![Central High, 2, Timothy Gaynor got the Bears to the 6 yard line on this run late in the fourth quarter in Oct. 2023 at Weeki Wachee High. [Credit: Joe DiCristofalo]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/25102823.jpg "25102823")
As the final weeks of the prep football regular season wind down, Central completed its schedule for the 2024 campaign on Oct. 24 at Tenoroc.
The Bears fell to the host Titans, 13-7, and finished up at 3-7 overall. Junior quarterback Nick Demos completed 11 of 17 passes for 104 yards with one interception. Senior Talyn Poole caught six passes for 42 yards in his final game, and also had a rushing touchdown.
Sophomore Jacorry Graham led a respectable defensive effort with 10 tackles. Gabriel Delapaz had three tackles for a loss, while Johnathon Bunyon and Konnor Oudeans each had 2 1/2.
It was truly an up-and-down season for Central, which began the year with two blowout losses but then reeled off a three-game winning streak. That included a stirring comeback over Weeki Wachee to win the Battle of Hexam, 15-14. There were also victories over Anclote (25-6) and Umatilla (12-0).
However, the Bears ended on a rough patch, dropping five straight. Still, this season showed an improvement over last year’s 2-8 record.
Demos was able to surpass the 1,000-yard mark in passing, completing 98 of 182 (54%) passes for 1,215 yards. Poole was the leading receiver with 32 catches, totaling 307 yards, and had one touchdown. Alvin Cortes had 11 receptions for team highs of 313 yards and four touchdowns.
Graham paced the squad with 59 tackles and tied Cortes for the team lead with two interceptions. Terrell Burton posted a team-best four fumble recoveries.
The volleyball season in Hernando County came to a close last week, with both Hernando and Hernando Christian Academy dropping their reginal quarterfinal matchups.
On Oct. 22, the sixth-seeded Lions fell at third-seeded Meadowbrook Academy in a Region 1A-1 quarterfinal. They lost in three sets, 25-10, 26-24, 25-7.
Though the Leopards lost in their regional match against Mount Dora on Oct. 23, senior Kaiya Ward was selected as the Athlete of the Month by the Hernando County School District. The senior led Hernando to both a Gulf Coast 8 conference and District 4A-8 championship. She finished the year with 350
kills.
In boys golf, the GC8 Tournament was held on Oct. 21. Hernando finished second with a 330 score, well behind champion Crystal River (318). The Leopards were led by Mason Morgan, who tied for sixth place with a round of 81, and Cotton Jackson in a tie for eighth at 82. Weeki Wachee’s Jacob McGeehan was the highest county finisher in fourth place with a 79.
Springstead took part in the District 3A-5 swim meet held Oct. 22 at The Long Center in Clearwater. Both the boys and girls finished in eighth place overall. The Eagles’ best event was the boys 500-yard freestyle, where Hunter Yoder placed sixth (5:54.79) and Parker Moore came in seventh (6:06.27).
