WEEKI WACHEE- In a year where potential record breaking numbers are being put up by players around Hernando County, one in particular is making a name for himself his junior season.
That player is Weeki Wachee quarterback Vaughn Sykora, who had career days when the Hornets faced Hudson Fivay and rival Central in back to back weeks. The unique part about Sykora’s two starts and wins against both teams is the fact that the signal caller threw for six touchdowns in each contest.
Yes, you heard that right. Six touchdowns in each game. With Sykora putting up touchdowns like clockwork, the Hornets are seeing the benefits and currently sit at 2-3 on the season with five games left to go. Nature Coast’s Michael Weston has been the county’s big yardage player on the ground, but Sykora has been the man through the air.
Sykora by the numbers has been mesmerizing, as the senior in the Hornets’ 52-14 victory over Fivay went for 355 yards, 13-of-16 passing and six touchdowns. If putting up nearly 400 yards wasn’t enough, Sykora aimed for the second week in a row to put up more monstrous statistics. The junior followed it up with a 321-yard effort versus Central. Sykora went 15-of-21 and another six scores.
He’s had plenty of help surrounding him on the offensive end, as running back Sebastian Class has rushed for a team-high 268 yards and scored three touchdowns. Sykora’s receiving corps has done a nice job, with Class (330 yards), David Richards (328 yards) and Brian Strickland (178 yards) all being the go-to-targets.
It has been a season of ups and downs, though for Sykora, as he only threw for 72 yards in a 41-2 loss to Inverness Citrus, whom looked to be a contender in Class 5A, District 7. Reaching the postseason is a tall task for the Hornets with the likes of Nature Coast, Hernando, Crystal River and Inverness Citrus in the district. Weeki Wachee is in better position with a district win already under its belt.
If Weeki Wachee has serious aspirations in reaching the .500 mark this season, a lot of it will ride upon the right-arm of Sykora, who will still have another season to go after this fall. Will we ever see back-to-back 6-touchdown passing performances ever again in Hernando County? Whomever it is will be making a name for himself just like Sykora has this 2018 season.
Andy Villamarzo can be reached at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @avillamarzo.
