Wiregrass Ranch overpowers Springstead in offensive shootout: 3 takeaways

The Bulls compiled 559 yards of offense in the victory

SPRING HILL, FLORIDA- Heading into Friday night’s Class 4S, District 6 tilt between Springstead-Wiregrass Ranch, the game was being dubbed potentially the North Suncoast game of the year. 

After a little over three hours and 97 total points scored later, the contest lived up to the billing. 

Wiregrass Ranch scored over 50 points for the third consecutive game as they defeated Springstead 52-45 in wild district matchup. The Bulls improved to 2-0 within the district after notching the victory. 

Right out of the gates, the Bulls and Eagles came swinging right at each other. Wiregrass Ranch quarterback Luke Knight opened up the scoring with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Riggins (11 catches, 189 yards). 

The very next possession for the Eagles, running back Connor Mccazzio went 72 yards to pay dirt on an outside pitch play. Throughout the entire first half, both teams would exchange scoring blows. 

Wiregrass Ranch (4-1, 2-0) wouldn’t begin pulling away until the third quarter when running back Ian Wilson II (19 carries, 131 yards) scored on a 10-yard scamper to extend the Bulls’ lead to 52-31. 

Springstead (3-2, 1-1) wouldn’t go away quietly, however, as they chipped away at the lead and got it to 52-45 with about three minutes left in the game. The Bulls were able to notch two first downs to kill the clock and run the rest of the time out. 

Take a look below at our three takeaways from Friday night’s game. 

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Wiregrass Ranch wants to play fast and pour on the points 

Army commitment Luke Knight makes things easy for Kantor on offense. 

With an experienced, state-championship winning quarterback leading the Bulls' offensive attack, the longtime head coach gives the controls to Knight and watches him go. 

On Friday night, the quarterback continued on his historic pace and is aiming to throw the most touchdowns in a single season for Pasco County quarterbacks. The most that a signal caller has ever heaved in one season was Pasco's Jacob Guy in 2011, as he threw 42 touchdowns. That Pirates team also went to the state semifinals of the Class 5A postseason that year. 

Knight is halfway to Guy’s all-time mark and sits with 21 touchdowns. Expecting the Bulls to reach states might be a big ask, but when talking about a regular season, it's not unreasonable to see Knight toss 30-plus tuddies. 

Connor Mccazzio is the North Suncoast's top tailback 

Now there's a lot of really good running backs between Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. 

Springstead's Mccazzio might be the best of them all, however. 

Reason why you ask? The opposing defense knows he's coming and he still finds ways to get plenty of yards after first contact. The Eagles run a variation of option-football from single-wing and shotgun formations to give defenses different looks, but Mccazzio nonetheless always gets yards. 

Example being against over pursuing Wiregrass Ranch defense, Mccazzio was able to get around the corner and to the edges in order to get first downs and touchdowns. Mccazzio ended with 265 yards on 26 attempts and four touchdowns. 

Many offenses across the North Suncoast aren't sending a direct signal they're running the ball, but the Eagles do. Mccazzio still gets it done. 

Class 4S, District 6 is a topsy turvy district 

If stating that this district was going to be a wild one would be stating the very obvious. This was always going to be a dogfight all the way through between Land O' Lakes, Mitchell, Springstead and Wiregrass Ranch. 

Getting the one up on Mitchell a few weeks ago was crucial for Kantor's bunch as they look to come away with a district championship after finishing 4-6 last year. Friday night played out no differently than anyone would've predicted from the outset. 

One of the top games of the season without a doubt was always going to be the Springstead-Wiregrass Ranch at Booster Stadium and the contest lived up to the billing. The Bulls starting off 2-0 in the district firmly puts this club right in the driver's seat to win 4S-6. 

Now the question is can the aforementioned team finish the drill?

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl