirates the football at the 5-yard line and he scored on the next play.

A short punt gave Port Charlotte excellent field possession one drive later. Sam Thurston had a 10-yard run and completed an 18-yard pass to senior Mikhail Morgan. Bennett capped the seven-play, 46 yard scoring drive with a 6-yard run.

The Pirates scored their third touchdown of the first quarter on another six-yard run by Bennett. This time it was an eight-play, 61-yard scoring drive.

Lemon Bay (0-4) turned in an excellent effort in the second quarter to get back in the game. Josh Freeman's 20 yard scoring strike to Brandon Harkeli closed out a five-play, 70 yard touchdown drive.

The Manta Rays took advantage of a Port Charlotte fumble to score its second touchdown of the night. Freeman's 1-yard run got Lemon Bay to within 21-14 at the half.

But all of the Mantas' momentum headed back to Port Charlotte's sideline midway through the third. Ricky Morgan broke through the Lemon Bay line, blocked Freeman's punt, and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown.

Port Charlotte made it 31-14 on Sam Costa's 46-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Alwyn Laplace put the final points on the scoreboard when he raced down the right sideline for a 74-yard touchdown in the final minutes.

Freeman completed 9 of 14 passes for 125 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Harkeli finished with five catches for 85 yards for Lemon Baye.

Laplace was the game's leading rusher with 118 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries. Thurston completed 7 of 14 passes for 72 yards and no interceptions. Morgan caught five passes for 60 yards.

By CHRIS ANDERSON

LAKEWOOD RANCH - Samuel Thurston's statistics don't jump off the page, but that's just fine with Port Charlotte High coach David Hoffer.

On Friday night, Thurston did just enough to lead Port Charlotte to a 21-0 win over host Lakewood Ranch High in a Class 5A-District 11 game.

Thurston, Port Charlotte's quarterback, ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as the Pirates won their first district game of the season and improved to 3-4 overall.

"He doesn't have the biggest numbers, but we don't care about that,'' said Hoffer of Thurston. "He's gives us options. He can run and throw. He's improved a lot since last year, and (Friday) he did a nice job.''

Thurston proved to be the difference- maker in what was an offensive struggle for both teams.

Thurston scored on runs of 10 yards and 26 yards, and hit receiver Brian Perrault for a 49-yard touchdown pass with 1:56 left in the game. Both of Thurston's TD runs were set up by botched snaps on punts by Lakewood Ranch.

"That was the first time that's happened this year,'' said Lakewood Ranch coach Shawn Trent of the miscues.

Lakewood Ranch remained winless on the season (0-7), but Trent continues to be pleased with the way his defense has played.

"The defense played well," Trent said. "We gave up three plays and it led to three touchdowns.''

Neither team was able to move the ball on the ground, with Port Charlotte rushing for 77 yards on 29 carries and Lakewood Ranch compiling just 29 yards on 40 carries.

The longest run of the night was Thurston's 26-yard keeper for a TD in the third quarter that put Port Charlotte ahead 14-0.

Thurston threw for 100 yards and rushed for 31. He was the game's leading rusher. Perrault led all receivers with 84 yards, 49 coming on the late touchdown.

Port Charlotte's pass rush and pressure was just too much for the Mustangs to handle.

Lakewood Ranch's offense was led by receiver Octavious Washington, who caught five passes for 77 yards.

Lakewood Ranch quarterback Reggie Lindsey, in what was his second varsity start, was 10 of 22 for 130 yards, but was on the run most of the night from Port Charlotte's pressure.

"I thought our guys played hard," Hoffer said. "Overall we had a great effort. It was a good win for us.''

By CURTIS WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT

MURDOCK -- It would have been very easy for Port Charlotte High football players to have their sights set on next week's showdown with Charlotte High, which will decide the runner-up playoff spot in Class 5A-District 11, rather than focus on this week's opponent, North Port High.

But that was not the case as the Pirates jumped out to an early lead and coasted to a 31-0 victory over the Bobcats on Friday night at Pirates' Cove.

Port Charlotte, 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the district, scored on the opening possession of the game. Sam Thurston hooked up with Brian Perrault on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Sam Costa's kick gave the Pirates a 7-0 lead with 8:59 remaining in the first quarter.

Thurston ran for 27 yards and passed for 27 yards during the seven-play, 55-yard scoring drive. Hanif Carroll had a 15-yard reception that kept the chains moving for Port Charlotte. Joey Bennett accounted for the other 16 yards on two carries.

North Port, 1-7 overall and 1-3 in the district, picked up a couple of first downs but had to punt the football back to Port Charlotte before reaching midfield.

And the Pirates followed that up with another scoring drive. This time, it was a 37- yard field goal by Costa, giving the home team a 10-0 cushion with 1:40 to play in the first quarter.

Port Charlotte opened up a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Bennett's 2-yard run and Costa's kick capped a seven-play, 35-yard touchdown drive. That score was set up by the Bobcats' short punt deep in their own territory.

North Port had a tough time moving the football against a stingy Port Charlotte defense in the first half. The Bobcats managed just six first downs and 52 yards of total offense while Port Charlotte tallied nine first downs and 171 yards of total offense in the first half.

The Pirates put the game out of reach in the third quarter. Bennett scored his second touchdown of the night on a 4-yard run and Desmond Bowman returned a fumble 26 yards for the final score.

Thurston completed 7-of-10 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Perrault had three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown while Travis Marz caught two passes for 37 yards.

Bennett led a balanced rushing attack for the Pirates with 65 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Alwyn Laplace carried the football five times for 52 yards, and Thurston kept it five times for 48 yards.

Bryce Johnston led the way for the Bobcats with 40 yards on 10 carries. Drake Sunderland, North Port's third quarterback of the game, was close behind with seven carries for 39 yards.