Gulf wins one of two quarters in Jamboree

This article appeared in the Tampa Tribune on Aug. 29, 2003.

By ANDY STAPLES

At New Port Richey, as the Gulf High sideline exploded Thursday night, anything seemed possible.

Tailback David Montanez appeared to have scored a two-point conversion to give the Buccaneers a one-point lead against Wesley Chapel with 1 minute, 11 seconds left in the teams' jamboree quarter. The celebration lasted less than 10 seconds.

Officials flagged Gulf for illegal motion, the Bucs missed the ensuing extra point and Wesley Chapel tailback Marcus Stewart ripped off a 73- yard touchdown run to give the Wildcats a 14-6 win.

Gulf, an 81-year-old school that went 1-9 last year and has never made the playoffs, competed with Wesley Chapel, which has gone 18-4 in the past two seasons. The Bucs also beat River Ridge, 7-0. In the second quarter, Wesley Chapel beat the Royal Knights, 7-0.

Even though Gulf victimized the Wildcats' backups, and even though Wesley Chapel wound up winning, Bucs coach Keith Newton left pleased.

"We need something like that,'' he said. "We need to believe we can play with people.''