Gaither wins regional final 3-0

Gaither heading back to states, 3-0

By JEREMY RASMUSSEN
Times Correspondent

TAMPA - Gaither is headed to the state final four for a second consecutive year, thanks to a 3-0 win over Durant in Friday's Class 4A, Region 3 final.

Few thought the Cowboys (18-3-2) could get past their own district, let alone return to the main event after losing 10 seniors from last season's squad. But the team has responded to coach Adrian Bush's regimen of "hard work, preparation, and commitment" to make another state title shot a reality.

"For these guys to come into the system and blend together like they have is amazing,'' Bush said.
Thanks to district and regional realignment this season, Gaither and Durant (14-5-4) found themselves playing for a fourth time on Friday. Gaither was 2-0-1 in their other three meetings-a pair of 1-0 wins and a 1-1 tie.

"I thought maybe we'd come in overconfident, but I knew (Durant) would be ready to play,'' Bush said. "I tried to bring my guys back to earth and get them focused. I couldn't be prouder of they played.''

Durant goalie Blake Dickenson established his presence early, tipping a hard shot by Norris Hartzog just over the crossbar in the fourth minute. Moments later, he blocked a Dane Fernandez header just wide.

The Cowboys lost their leading scorer, Hartzog, when he went down with a hyperextended knee in 12th minute. He did not return, but said he is probable for Friday's state semifinal.

Instead of folding, the Cowboys offense responded with one of their finest goals of the season.

Grant McMullen battled for a loose ball with Durant's Shawn Wehrle on the left sideline, and got it to Jared Rose. Rose dribbled down the sideline, juked a defender, and sent in a hard shot on goal. Dickenson deflected it, but couldn't haul it in, and Michael Harris was there to finish.

With two minutes remaining in the first half, Rose controlled the ball at the top of the box and passed to Michael Harris. He slipped it through to David Caldwell, who, in turn made a move to get past Dickenson and knock it in.

The Cowboys added an insurance goal late in the game when Brendon Crampton finished on a corner kick from Rose. By that time, Dickenson had gone forward to try to score, and backup keeper Paul Caraballo was in the net.

"We had no attack,'' Durant coach Dave Peacock said. "We haven't been down 2-0 all year. It's hard to come back when you can't score goals.''

Gaither advances to play the winner of Oviedo-Orange Park in a state semifinal game in Tallahassee on Friday.