Palm Harbor’s record of 2-3 is deceiving. The Hurricanes challenged themselves early in the year and took a couple of early losses as a result. They’re much better than people expect.
On Friday, they proved it, setting a school record for largest margin of victory — dating back to 1997. The Hurricanes won 48-0 at winless Countryside. They’ve scored more than 50 a few times in school history (59, for the record) but never coupled that with a shutout. The defense posted its 14th shutout in school history, and the Cougars never threatened.
It was only the 5th time in PHU school history that it had beaten Countryside in 18 all-time games. Two years ago, PHU went 6-4 — but lost to the Cougars.
PHU head coach Mike Mullaney told PalmHarborSports this week that after several weeks of trying to get the offense kickstarted, last week was the beginning of it and he hoped this week his offense would click quickly.
Well, it did.
There was a running clock by midway through the 2nd quarter. The clock runs in high school football when the margin hits 35 points for the leader. Mullaney was quick to point out after the win that Countryside — a program coached by Eric Schmitz for more than a decade — is in a rebuilding cycle and also lost players to transferring. The ‘Canes didn’t rub it in.
“I have a lot of respect for Eric and everyone that puts the time and effort in that high school coaches do during the week, and we will never try to embarrass anyone,” Mullaney said. “You play your backups, run 3-4 concepts (on defense) and let the players compete.”
Three PHU players scored their 1st career TD on varsity – Grahm Pitcock, Tyler Somerfield, Warren Lopez.
Senior quarterback and team captain Will Seibert threw two touchdowns — one in the 1st quarter to one of the top playmaking threats in Pinellas County in Jr./WR Jake Rennert (17 yard TD), and then Pitcock’s first-ever TD came in the 2nd quarter when they connected for 60 yards. Seibert also rushed for a 1st quarter 70-yard TD.
Sr./RB Jaxon Wilson scored the first touchdown of the game, scoring from the 7-yard line, and Sr./FB Tyler Somerfield scored his career first on a 1-yard punch-in late in the 1st half. Jr./RB Ben Sathaporn scored his 2nd varsity TD in the 3rd quarter and JV call up Warren Lopez, a Soph./RB, scored his first varsity points in the 4th. Varsity placekicker Mitch Stricker was 6-for-6 on PATs and didn’t attempt a field goal as he continues to add to his school record in kicking points.
It’s worth mentioning that the school record for single-game scoring was 59 points against Riverview HS in 2016, and only four times has the school gone past the 50-point mark and in each case the opponent scored in the double-digits too. When it comes to shutouts? Again, this was the team’s 14th in the school’s 27-year history — with 10 of those 14 shutouts coming when defensive coordinator Matt LePain has been a part of the program (two stints).
PHU now sets its focus on a tough competitor next week in its road game to district foe Largo (4-1), who lost tonight against Clearwater, 23-18.
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY AT PHU
2024 – 48 pts – PHU 48, Countryside 0
2023 – 47 pts – PHU 47, Dunedin 0
1997 – 47 pts – PHU 47, Wharton 0
2021 – 43 pts – PHU 43, Dunedin 0
2012 – 42 pts – PHU 42, Clearwater 0
2013 – 40 pts – PHU 56, Gibbs 16
