Hornets Nab Pair of Picks, Shut Out Leopards

The Weeki Wachee Hornets (7-0) overcame a critical injury and a slow start against the Hernando Leopards (3-5) enroute to a 13-0 shutout at the Hornets’ Nest on Monday night. When Freshman QB Karly Pasmore went out with an apparent thumb injury in the first half, Weeki Wachee Head Coach Billy Hughes and company did not panic. There are always injuries like dislocations or jammed fingers, he noted, but a next player up mentality is needed in flag football.

The Hornets’ coach praised the comradery of his team that is comprised of only 16 players but is a “special group of girls.” Some matchups like Crystal River or Springstead saw the Green and Black get off to multi-score leads before the intermission. Other nights like Monday’s showdown saw the home team commit three turnovers in the first half before picking up the pace. “They always come together and really end up battling together and I am proud of them,” said Coach Hughes.

The star of the night, though, was their defense. Like much of the season, the defensive side of the ball has been lights out, as they have held six of their seven opponents scoreless or to single digit point totals. The Hornets snagged a pair of interceptions and did not allow the Leopards into the redzone until the final plays of the last drive before the half. That is when the home team forced their first turnover thanks to a pass that was tipped into the waiting arms of Junior DB Naveah Clark in the endzone.

This was despite the slow start for Weeki Wachee, whose three interceptions tended to put their defense into less than advantageous positions early on. The second quarter also saw Pasmore leave the game due to injury. In her absence, the Green and Black turned to one of the most dynamic players on their roster, Jasmine Randazzle. The staff put the ball in her hands and it paid off.

Randazzle led a four-play drive with the final two passes both finding their way into the hands of Senior WR Jillian Aldridge. The second of these saw Aldridge just outrun the coverage and snag the 30-yard touchdown catch as she crossed the goal line.

“Huge. Absolutely huge,” said Coach Hughes. “Jasmine is a hell of an athlete. Big time for us. [She is] one of the top athletes in the county hands down. So, she is a true athlete, plays anywhere we can put her on the field: offense, defense, she can punt the ball. So, we are very lucky to have her. She stepped up as a leader as a senior as one of the captains on the team, so we are extremely proud of her.”

Hernando would get the ball after half, but the defense would stifle them again. When the home team got their hands on the ball once more, Pasmore was back on the field and the offense had begun to find its rhythm. They put together a 14-play drive that chewed up most of the third quarter and continued early in the fourth, but turned the ball over on downs on the Leopards five yard line. It was by far the most consistent drive of the night even without points.

On the very next drive, the defense struck again. Leopards Freshman QB Carlie Grant’s pass was picked by Junior DB Aliyah Cox as she cut across the field and returned it to Hernando’s four yard line. Two plays later, Sophomore RB Delanie Evans cut inside in for the one-yard touchdown run. Talk about complementary football. Not much time remained as the visitors would have two more drives to attempt a comeback. Weeki Wachee’s defense would remain stingy, though, and continued to pressure and break up passes to preserve the shutout.

The Green and Black will come back after spring break to play the final game of the season against the Lecanto Panthers (10-1) on April 3. Coach Hughes looks forward to squaring off with the Panthers who he notes are a “real good team” and the “top dog in the area.” The Hornets will travel to face Lecanto’s formidable squad on that Wednesday. The Purple and Gold still have a handful of matchups before the season’s end and will look to build momentum going into the final stretch.