Many doubted whether Nature Coast could even come close to matching its historic 2015 season without the services of the nation’s leading rusher, DeShawn Smith.
Though they still have a way to go to duplicate last year’s Elite Eight run, so far the Sharks have had no discernible backslide. There has been no falloff in the win column, and not much for their vaunted running attack, either.
On Friday night, Nature Coast celebrated its homecoming by thumping Class 5A, District 7 foe Citrus, 42-0. That improved its overall record to 8-0, and more importantly clinched the district crown for a second straight season.
“It’s a good feeling, and it gives us the security of a home game to start what we hope will be a long playoff run,” said Nature Coast head coach Justin Worden, whose team is now 5-0 in 5A-7 action.
Unlike last year, when Smith was the star week after week, the Sharks have seemingly had a different rusher put up big-time numbers each game.
This time it was senior T.J. Owens, returning from an ankle injury and needing just 11 carries to compile 248 yards and score four touchdowns. Michael Weston ran nine times for 79 yards and a score.
A week ago it was the sophomore Weston rushing for 282 yards and five touchdowns with Owens out of the lineup. He posted 180 yards and four scores the previous week.
Owens has now twice surpassed 200 yards in a game this season. Quarterback Brian Haygood had a string of three games in a row totaling 522 yards and seven touchdowns before an ankle issue curtailed him in recent weeks.
Though Nature Coast could finish the regular season without a 1,000-yard rusher, Haygood, Owens, Weston and Willie Coffey have combined for 2,653 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground.
Against Citrus (2-5 overall, 2-3 5A-7), both Coffey and Weston were asked to fill in at H-back after Philip Orlando left the game with an injured finger.
“I love how unselfish our kids are,” Worden said.
The Sharks led 21-0 at halftime on touchdown runs of 53 and 32 yards by Owens, plus his 30-yard touchdown reception from Haygood, who was still limited but did complete 2-of-4 passes for 57 yards.
Owens added scoring runs from 71 and 62 yards out to initiate a running clock with 6:42 left in the third quarter. Weston scored his touchdown in the fourth.
Matthew Robinson again paced the defense with 19 tackles and a sack, as Nature Coast recorded its second shutout of the season.
With the Hurricanes losing, Crystal River also clinched the district runner-up spot despite being on a bye week. The Sharks will enjoy their bye in Week 11, but first must wrap up the regular season next Friday hosting Hernando.
“We’ve still got a county championship to win,” Worden said. “We’re still very motivated to do that. That would be three in a row. That’s a big deal for us.”
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.